Vulnerable Adults

Reporting Maltreatment of Vulnerable Adults

To report maltreatment of vulnerable adults, contact the Stearns County Common Entry Point at 320/656-6225 or toll-free at 1-800-450-3663 (reports taken 24 hours per day).

What is the Vulnerable Adults Act?

The Minnesota Vulnerable Adults Act (Minnesota Statutes 626.557 - 626.5572) declares that it is the public policy of Minnesota to protect adults who, because of physical or mental disability or dependency on institutional services, are particularly vulnerable to maltreatment; to assist in providing safe environments for vulnerable adults; and to provide safe institutional or residential services, community-based services, or living environments for vulnerable adults who have been maltreated.

Additionally, it is the state policy to require the reporting of suspected maltreatment of vulnerable adults by certain persons, and to provide for the voluntary reporting of maltreatment of vulnerable adults, to require the investigation of the reports, and to provide protective and counseling services in appropriate cases. Readers are encouraged to access the Vulnerable Adults Act statutory language, particularly the definitions of a vulnerable adult, mandated reporter, and maltreatment (abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation). The definitions can be specifically found in Section 626.5572.

How is the County Involved?

Under the Vulnerable Adults Act, counties have three main responsibilities:

  • Accepting reports of vulnerable adult maltreatment (acting as the local Common Entry Point)
  • Providing adult protection
  • Performing investigations when the vulnerable adult is not receiving services from a Minnesota Department of Human Services or Minnesota Department of Health licensed provider

These three responsibilities are discussed briefly below:

Accepting Reports of Vulnerable Adult Maltreatment

All reports of vulnerable adult maltreatment in Minnesota are taken through a Common Entry Point (CEP) designated by each county board. The CEP must be available 24 hours per day. In Stearns County, the Service Entry Unit of the Gateway Division in Human Services has been designated as the CEP. The phone number for the CEP appears at the heading of this section. The CEP’s responsibility is to take reports of maltreatment (regardless of county of occurrence) and determine what referrals need to be made based on the information presented. For example, if a call involves potential criminal activity, the CEP is to refer the call to the appropriate law enforcement agency. If the call indicates a need for adult protection assistance, the CEP will forward the information to the appropriate unit within Stearns County Human Services to offer services to the vulnerable adult. The CEP also forwards information to a “lead agency” for investigation (see Investigation section for further information).

Adult Protection

Adult Protection involves making contact with the vulnerable adult to assess and offer emergency and continuing protective services for the purposes of preventing maltreatment and safeguarding the welfare of the vulnerable adult. In Stearns County, adult protection is provided through staff in the Community Supports Division. Examples of adult protection activities include assisting the vulnerable adult to seek alternate housing arrangements, assisting them to apply for social or financial services, or initiating proceedings related to guardianship or conservatorship. In most cases, adult protection services are voluntary - the vulnerable adult can choose to accept or decline assistance or services.

Investigations

The investigation component relates to making a determination as to whether maltreatment actually occurred and if so, the maltreatment is deemed to be “substantiated” and the perpetrator is prevented from working in certain health and human service occupations. There are 89 statutorily designated “lead agencies” that perform investigations:

  • The Minnesota Department of Health is the lead agency for facilities licensed by MDH such as hospitals, nursing homes, and home care agencies
  • The Department of Human Services is the lead agency for facilities licensed by DHS such as foster care homes, adult day care, day training and habilitation programs, residential treatment programs, and chemical dependency treatment programs
  • Counties are the lead agency for all other reports (there are 87 counties in Minnesota)

Lead agencies are allowed to develop priorities for investigations - in other words, not every report will be investigated. If the CEP has made a referral to law enforcement, the lead agency coordinates their investigation activities with law enforcement. Law enforcement is considered to be the primary investigative agency in these instances. Based on the law enforcement investigation, criminal charges may be filed against the alleged perpetrator. The lead agency uses a civil investigation process.

Further Information

To make a report of vulnerable adult maltreatment, or for questions relating to the Common Entry Point in Stearns County, contact 320.656.6225 or 1.800.450.3663.