Wisconsin DHS elder justice innovation grant

The State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services received a $277,031 Cooperative Agreement award from the Administration for Community Living (ACL) under the Special Programs for the Aging, Title IV, and Title II, Discretionary Projects program (CFDA 93.048) on September 30, 2025, with a completion date of September 29, 2028. The Wisconsin Elder Justice Innovation Grant project will enhance infrastructure and resources within the state's county-administered Adult Protective Services (APS) referral system to promote early intervention and improve consistency of APS response. The initiative establishes a streamlined statewide process for APS referrals and implements a statewide evidence-based intake assessment tool to improve coordination and communication among APS stakeholders regarding adult maltreatment concerns.

The project will deliver four primary products: (1) a statewide APS referral access system for adults with disabilities ages 18-59 and older adults accessible by phone and web; (2) APS program resources including the evidence-based intake assessment tool, an updated statewide data reporting system, and revised policies and procedures; (3) marketing and outreach materials promoting the statewide APS referral process; and (4) interagency educational materials, memoranda of understanding (MOUs), and referral protocols. These deliverables are designed to simplify APS reporting, promote prevention and early intervention of adult maltreatment through improved stakeholder coordination, and ensure APS staff use structured decision-making tools to support consistent and efficient response determinations.

Abstract

The state of wisconsin department of health services division of public health (DPH), is applying for the current ACL elder justice innovation grant opportunity. Our proposed project will enhance the infrastructure and resources in our county- administered adult protective services (APS) referral system to promote early intervention and improved consistency of APS response. Goals: 1. Establish a streamlined statewide process for referrals to county APS programs. 2. Improve the consistency and quality of the APS response through implementation of a statewide evidence-based intake assessment tool. Objectives: 1. Improve coordination and communication with APS stakeholders regarding response to concerns of adult of maltreatment and referrals to county APS programs. 2. Increase access to APS reporting through leveraging partnerships with current statewide resource lines, addressing unmet needs, and establishing direct referral pathways to county APS programs. 3. Develop and implement a structured decision-making intake tool into APS workflow to promote consistent screening of reports and efficient response. Outcomes: 1. APS reporting will be simplified and accessible by phone and web. 2. APS and stakeholders will promote prevention and early intervention of adult maltreatment through improved coordination and direct referral pathways to APS. 3. APS staff will use an evidence-based intake tool to support efficacy and consistency with determining APS response. Products: 1. Statewide APS referral access for adults with disabilities ages 18-59 and older adults. 2. APS program resources including an evidence-based intake assessment tool, updated statewide data reporting system, and revised policy and procedures. 3. Marketing and outreach materials for statewide APS referral process. 4. Interagency educational materials, mous, and referral protocols.