APS Magazine Winter 2022

INSIDER Adult Protective Services Quarterly Magazine

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NEW!

Coffee with Kathy January 25

Washington State Office of Equity website

TIVA 2 Updates • Updates to Date/Time Picker • Copy Previous Intake • And more!

WINTER Winter 2022 2022

WINTER 2022 | TABLE OF CONTENTS 8

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Equity, Diversity and Inclusion A new state website is now available.

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APS Employee Spotlight

Getting to know your colleagues.

TIVA 2 Updates

Learn about the latest improvements and changes.

02 | DIRECTOR'S WELCOME 03 | DEPUTY DIRECTOR’S WELCOME 04 | EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION 06 | UPDATES AND INFORMATION 08 | REGIONAL EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT 09 | REGIONAL SUCCESS STORIES 12 | HQ SPOTLIGHT 12 | TIVA 2 UPDATES 13 | GETTING TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER 15 | UPCOMING EVENTS

APS Events Be sure to check out all the upcoming APS events so you can learn more and stay updated on the latest happenings that impact APS and your important role in the division.

HELLO FROM

KATHY MORGAN

As we look forward to 2022, I have a few goals for APS that I’m hoping we can all share.

Remaining Resilient

LOOKING AHEAD For a lot of us, we entered 2021 with cautious optimism. The vaccine had been developed and we looked forward to a return to normalcy.

For some of us, the last year has been a bit of a letdown in the sense that the pandemic has continued into third and fourth waves. It’s been a year of many ups and downs, including returning to our normal APS activities while also losing some of our colleagues with the new vaccine mandate.

The recovery has been slower than many of us expected, but we continue to see improvements.

If the past two years have taught us anything, it’s that we can persevere when the going gets tough.

We’ve dealt with so much uncertainty, but I’ve been continually impressed with how you all have pulled together to make the best of bad situations.

We have continued to push forward and conduct investigations in the safest and most effective ways possible to ensure the health and safety of our clients. I know we’ll continue pressing on in the coming year.

Complete Timely Investigations

I expect that 2022 will have similar ups and downs, although I’m hoping we can look forward to more positives in the coming months.

One thing the pandemic interrupted was our progress toward completing our initial face-to-face and closing investigations within 90 days.

We’re entering the new year still in the midst of the pandemic, although we continue to see signs of improvement as more people get vaccinated and receive the additional protection of booster shots.

Although APS returned to all our normal activities back in March, as an agency, we’re still on our way back to a new normal, which includes telework and evolving COVID protocols to keep ourselves and our clients safe.

Addressing Staffing Shortfalls

This year, we are looking to make progress toward our goal of completing 98% of investigations within 90 days, unless they remain open for “good cause.”

The pandemic exacerbated our existing staffing shortfalls and we want to focus this year on recruitment and retention of our APS staff.

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HELLO FROM PAULA HUGHES

THANK YOU Over the last year, we’ve been making our slow journey back to a new normal. Within APS, we’ve done a lot to not only resume all our regular activities, but also to work on some big projects that will shape our work for years to come. I’m proud of our accomplishments over the past year, particularly given all the challenges we’ve continued to face with the COVID-19 pandemic.

First, let’s start with our core work. In 2021, we fielded 66,676 reports and conducted 48,879 investigations.

That’s tens of thousands of potential vulnerable adults that we assisted to find the resources and supports they need to be safe and to receive the assistance they need. This is the work that all of us, regardless of our day-today jobs, help to support in one way or another.

Beyond the essential tasks of fielding reports and conducting investigations, we have also been building toward improving our processes to better serve our state’s vulnerable adults. Here are some of the projects we took on over the last year:

“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” - C.S. Lewis

• We piloted the risk and safety screening tools with our regional staff and in September staff began implementing the safety screening on all investigations. The safety screening tool ensures that our APS program has a standard way to approach safety concerns for alleged victims, is in line with national best practices and is meeting our stated goals by explicitly addressing safety for alleged victims.

• We partnered with the UW to create a forensic interviewing curriculum. In the fall, our APS staff began attending trainings on the curriculum so that forensic interviewing can become the APS standard approach for conducting interviews of alleged victims.

• All APS WACs are now in their own chapter, separate from HCS WACs, in chapter 388-103 WAC Despite all the challenges we faced over the last year, we accomplished a lot, and I’m so proud of all of your hard work. I’m looking forward to all we’ll accomplish in the coming year!

EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

The Washington State Office of Equity website (https://equity.wa.gov/) launched on Friday, December 10, 2021.

This website provides visitors with full access to resources, toolkits, and data needed to ensure everyone in Washington has the opportunities, power, and resources they need to flourish and achieve their full potential.

The website is a work in progress. Expect more features to be rolled out to the website in early-2022.

The website is accessible to you, from any device, and you are able to easily find the information you need.

What You Can Expect

Key Color-Coded Sections: • • • • •

People: Centering communities. Creating Change.

Consulting: Consulting services for innovative, just, and equitable change.

Data: Real numbers and real stories that represent real people most affected by inequity and injustice.

Policy: Equity and justice for all is the law.

Us Plus: Equity and justice for all, statewide across state government. Listen to Governor Inslee’s message here.

Check out this video provided by the ALTSA EDI Team: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D_mcXywejQ 04

UPDATES AND Our grant work continues through the end of 2021 and beyond. Presently, our program has three active federal grants with multiple ongoing projects and objectives tied to each which are detailed below.

3-year Administration for Community Living - Enhancing APS Grant:

• The safety screening tool has been integrated into the APS Academy training.

• Forensic Interviewing training continues for investigators in how to use the technique for alleged victim interviews.

• APS will be partnering with ADvancing States to review nation-wide practices and policies for self-neglect investigations.

COVID Response and Relief grant:

• Each region continues to utilize the funding to make purchases for alleged victims in need. To date, APS has spent $27,225.97 to support 80 alleged victims.

• An external marketing company has developed both a 30-second and a 2-minute video for APS to use for a Spring/Summer 2022 marketing campaign and for community partner meetings.

• 12 APS staff across the state have been trained in mental health first aid.

• 3 Administrative Assistant positions (one per region) have been approved for hire to act as support for the regions with primary responsibilities around recruitment and hiring activities.

• APS has purchased personal protective equipment for staff and items to support continued remote working conditions.

• Headquarters Outreach and Engagement Specialists in each region continue to meet with regional leadership to identify top priority areas for support including client services contracts, community relationship building, staff recruitment, and resource deployment.

American Rescue Plan grant:

• The contract for the program evaluation with the University of Washington has been finalized and the kickoff meeting was held in early December. The program evaluation will involve review of APS policies, practices, organizational structure, and data on the populations we serve. The evaluation will take 2 full years and will end with recommendations for enhancements to the program.

• APS is working to finalize contracts with 5 federally recognized Tribes for them to provide goods to their vulnerable adult population, establish community outreach, review or establish their elder codes, among other activities.

If you have questions about any of the grants or grant activities, please contact Victoria Gawlik Morse : Victoria.GawlikMorse@dshs.wa.gov

Stay Tuned

Changes are coming to the Long-Term Care Manual Chapter 6! APS will be releasing a new version of Chapter 6 in late January/early February 2022. Make sure to review and provide comment during the 14-day review period. Your feedback is important to a successful final product.

APS Headquarters staff are currently working on a new platform for APS policy and procedure. This new platform is expected to launch sometime in 2022. This new platform will make it easier for staff to search, find, and track new policy and procedure.

INFORMATION

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REGIONAL EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT Region 1 has chosen Sandra “Sandy” Psiurski as our feature staff because she is an APS super-star who maintains her focus and energies on the good work of investigating and protecting vulnerable persons. Sandy started with APS as an Investigator in November 2019, coming to us from Canada as a Patient Care Quality Investigator where she received and resolved complaints toward better health care for others. Sandy has a passion for protecting and advocating for others and in particular people over age 60 who need more support as they age.

Sandra (Sandy) Psiurski utilities or water.

Sandy’s work with APS happens within the rural Okanogan County. Sandy adds that a large part of the area does not have access to in-home care services, cellular services, home-delivered meal services; the majority of the folks that Sandy works with live “off-grid” without connection to public

Sandy is characterized by hope balanced with a practical ability to resolve problems. She recognizes the value of understanding that behaviors and actions, especially for persons with compromised ability to make decisions or manage all aspects of their lives, occur within a context and for a reason, and that solutions involve focusing on a person’s goal, strengths and needed supports and services (sounds a bit like our Motivational Interviewing, doesn’t it?).

I want to take this opportunity to shine the light on Region 2’s awesome Administrative Team, Amber Stryker, our super star Regional Operations Manager and Parris Grozier, our amazing Administrative Assistant 4.

They both bring such a positive light to work with a can-do attitude even when faced with some of the most difficult situations to navigate. They both have been with APS less than a year but have managed to do so much already to provide needed support to the Region.

Parris Grozier & Amber Stryker

Amber took on the responsibility of the grant-funded purchase cards, devised a process for their use and works with staff on strategizing creative ways to utilize the funding for supporting our clients. Parris is working on becoming an excellent FARMer taking on completing FARM actions for Region 2 managers. We are so lucky to have both Amber and Parris as part of the Region 2 APS Team!

I would like to spotlight Meera Ramsingh-Seal. Meera is a very compassionate, honest and knowledgeable Program Manager. During the pandemic, she has stayed steady in trying to help keep Region 3 afloat. Meera is always supportive of her staff and is willing to help whenever she can. Meera is a valued member of our Region’s Executive Management Team and I am grateful to work with her.

Meera Ramsingh-Seal

“We are what we repeatedly do.

Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.”

- Aristotle 08

REGION 1 APS received a referral in September 2021 related to an allegation of neglect. The referral indicated the 52-year-old had a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy and mobility challenges and was being neglected by his 73-year-old mother who shared the same residence.

During the initial visit, there was no response to the APS worker. The blinds were closed, and APS could not ascertain whether somebody was in the home. However, a few days later, the APS investigator received a phone call from the client. The client was hiding under a blanket and whispering to the point the investigator was having trouble hearing him. When asked why he was whispering, he said, “I do not want my mom to hear.” When asked if he was safe, he responded, “I am feeling better now I know someone is on the case.

I think my mom will be mad.” He later shared his mother would go through his phone, so he would erase messages and phone calls so she would not be aware of who he was communicating with.

The client and investigator agreed upon a time later that same day when his son would be available to answer the door as he was dependent on others to do this task. When the mother realized APS was at the home, she motioned for the client to stay in his room and she would “take care of it” and she attempted to keep the investigator from meeting with the client stating she was concerned about COVID risks for her son.

Due to the quick thinking of the investigator and determination of the client, the investigator was able to meet with him in private on the front porch.

The client was visibly underweight for his body stature and his stained clothing was hanging from him.

He immediately began crying and was emotional as he pulled up his shirt and showed the investigator his visible ribs and sores on his arm.

REGIONAL SUCCESS STORIES

He expressed safety concerns stating that he was scared to return inside the home, uncertain if he would be safe, and he agreed to allow Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to be contacted for transportation to the hospital for evaluation.

Prior to EMS arrival, the client shared his mother found a diet online and since then began to tell him what he could and could not eat. The client stated he would go from 5:30 pm until 7:00 am without food and was provided with 1 bottle of fruit flavored water per day, which he tried to make last all day. The client was barely provided any food and most days would get ½ cup of cereal, 2 nutrition supplement shakes and ½ sandwich and then later in the day the other ½ sandwich. The client was not allowed any snacks in-between meals and all snacks were kept from him in his mother’s room. The client described feeling like he was living in a concentration camp.

The client had no idea how much he received in Social Security or that he received food benefits as both went directly to his mother as she was in charge of his money. The client shared being interviewed by the APS investigator on the front porch was the first time he was allowed outside the home in 3 months.

The client was transported to the hospital and later stated he was grateful to be in the hospital. He stated his hygiene, medical, and nutritional needs were met, which was a stark contrast to the environment at his mother’s residence.

APS assisted in getting the client a protection order against his mother, a referral to victim advocacy, professional payee services and placement into an AFH. The client was excited to be going to an AFH with guys who liked sports and would allow him some freedoms and he was happy knowing he could go shopping at Walmart and go out in the community.

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REGION 2 On October 28, Mathew Blood shadowed his new investigator, David Wani, to a home for financial and personal exploitation concerns. While at the home, they were unable to initially contact the client, although a dog was heard barking inside.

Before leaving, David demonstrated due diligence by walking around the side of the home.

The client was observed naked, sleeping on the floor in the home, uncovered. Mathew and David sprung to action and contacted EMS, who responded and evaluated the client, determining she needed to be transported to the hospital. She reported she had been sleeping on the floor for close to three days without help.

This attention to detail and due diligence assisted our client in receiving medical care and is a success story.

REGION 3

These two individual examples are just a few of the many in which an APS investigator has changes someone’s life for the positive.

In the last couple of months the Region 3 Financial Exploitation team (FE) has been working through extremely complex investigations involving hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars. Each FE Specialist has difficult challenges with these complex cases, but recently Regina Quirk had a couple cases in which her work was key in ensuring the safety of the clients. During one instance Regina investigated two individuals who financially exploited a client for over $2.4 million combined. Regina was able to obtain a full guardianship, despite protests from the individuals, at which time it was discovered the clients’ care needs were not being met by the current caregivers. Because of Regina’s work the client was able to receive appropriate caregiving and treatment he may not have otherwise received.

On a separate case, through diligent follow-up on a transfer investigation, Regina was able to convince the client to reach out to family he had been isolated from by the alleged perpetrators and accept services. This client had been in a dangerous situation which eventually led to a fire in his home. Through Regina’s work, and the acceptance of services, the client moved to a safe location and the investigations were concluded with findings against the two individuals of almost $2.5 million. The client went from a life risking situation to being reunited with his family and receiving appropriate care because of the work Regina did.

Regional Success Stories Continued

Sarah Cox Internal Controls and Investigations Manager How long have you been with APS? I’ve just reached my two-year anniversary at APS.

Headquarters SPOTLIGHT

What’s the best part about your role with APS?

The best part of my role at APS is that I get to interact with so many people from all over the state and with all different backgrounds who work in different ways to support our vulnerable citizens. We’re all working on the same mission but everyone brings different perspectives and has different job functions, which keeps things really interesting.

What are your work goals for the next year?

My goal is to continue to nurture the employee investigations unit. Since we’re relatively new I want to make sure the team has a solid foundation on which to be successful, and I want APS and other administrations we assist to get to know us and become familiar with our work and what we can offer. Ultimately, I hope people can be comfortable with talking to us and I want staff to feel confident that the investigations we conduct are impartial and thorough.

Anything else you’d like to add? (Please add stuff that maybe people don’t know about you).

I’m an animal lover with two beagles who are the center of my universe. I’ve only been in Washington since 2019 but it’s my favorite place I’ve ever lived.

TIVA 2 Updates

• Updates to Date/Time Picker - Time can now be entered manually by typing directly into the hour and minute fields. Indicate the time as “AM” or “PM” with the toggle to the right of the minute field. Note: TIVA2 uses standard time to indicate hours (1-12), not military time.

• Copy Previous Intake - Intakes in TIVA2 can be copied into a new report.

• Case Note Type Update - “AP Telephone Contact” has been added to the Iinvestigation case note list.

• Add “Reason for Restriction” field - Along with the “Restricted” checkbox, intakes and investigations now have a “Reason for Restriction” dropdown list. This is a required field when an investigation is marked as “Restricted”.

Upcoming Changes • Assessment Library with the Safety Screening Assessment as the first build • Investigation Transfer Report 12

GETTING TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER Understanding how our unique experiences contribute to a diverse workforce

Have you ever met someone and you can instantly tell they are a compassionate person? Their smile, energy, laugh, mannerisms and authentic love for life and desire to help others just seem to radiate. That is Thrisa Phillips, an APS Investigator in Region 2; Bellingham Office.

For nearly all her career Thrisa has worked in Social Services.

Prior to joining APS she spent time working at the Department of Children Youth and Services (DCYF) where she supported tribal cases that courts were involved in. She also spent some of her career as a supervisor for an in-home care service provider and worked with children who had adverse childhood experiences and needed additional supports.

Thrisa joined APS in 2020 after a former DCYF colleague had transferred to APS and was sharing how much she enjoyed it.

Thrisa attended Eastern Washington University where she received her undergraduate in Children’s Studies. She is currently

THRISA PHILLIPS - APS INVESTIGATOR, REGION 2

THRISA’S STORY (CONTINUED)

“She was talking about the atmosphere and how supportive the division was. And she was right. I love it here. My supervisors are supportive, my colleagues are supportive, and I love that I am making a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable adults.” studying for her MSW at the University of Washington and hopes to someday use her professional experience and education to offer therapies to tribal communities within Washington.

“I want to create a safe space for people to process trauma through a culturally responsive and trauma informed lens.”

A member of the Nooksack Tribe, Thrisa’s cultural is very important to her. She is involved in a lot of tribal experiences such as Canoe Racing and Canoe Journey. Participating in these activities is a deeply personal and amazing experience.

For the Canoe Journey, tribes from all over the Pacific Northwest from the coast of Alaska, British Columbia, Oregon and Washington State travel by Canoe to visit other Nations en route to the final host destination. For Canoe races, tribes from the Pacific Northwest come together to race their canoes. While Thrisa has not been able to actively race for several years, this is a cultural practice that is very important to her.

A wife and mother of five children, Thrisa spends a lot of time with her family. She helps her husband operate a small family business, The Coastal Canvas, out of their home, which specializes in providing traditional Coast Salish designs on jewelry and home goods. In the coming year she hopes to continue pursuing her degree, being with loved ones and growing both personally and professionally.

“Our culture is our way of life.

Even when I am at my job, my culture still governs my actions. As a Nooksack, we are very humble and prayerful people. And we are very mindful and aware.

Protecting and supporting elders is very important.”

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Coffee Break with Kathy

January 25, 2022 | 9:00 AM

Grab a cup of coffee and call-in to chat with APS Director Kathy Morgan!

This casual chat is the perfect opportunity to learn about what’s new with APS and ask any question you’d like!

Want to learn more about employee engagement, training, roadshow updates or Kathy’s favorite restaurant? Ask away!

She’s happy to chat about anything.

Clear HERE to register!

UPCOMING | APS EVENTS APS COVID-19 Updates: Please click here to register for all events.

• Wednesday, February 9, 2022 from 9am-9:30am • Wednesday, March 9, 2022 from 9am-9:30am

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