APS investigates allegations of physical and sexual abuse, caretaker neglect, exploitation and harmful acts collectively referred to as "mistreatment" and self-neglect of at-risk adults.
APS offers protective services to improve the health, safety, and welfare of at-risk adult experiencing mistreatment or self-neglect. APS uses community-based services and resources, health care services, family and friends when appropriate, and other support systems while protecting the at-risk adult's right to confidentiality, self-determination, and least-restrictive intervention.
Colorado operates as a state supervised, county administered system. The county department APS programs:. Senate Bill was signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis on June 17, This law authorized CDHS to establish a pilot practice involving a dual-track approach to APS cases, where an alternative response AR is used for low risk allegations of mistreatment against at-risk adults and for allegations of self-neglect involving at-risk adults.
In the AR option, initial visits with at-risk adults may be scheduled rather than being unannounced, and findings are not made concerning allegations of mistreatment or self-neglect. The AR pilot is intended to enhance opportunities for APS staff, clients, and their families to work together to best meet the needs of at-risk adults and mitigate harm in a supportive way.
The AR Pilot launched on January 4, A copy of the approved Rulemaking packet can be found here. Additionally, here you can find a document that provides a condensed summary outlining the changes to the rules.
