Adult Protective Services
Training for
Excellence
Strengthening Adult Protective Services in Wisconsin.
Ensuring the safety and dignity of vulnerable adults requires well-informed, skilled professionals. Our comprehensive training program equips Adult Protective Services (APS) staff and supervisors with essential knowledge and best practices for effective service delivery.
Our Program at a Glance
Find out more about our Adult Protective Services (APS) training program.
Dates
Online Anytime
Online
Three Self-Paced Training Modules
Cost
$25
What is Adult Protective Services?
Adult Protective Services (APS) is a social services program that seeks to promote the safety, independence and quality of life of adults with disabilities and older adults who are at risk of harm due to concerns of abuse, neglect and financial exploitation.
High-Quality Training
Three self-paced training modules and a two-part live online session offer a comprehensive understanding of APS.
Equip yourself with knowledge, skills and best practices that enhance APS effectiveness. Whether you're an APS worker, supervisor or stakeholder, our training provides the tools you need to navigate challenges and serve clients with excellence.
- Expert-led sessions: Learn from experienced professionals in investigation, safety, legal processes and supervision.
- Comprehensive curriculum: Expand your knowledge of foundational skills, regulatory requirements, investigative techniques and trauma-informed supervision.
- Culturally-competent approach: Discover best practices for working with diverse populations and tribal members.
- Wisconsin-specific guidance: Navigate state policies, reporting requirements and court roles with confidence.
- Collaborative insights: Devise strategies for multi-disciplinary partnerships and information sharing.
Self-Paced Modules
Our self-paced training comprises three online modules. We recommend both the self-paced training and one live online session for a more comprehensive understanding of APS best practices.
Foundation
Self-Paced Module 1
Our foundational module covers:
- Financial exploitation: An overview of current virtual scams and frauds, investigation standards, education regarding appropriate regulatory oversight and criminal responses.
- Communication skills: Respectful communication, active listening, working through resistance and verbal de-escalation.
- Culturally-sensitive practice: Things to consider in working with clients from diverse groups, an overview of best practice techniques for cultural sensitivity.
- Documentation: Best practice for case documentation standards.
- APS worker safety: Screening and preparation for home visit, tips for safety at community visits, when to involve law enforcement and creating safe settings for victims.
Wisconsin Process
Self-Paced Module 2
Wisconsin-specific guidance includes:
- APS system: Overview of Wisconsin APS system, requirements of elder at risk and adult at risk agencies and summary of program oversight.
- Reporting and intake: Limited mandated reporters, APS reports and required responses, jurisdiction and conflict of interest.
- Investigations: Requirements for APS response to APS reports, including investigative techniques, findings and outcomes.
- Wisconsin alternate decision-makers: Overview of types of legal decision makers and authority.
- Service provision: Applying concepts such as least-restrictive intervention and person-centered planning.
- APS court role: Statutory requirements, emphasizing least restrictive first.
- Collaboration: Coordination on investigations and investigative outcomes, information sharing between partners and multi-disciplinary.
- APS record standards: Case documentation standards.
- Working with tribal members: Process for working effectively with tribal members.
Supervisory Training
Self-Paced Module 3
Develop essential leadership skills:
- Supervision: Trauma-informed supervision techniques and debriefing for difficult cases.
- Quality assurance: How to include quality measures and audits to ensure program integrity.
- Program data: Review of program data and tools for reporting activity to stakeholders.
- Resources: Review of local, regional and statewide resources to assist with APS concerns.
Partnering to Protect
UW-Green Bay is the exclusive partner of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) in providing comprehensive online training for Adult Protective Services (APS) professionals across the state. This partnership plays a critical role in equipping county and tribal APS workers with the knowledge and skills they need to protect vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect and exploitation. As the state's trusted training provider, UW-Green Bay ensures that the curriculum aligns with current laws, best practices and the evolving needs of the workforce.
Need Guidance?
If you have any questions or need additional guidance, please contact Kerry Winkler, Program Manager, Continuing Professional Education.