Mesa County, Colorado
Human Services
Protective Services
Protective Services
| September 2, 2010 |
| 510 29½ Road Grand Junction, CO 81502 (970)241-8480 |
- Target Population:
- At-risk adults 18 years of age and older who are unable to protect their own interests and who are in need of assessment for protection or short term services due to a report of actual or potential neglect, abuse, or exploitation.
- At-risk adults for whom the county department has guardianship or conservatorship or individuals the county department is the representative payee for.
- Services to at-risk adults in this program are provided without regard to income or resources.
- Services Provided:
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- Intake:
- The county department receives and documents oral and written reports of mistreatment of at-risk adults. If it appears that a criminal wrong doing has been committed, the county department makes an immediate referral to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
- Assessment:
- The immediate focus of the assessment is to determine the safety and well being of the at-risk adult and to offer services to address those concerns. Depending upon the severity of the report, the department makes a face-to-face contact with the victim within 24 hours (immediate danger) or within three working days to further assess the situation. The assessment includes an evaluation of the at-risk adult's status including but not limited to: physical appearance, living environment, physical/mental health, ability to give informed consent, ability to perform activities of daily living, social environment and economic situation.
- Case planning:
- When evidence of mistreatment is established and the client consents to ongoing protective services involvement, services can continue for as long as the threat of mistreatment remains. Emphasis is placed upon utilization of family and other informal support systems whenever possible. The client's right to self-determination (client choice) and the least restrictive alternative for treatment and placement are practices strictly adhered to by the county department.
- Court Sanctioned Intervention:
- In special circumstance cases the county department may petition the court for legal guardianship of an incapacitated adult. These cases are rare and only occur when no available or appropriate family or friend can assume this responsibility and the client's incapacitation is supported by medical or psychiatric documentation.
- Adult Protection Review Team:
- The county department works closely with an interdisciplinary team of community agencies and professionals who review county department adult protection cases. This advisory team provides consultation and expertise in the areas of assessment/investigation, policy and procedural reviews, intervention and treatment recommendations and community education regarding adult protection issues. Review team members are subject to written by-laws concerning such areas as team purpose, membership, leadership, terms of office and confidentiality.
- Reporting of Known or Suspected Abuse:
- Anyone who has observed or has reason to believe that an adult is at-risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation may call law enforcement or the Mesa County Department of Human Services at 248-2888. Individuals who make reports of abuse or neglect in good faith are immune from any civil or criminal liability. Disclose of identifying information regarding the name and address of the at-risk adult as well as the name of the reporting party is not permitted unless authorized by the court for good cause.
