Our Adult Protective Services program works to protect disabled adults from abuse, neglect or exploitation. In the state of North Carolina, the criteria for screening in an adult protective services report are: the adult is alleged to be disabled, the adult is alleged to be abused, neglected and/or exploited and the adult is in need of protection.
The disability may be due to advanced age, disease, injury, or developmental condition. Social workers evaluate to determine if there has been mistreatment and if the adult is in need of protection. If so, essential services are provided that will protect the adult from the abuse, neglect or exploitation that he or she is experiencing.
Reporting Adult Abuse, Neglect or Exploitation
Anyone having concerns that an elderly or disabled person is unsafe or is being mistreated should make a report. Reports can be made anonymously.
During normal working hours, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday, you may make a report by calling the Dare County Department of Health and Human Services – Division of Social Services at 252-475-5500 and tell the receptionist that you would like to make an APS report. After 5:00 pm nights, weekends, and holidays, please call Dare Central Communications at 252-473-3444 and tell the dispatcher that you would like to make an APS report. If it is an emergency, please call 911.
DO NOT use email to report suspected incidents of adult abuse, neglect or exploitation. It causes delays and confidentiality may not be ensured.
What happens after a report is made?
If a report is accepted for evaluation, a response time is determined and the report is assigned to an Adult Protective Services social worker. The social worker will be tasked with initiating the report immediately, within 24 hours or 72 hours, depending on the allegations made in the report.
For reports of abuse and neglect, the social worker has 30 days to complete a community evaluation. The evaluation explores all aspects of the adult’s life: physical and mental health, living situation, family supports and finances. Contact is made with family and any collateral contacts the social worker may have. Medical records are also reviewed.
For reports of exploitation, the social worker has 45 days to complete the community evaluation.
For all reports, the social worker must determine if the allegations reported are true (confirm mistreatment) and if the adult is in need of protection (substantiate the allegations/need for protection). If the adult is in need of protection, this means the adult is not willing and/or able to provide essential services and there is no one who is able and/or willing to provide essential services.
What happens after a case decision is made?
If allegations are unsubstantiated, there is no need for protection at that time. The social worker may make referrals to community resources in efforts to maintain stability for the adult.
If allegations are substantiated, the adult can accept or refuse protective services to be put in place by the social worker. Protective services may include but are not limited to assistance with medical care, transportation, assistance in the home through in-home aide services or placement in facility. If the adult does not have the capacity to make their own decisions, as determined by the social worker, it may be necessary to file a court petition to assist the adult.
If the reporter was not anonymous, the social worker will send a letter indicating the outcome of the evaluation. Anonymous reports will receive no case decision information.
