Adult Protective Services

Overview

Adult Protective Services (APS) are provided to individuals over the age of 18 years who are at risk of harm due to their inability to care for and/or protect themselves or are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation of others.

To meet the criteria required for an APS investigation the individual must:

• Have reduced capacity for self-care.
• Be at risk of harm or have an unmet essential need.
• Have no appropriate person able or willing to assist them.

Staff investigates allegations, including but not limited to, mental, emotional, sexual, and physical abuse, self-neglect, unsafe living conditions, and financial exploitation.  APS workers develop service plans for individuals to remedy an identified unmet and/or essential need.  Services are provided either directly through the Adult Protective Services Unit or through referral to community-based agencies. 

Every adult is treated with respect, knowing that they have the right to make their own decisions. It is important to note that Adult Protective Services itself has no legal authority on its own to remove any person from their home or other settings or to take any involuntary action.  In limited cases and those with the most serious need, individuals are placed by the Court under the guardianship of the Commissioner of the Department of Family and Community Services. 

To make a referral to the Adult Protective Services Unit:

Call (315) 798-5968 during the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday.

If you have an immediate and potentially life-threatening concern, call 911.

Human Services Call Center:

You can call 1-844-697-3505 to reach the OCFS Human Services Call Center Helpline for the Bureau of Adult Services. Call center staff can answer basic questions and provide contact information about the Family Type Homes for Adults program and the Adult Protective Services program. They can also take messages to be sent to the local district.

The phone lines are open Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.