Given Ohio’s rapidly aging population and Governor Mike DeWine’s commitment to health and human services, The Center for Community Solutions is pleased by the General Assembly’s choice to increase the adult protective services (APS) line-item.
The Center for Community Solutions is pleased by the General Assembly’s choice to increase the adult protective services line-item.
The increase brings the line-item from $2.74 million each year of the biennium (approximately $31,000 per county per year) to $4.23 million each year of the biennium. This will provide each county with roughly $48,000 each year. Line-item 600534 within the Ohio Jobs and Family Services (ODJFS) budget is the only specific source of state funding for APS. [bctt tweet="How did Adult Protective Services fare in the final version of the #OHBudget? Find out here" username="CommunitySols"]
Currently some counties choose to supplement this allocation with other funding to support staff and provide wraparound services, however other counties simply don’t have the means. This causes inconsistency in support for seniors across the state.
We are hopeful that this increase combined with continued policy change will ensure the state is a safe place to live for Ohioans of all ages.
While Community Solutions continuously advocated for an increase in this line-item to at least $5.72 million each year, which would have allowed an allocation of $65,000 per county to fully support one full-time, designated APS caseworker, $4.23 million is a move in the right direction to protect Ohio’s older adults.
APS plays a critical role to ensure the success and wellness of Ohioans age 60 and older who find themselves in vulnerable situations where they are in danger of or experiencing exploitation, neglect or abuse.
Through a partnership with state and county jobs and family services agencies, law enforcement and aging advocates, APS agencies have been able to provide timely investigations into alleged abuse and provide ongoing victim support.
We are hopeful that this increase combined with continued policy change will ensure the state is a safe place to live for Ohioans of all ages.
