049-1 Wyo. Code R. § 1-7

Current through April 27, 2019

Section 1-7 - Adult Protective Services Community Teams

(a) The Department's local office manager shall develop, facilitate and participate in the Adult Protection Teams within communities or local jurisdictions.

(b) Members of the Adult Protection Team shall include a Department representative and may also include, but are not limited to:

(i) Law enforcement representative;

(ii) County attorney;

(iii) Public health nurse;

(iv) Mental health professional;

(v) Senior citizen center staff;

(vi) Developmental disabilities specialist;

(vii) Domestic violence counselor;

(viii) Victims assistance advocate;

(ix) Medical professional;

(x) Department of Health, Office of Health Facilities representative;

(xi) Community Animal Control Officer;

(xii) Department of Family Services protective services supervisor;

(xiii) Ambulance Service personnel;

(xiv) Long Term Care Ombudsman;

(xv) Housing personnel, community members;

(xvi) Meals on Wheels staff; or

(xvii) Faith-based representation.

(c) The Department's local office manager is the chairperson of the Adult Protection Team. If the Department's local office manager elects not to chair the Adult Protection Team, the team may elect its own chairperson. The team may be chaired by someone other than Department but a representative of the Department must be present at the meetings.

(d) Each Adult Protection Team may develop operating policies. Any such operating policy shall include procedures for the selection of officers, scheduling of meetings, selection of cases for review and public education projects.

(e) Each Department representative shall enter data following their meeting into a spreadsheet found on a link on the Department data system. Data is complied on an annual basis.

(f) The Adult Protection Team shall support adult protection activities which includes, support and/or participation in local health fairs, Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and state and other community events in conjunction with the Department's local office and other community partners to assure the safety and well being of vulnerable adults.

(g) Adult Protection Team activities may include, but are not limited to:

(i) Staffing cases to advise and support the Department in determining necessary actions and services;

(ii) Community education and awareness, which also must be recorded on the APS community team spreadsheet;

(iii) Facilitating the provision of needed services;

(iv) Review of fatality cases that may have been related to abuse, neglect, exploitation, abandonment or self-neglect;

(v) Referral to a law enforcement agency; and/or

(vi) Referral to support services and partnering agencies.

(h) Records of the Adult Protection Team shall be confidential pursuant to Wyo. Stats. § § 35-20-108 and 35-20-112. In order to facilitate services to a vulnerable adult, the Department is authorized to divulge case particulars to Adult Protection Team members who sign a confidentiality agreement to protect the confidentiality of individual cases discussed at Adult Protection Team meetings

(i) The Department may form a State Level Adult Protection Team. Team membership may consist of representatives from other state agencies who have the appropriate expertise within the adult protection arena. Activities of a State Level Adult Protection Team may include those activities of an Adult Protection Team listed in (g) above. In addition, members shall form a statewide Fatality Review Team.

049-1 Wyo. Code R. § 1-7