In state fiscal year 2022-2023, county departments of social services in North Carolina received 35,400 reports alleging the abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults. Fifty-six counties across the state have addressed this problem through creating adult protection multidisciplinary teams (MDTs)—groups of professionals from different disciplines who work together to prevent and respond to abuse, neglect, and exploitation of disabled and/or older adults. An additional 38 North Carolina counties are currently working to form adult protection MDTs. The School of Government’s Adult Protection Network is excited to announce a redesigned Adult Protection Network website with new resources for those in the adult protection field, including new online trainings and an MDT Toolkit with template documents for adult protection MDTs.
New Tools and Training for Adult Protection Professionals
Through funding from the North Carolina Department Health and Human Services, the School of Government’s Adult Protection Network has created the following resources for those involved in protecting vulnerable adults. These resources are intended for a wide variety of audiences, including department of social services staff, law enforcement officials, prosecutors, clerks of court, guardians ad litem, mental health professionals, and MDT coordinators.
- The Adult Protection Network Website: This is a central hub for resources regarding adult protection in North Carolina, including a resource library, a Help Desk providing technical assistance to adult protection MDTs, a directory of adult protection MDTs across North Carolina, and a calendar of upcoming events in the adult protection field. Resources on the site including tools and FAQs built around topics such as understanding the adult protection system, adult guardianship, financial exploitation, reporting abuse, criminal and civil legal remedies, state agencies involved in adult protection, and adult protection MDTs.
- The Adult Protection MDT Toolkit: The MDT Toolkit is a collection of sample documents that can be downloaded and adapted for use when creating, building, or maintaining an adult protection MDT. The Toolkit includes planning worksheets, sample protocols, and templates that cover various aspects of an adult protection MDT’s creation, growth, and rejuvenation. Among other resources, the Toolkit features a sample memorandum of understanding for adult protection MDTs and a sample client authorization to use and disclose confidential information.
- Online Modules and Webinars: The Adult Protection Network website features two new training series for those involved in protecting vulnerable adults.
- The Basics: Building Adult Protection Multidisciplinary Teams is an online training series with 13 short, interactive videos on introductory topics related to the creation, growth, and expansion of adult protection MDTs.
- Beyond the Basics: Strengthening Adult Protection Multidisciplinary Teams is a series of five interactive webinars that explore key tools engaged by adult protection MDTs and the roles of the professionals who serve on these teams. This includes webinars on guardianship, the role of the prosecutor, the role of adult protective services, the state mental health system, and confidentiality/information sharing.
Connecting with Support
Want to see if there’s an adult protection MDT in your county, or connect with others involved in this work? Our map of North Carolina shows which counties have active MDTs, along with contact information for their MDT coordinators. Need support for starting a new MDT or maintaining an existing one? Contact the Adult Protection Network’s Help Desk, which offers technical assistance and consultation for adult protection MDTs and professionals involved with protecting vulnerable adults. Want to receive regular email updates about training opportunities, resources, and insights in the adult protection field? Join the Adult Protection Network’s listserv for weekly updates.