Chuck
November 16th, 2004, 04:37 PM
FRANKFORT -- Poor communication and coordination between agencies is
hampering the state's ability to protect its vulnerable adults, a
legislative report says.
The report, drafted by the Program Review and Investigations Committee
of the Legislative Research Commission, says Kentucky adult protective
services is suffering from inadequate funding, oversight and
communication which it says "undermines the goal of protection."
Recommendations to improve the system are included in the report, which
was presented to the Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary today.
Sen. Katie Stine, R-Fort Thomas, co-chair of the Program Review and
Investigations Committee, explained that the recommendations are not a
panacea but are necessary.
"We're not trying to conquer the world. We're just trying to make one
little corner of it work right," she said.
Legislation will likely be introduced in the 2005 Regular Session of the
Kentucky General Assembly based on the recommendations, which include:
* Revising the Department for Community Based Services' standards
of practice to identify times when department employees should call law
enforcement to explain a situation.
* Mandatory, timely training on adult abuse, neglect and
exploitation for Department for Community Based Services social workers,
law enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges.
* The Cabinet for Health and Family Services and other state
agencies should work with local agencies and advocacy groups to share
information about adult abuse.
* The governor should consider creating a new office to oversee
coordination of adult protective services.
* The Department for Community Based Services should gather state
and county data on investigated allegations of abuse, neglect and
exploitation and the outcome of these investigations. That data should
be provided to state and local groups.
* Design and implement a computer information system that allows
for easy exchange of case data between agencies.
hampering the state's ability to protect its vulnerable adults, a
legislative report says.
The report, drafted by the Program Review and Investigations Committee
of the Legislative Research Commission, says Kentucky adult protective
services is suffering from inadequate funding, oversight and
communication which it says "undermines the goal of protection."
Recommendations to improve the system are included in the report, which
was presented to the Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary today.
Sen. Katie Stine, R-Fort Thomas, co-chair of the Program Review and
Investigations Committee, explained that the recommendations are not a
panacea but are necessary.
"We're not trying to conquer the world. We're just trying to make one
little corner of it work right," she said.
Legislation will likely be introduced in the 2005 Regular Session of the
Kentucky General Assembly based on the recommendations, which include:
* Revising the Department for Community Based Services' standards
of practice to identify times when department employees should call law
enforcement to explain a situation.
* Mandatory, timely training on adult abuse, neglect and
exploitation for Department for Community Based Services social workers,
law enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges.
* The Cabinet for Health and Family Services and other state
agencies should work with local agencies and advocacy groups to share
information about adult abuse.
* The governor should consider creating a new office to oversee
coordination of adult protective services.
* The Department for Community Based Services should gather state
and county data on investigated allegations of abuse, neglect and
exploitation and the outcome of these investigations. That data should
be provided to state and local groups.
* Design and implement a computer information system that allows
for easy exchange of case data between agencies.