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THE STATE AGENCY WATCHING OUT
FOR VULNERABLE ADULTS IS
FALLING DOWN ON THE JOB,
ACCORDING TO A NEW AUDIT.
AUDIT. 24 NEWS 8'S BARTON
DEITERS IS DIGGING THROUGH
THAT AUDIT TO FIND OUT WHAT IS
BEING DONE TO MAKE SURE THAT
OUR SENIORS ARE SAFE. BARTON?
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THE STATE AUDITOR GENERAL
SAYS THAT MICHIGAN'S ADULT
PROTECTIVE SERVICES IS NOT
DOING WHAT IT SHOULD TO MAKE
SURE THAT REPORTS OF ABUSE AND
NEGLECT ARE BEING QUICKLY AND
THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED. IN
FACT-- THE REPORT JUST
RELEASED TODAY SHOWS US THAT
PROBLEMS FROM TWO YEARS AGO--
STILL HAVEN'T BEEN FIXED.
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THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES--
WHICH OVERSEES THE STATE'S
ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES
DIVISION, EVEN ADMITS THE APS
DIDN'T MAKE MANY IMPROVEMENTS
IT SAID IT WOULD.
WOULD. ((1:08-11)) ((03))
((BOB WHEATON, SPOKESPERSON
FOR THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES))
"WE MUST DO MORE TO PROTECT
VULNERABLE ADULTS."IN 2014,
THE AUDITOR FOUND THAT APS
FAILED TO FOLLOW UP WITH CASE
WORKERS WHEN IT CAME TO
UNADDRESSED ALLEGATIONS,
INCOMPLETE TREATMENT PLANS AND
MISSED FACE-TO-FACE CONTACTS.
THIS YEAR THE AUDITOR FOUND
ONLY SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT IN
THAT AREA.
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((1:26-39)) ((13)) ((BOB
WHEATON, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES)) "WE'RE
CONTINUING TO IMPLEMENT
CORRECTIVE ACTIONS BECAUSE
PROTECTING VULNERABLE
RESIDENTS OF MICHIGAN -
WHETHER THEY'RE CHILDREN ON
ADULTS - IS A TOP PRIORITY OF
OUR DEPARTMENT." THE AGENCY IS
SUPPOSED TO MAKE SOME KIND OF
INITIAL CONTACT IN ABUSE
REPORTS WITHIN 24 HOURS AND
ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A
FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT WITHIN 72
HOURS.KENT COUNTY'S ADULT
PROTECTIVE SERVICES FARED THE
WORST IN THIS AREA... COMPARED
TO EVERY OTHER COUNTY IN THE
STATE.BUT, WHEATON STRESSES
IMPROVEMENTS áHAVEá BEEN MADE
IN REVIEWING AND REPORTING,
AND MAKING SURE ALL
ALLEGATIONS ARE REVIEWED.
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((9:04-9:07)) ((07)) ((BOB
WHEATON, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
AND HUMAN SERVICES)) "THESE
VULNERABLE ADULTS ARE SAFER
THAN THEY WERE IN 2014."KAY
SCHOLLE IS AN INDEPENDENT
ADVOCATE WORKING WITH THE AREA
AGENCY ON AGING . SHE TELLS ME
IT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE
THAT THE AGENCY IS HAVING
TROUBLE DOING ITS JOB.
JOB. ((15:30:38-51)) ((13))
((KAYE SCHOLLE, ADULT CARE
OMBUDSMAN)) THEY HAVE 124
INDIVIDUALS THAT RESPOND TO
CONCERNS ABOUT ABUSE TO
CHILDREN, BUT YOU GO BACK TO
THE FACT THAT WE HAVE ONLY SIX
OR EIGHT FOR THE WHOLE ADULT
POPULATION."SHE SAID THE
PROBLEM IS NOT THAT ADULT
PROTECTIVE SERVICES WORKERS
ARE LAZY OR DON'T CARE... IN
FACT, SHE BELIEVES MOST OF
THEM ARE VERY DEDICATED. BUT
BELIEVES NEW STRATEGIES
WITHOUT MORE STAFF WON'T HELP.
((15:32:19-24)) ((05)) ((KAYE
SCHOLLE, ADULT CARE
OMBUDSMAN)) "DON'T SET
YOURSELF UP FOR
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FAILURE WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE
THE GOOD BASIS TO DO THAT."
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THE AUDITOR WILL CONTINUE TO
MONITER THE PROGESS OF THE
STATE ADULT PROTECTIVE
SERVICES AGENCY, BUT MADE NO
