Dependency Law Finder

Replaces the term “victim” with “vulnerable adult.” Revises the policy on when to complete a Safety Assessment and Plan Revises the procedures for Safety Assessment and Plan Replaced the term “self-neglect report” with “Vulnerable Adult in Need of Services (VAINS)” Consolidates Chapters 1 and 2 into one chapter: Introduction to Adult Protective Services Revised policy in Chapter 3 for the Florida Abuse Hotline on acceptance of 2nd party and VAINS intakes Adds recipients of SSI/disability and SSA disability as automatic qualifiers as vulnerable adults Changes maltreatment finding from “verified” to “substantiated.” Adds Human trafficking definition to Exploitation and Sexual Abuse in Chapter 3 and in Appendix E: Maltreatments. Expands definition of alleged perpetrator for Sexual Abuse/Human trafficking to include Persons in a Position of Trust and Confidence Combines former chapters 13, 14 and 15 into one chapter - Chapter 12 Conducting Interviews Renumbers chapters Adds a new chapter - Chapter 15 – Vulnerable Adult in Need of Services Added required notification OPPG in Chapter 16, section 16-8 Adds a new Chapter – Chapter 21 – Team Approach to Special Facility Investigations for Registered Nurse Specialists and Protective Investigators Adds additional language to Chapter 19 Fatalities (Death Investigations) Provides procedure for Internal Findings Review Removes FSFN Scanning Guide from Appendix C and adds a table of when a medical professional opinion is required/preferred for certain maltreatments. Adds APS Definitions to Appendix D Adds maltreatments of Caregiver Unavailable, Decubitus, Exploitation of $50,000 or greater and Exploitation Less Than $50,000 to Appendix E Includes definitions of Human Trafficking to maltreatment codes of Exploitation and Sexual Abuse to Chapter 3 and Appendix E March 4, 2025 CFOP 140-2 Chapter 1 – INTRODUCTION TO ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES 1-1. Purpose and Intent ......................................................................

1. Chapter 1 – INTRODUCTION TO ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES p. 8
2. 1-1. Purpose and Intent p. 8
3. 1-2. Overview of Adult Protective Services p. 8
4. 1-3. Confidentiality of Reports and Records [Section 415.107, F.S.] p. 8
5. 1-4. Release of the Identity of the Reporter p. 8
6. 1-5. Privileged Communication p. 9
7. Chapter 2 – CRIMINAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS AND PENALTIES RELATING TO ABUSE, p. 10
8. 2-1. Purpose p. 10
9. 2-2. Criminal Action p. 10
10. 2-3. Criminal Penalties and Statutory Base p. 10
11. 2-4. Role of the Protective Investigator During Criminal Investigations p. 10
12. 2-5. Criminal Actions Against Protective Investigators p. 12
13. 2-6. Administrative Actions and Administrative Fines for False Reporting [section 415.1113, F.S.] p. 12
14. Chapter 3 – FLORIDA ABUSE HOTLINE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS p. 14
15. 3-1. Purpose p. 14
16. 3-2. Major Components of the Florida Abuse Hotline p. 14
17. 3-3. Florida Abuse Hotline p. 14
18. 3-4. Accepting the Call p. 15
19. 3-5. Categorizing the Call p. 15
20. 3-6. Report of Allegations of Abuse, Neglect, Financial Exploitation or Vulnerable Adult in Need of Services p. 15
21. 3-7. Knowledge of or Reasonable Cause to Suspect the Victim Is a Vulnerable Adult p. 18
22. 3-8. Knowledge of or Reasonable Cause to Suspect Abuse, Neglect, or Financial Exploitation by a Second p. 18
23. 3-9. Knowledge of or Reasonable Cause to Suspect That a Vulnerable Adult Is in Need of Services p. 18
24. 3-10. Table of Abuse, Neglect, Financial Exploitation and Self Neglect p. 19
25. 3-11. Processing and Documenting Abuse Reports by the Florida Abuse Hotline p. 19
26. 3-12. Allegations of Maltreatment p. 21
27. 3-13. Procedures for Taking Reports of Abuse, Neglect, Financial Exploitation, or Vulnerable Adult(s) in p. 22
28. 3-14. Information Obtained by the Hotline from the Reporter p. 28
29. 3-15. Response Priority p. 28
30. 3-16. Response Priority and Definitions p. 29
31. 3-17. Complaints p. 30
32. 3-18. Requests for Service Information p. 30
33. 3-19. Requests for Service Provision p. 31
34. 3-20. Statewide Alert and Request to Locate Calls p. 32
35. Chapter 4 – REPORT ASSIGNMENT p. 34
36. 4-1. Purpose p. 34
37. 4-2. Adult Protective Investigative Report Assignment by the Hotline p. 34
38. 4-3. Transmitting a Report to the Appropriate Adult Protective Investigative Unit p. 34
39. 4-4. Accepting a Report in the Adult Protective Investigative Unit p. 34
40. 4-5. Reassigning a Hotline Abuse Report p. 35
41. Chapter 5 – EMPLOYEES INVOLVED IN REPORTS OF ABUSE, NEGLECT OR FINANCIAL p. 39
42. 5-1. Purpose p. 39
43. 5-2. Scope p. 39
44. 5-3. Reporting Requirements p. 39
45. 5-4. Report Receipt and Processing at the Hotline p. 39
46. 5-5. Management Responsibilities p. 40
47. 5-6. Investigative Unit/Region Responsibilities p. 40
48. 5-7. Notification Protocol for Substantiated Reports Involving Departmental Staff or Contractors p. 41
49. Chapter 6 – PREPARATION FOR THE PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATION p. 42
50. 6-1. Purpose p. 42
51. 6-2. Key Tools to Have Available for Working the Investigation p. 42
52. 6-3. Key Participants p. 42
53. 6-4. Key Actions Prior to Conducting an On-Site Visit p. 44
54. Chapter 7 – COMMENCEMENT OF THE PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATION – COMMENCEMENT p. 46
55. 7-1. Purpose p. 46
56. 7-2. Definition of Protective Investigation p. 46
57. 7-3. Definition of Commencement p. 46
58. 7-4. Response Time Frames p. 47
59. 7-5. Changing a Response Time p. 48
60. 7-6. Locating the Vulnerable Adult p. 48
61. 7-7. Unable to Locate Victim After Diligent Search p. 49
62. 7-8. Vulnerable Adult in Need of Services (VAINS) vs p. 50
63. 7-9. Commencement of a Companion Intake with Allegations of Abuse, Neglect or Financial p. 50
64. Chapter 8 – ENTERING THE PREMISES p. 51
65. 8-1. Purpose p. 51
66. 8-2. Entering the Premises p. 51
67. 8-3. Voluntary (Non-Emergency) Entry of the Premises p. 51
68. 8-4. Failure to Gain Entry to the Premises p. 52
69. 8-5. Law Enforcement Entry p. 52
70. Chapter 9 – DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF THE VULNERABLE ADULT AND AUTHORITY TO p. 54
71. 9-1. Purpose p. 54
72. 9-2. Authority to Investigate p. 54
73. 9-3. Determine Eligibility of Alleged Victim as a Vulnerable Adult p. 54
74. 9-4. A Vulnerable Adult is a person 18 years of age or older p. 55
75. Chapter 10 – ASSESSING VULNERABLE ADULT’S CAPACITY TO CONSENT TO OR REFUSE p. 65
76. 10-1. Purpose p. 65
77. 10-2. Definition of Capacity to Consent To or Refuse Services p. 65
78. 10-3. Purpose of Assessing or Evaluating Capacity to Consent to or Refuse Services p. 65
79. 10-4. Assessment of Capacity to Consent to or Refuse Services p. 65
80. 10-5. When to Assess Capacity to Consent to or Refuse Services p. 67
81. 10-6. Changes to an Individual’s Capacity to Consent To or Refuse Services p. 68
82. 10-7. Assessment Criteria p. 68
83. 10-8. Document the Information in the Electronic Case Management System p. 70
84. Chapter 11 – VULNERABLE ADULT SAFETY ASSESSMENT AND PLAN p. 71
85. 11-1. Purpose p. 71
86. 11-2. Risk and Vulnerable Adult Safety p. 71
87. 11-3. Use of the Adult Safety Plan in the Determination of Risk p. 71
88. 11-4. Documentation of Safety Assessment and Plan p. 72
89. 11-5. Types of Safety Assessment and Plans During a Protective Investigation p. 73
90. 11-6. Follow Up Contact with the Vulnerable Adult at Report Closure p. 73
91. Chapter 12 – CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS p. 77
92. 12-1. Purpose p. 77
93. 12-2. Who To Interview p. 77
94. 12-3. Notification to Subjects of Report p. 77
95. 12-4. On-Site Face to Face and Initial Interview with the Vulnerable Adult p. 78
96. 12-5. Alleged Perpetrator (AP) p. 78
97. 12-6. Locate the AP p. 79
98. 12-7. Unable to Locate AP After Diligent Search p. 80
99. 12-8. Interview with the Alleged Perpetrator p. 81
100. 12-9. Situations That Prohibit an Interview with the AP p. 82
101. 12-10. Interview with AP when Report Allegations have Substantiated Findings p. 83
102. 12-11. Presence of Others in Interviews p. 83
103. 12-12. Who To Interview – Contacts p. 84
104. 12-13. Interview with the Reporter and Sources Identified by the Reporter p. 85
105. 12-14. Interview with Witnesses p. 85
106. 12-15. Household Members p. 86
107. 12-16. Caregiver/Guardian p. 86
108. 12-17. Document Collateral Contacts p. 86
109. 12-18. Observation Techniques p. 87
110. 12-19. Documentation p. 87
111. Chapter 13 – PROTECTIVE INVESTIGATIONS IN FACILITY SETTINGS p. 89
112. 13-1. Purpose p. 89
113. 13-2. Definition of Facility Settings for Purposes of this Chapter p. 89
114. 13-3. Preparation for the Facility Investigation p. 89
115. 13-4. Commencement of Investigations in Facility Settings p. 89
116. 13-5. Facility Reports Naming “All Residents” as Alleged Victims p. 90
117. 13-6. Gathering Evidence in Facility Settings p. 90
118. 13-7. Determining Capacity of Vulnerable Adult(s) in Facility Settings to Consent to or Refuse Services p. 91
119. 13-8. Documentation p. 91
120. 13-9. Conclusion of Investigations for Vulnerable Adult(s) in Facility Settings p. 91
121. Chapter 14 – VULNERABLE ADULT IN NEED OF SERVICES (VAINS) p. 92
122. 14-1. Purpose p. 92
123. 14-2. Information Collection for VAINS Intakes p. 92
124. 14-3. Response Time for VAINS Intakes p. 92
125. 14-4. Documentation of VAINS Intakes p. 93
126. 14-5. APS Response to VAINS Referrals p. 93
127. 14-6. Closure p. 94
128. 14-7. Authority p. 94
129. Chapter 15 – ASSESSING FOR SERVICES p. 95
130. 15-1. Purpose p. 95
131. 15-2. Protective Services p. 95
132. 15-3. Assessment of Vulnerable Adults p. 95
133. 15-4. APS Services p. 95
134. 15-5. Emergency or Non-Emergency Services p. 96
135. 15-6. Voluntary or Involuntary Protective Supervision Services p. 97
136. 15-7. Protective Investigator Responsibilities p. 97
137. 15-8. Referral Information p. 98
138. 15-9. Refusal of Services p. 100
139. Chapter 16 – NOTIFICATIONS p. 101
140. 16-1. Purpose p. 101
141. 16-2. Methods Used to Complete the Notification Process p. 101
142. 16-3. Notification to the Reporter p. 101
143. 16-4. Notification to Subjects Pamphlet p. 101
144. 16-5. Notification of HIPAA. The vulnerable adult(s) must be provided and explained information p. 102
145. 16-6. Notification to Law Enforcement p. 102
146. 16-7. Notification to Emergency Medical Services p. 103
147. 16-8. Notification to the Court p. 103
148. 16-9. Notification to the State Attorney’s Office p. 104
149. 16-10. Notification to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) p. 104
150. 16-11. Notification to the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) p. 104
151. 16-12. Notification to the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) p. 104
152. 16-13. Notification to the Department of Health’s Division of Medical Quality Assurance p. 105
153. 16-14. Notification to the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) p. 105
154. 16-15. Notification to the Medical Examiner (ME) p. 105
155. 16-16. Notification to the Office of Child Welfare Licensing Unit p. 105
156. 16-17. Notification to the Office of Substance Abuse Mental Health (SAMH) p. 106
157. 16-18. Notification to the Office of Public and Professional Guardians p. 106
158. 16-19. Notification of Investigation Closure p. 106
159. Chapter 17 – CLOSURE OF THE CASE RECORD p. 108
160. 17-1. Purpose p. 108
161. 17-2. Submission of the Investigation to Supervisor p. 108
162. 17-3. Summarized Findings of Maltreatments p. 108
163. 17-4. Report Closure p. 109
164. 17-5. Other Investigative Closures p. 109
165. 17-6. Expedited Closure p. 111
166. 17-7. Patently False Reports p. 111
167. 17-8. Investigation Complete p. 112
168. Chapter 18 – RECORD REVIEW p. 113
169. 18-1. Purpose p. 113
170. 18-2. Types of Reviews p. 113
171. 18-3. Review of Initial Safety Assessment and Plan p. 113
172. 18-4. Review of Updated Safety Assessment and Plan p. 114
173. 18-5. High-Risk Review p. 114
174. 18-6. Thirty-Day Review p. 114
175. 18-7. Final Review p. 114
176. 18-8. Second Party Review p. 115
177. 18-9. Backlog Review p. 115
178. 18-10. Internal Findings Review p. 116
179. Chapter 19 – FATALITIES (DEATH INVESTIGATIONS) p. 119
180. 19-1. Purpose p. 119
181. 19-2. Referral to the Registered Nurse Specialist (RNS) p. 119
182. 19-3. Determine Eligibility as a Vulnerable Adult p. 119
183. 19-4. Capacity to Consent to or Refuse Services Determination p. 119
184. 19-5. Safety/Risk Assessment p. 120
185. 19-6. Notifications p. 120
186. 19-7. Responsibilities of Adult Protection Staff Conducting Investigations p. 120
187. 19-8. Statutory Requirements Regarding Records p. 121
188. 19-9. Operations Response to Vulnerable Adult Death p. 122
189. Chapter 20 – CRIMINAL, CIVIL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS AND PENALTIES RELATING TO p. 123
190. 20-1. Purpose p. 123
191. 20-2. Identifying False Reports p. 123
192. 20-3. Administrative Actions and Administrative Fines for False Reporting p. 124
193. Chapter 21 – TEAM APPROACH TO SPECIAL FACILITY INVESTIGATIONS FOR REGISTERED p. 126
194. 21-1. Purpose p. 126
195. 21-2. When to Use a Team Approach for Investigations in Special Facility Settings p. 126
196. 21-3. Preparation for the Special Facility Investigation p. 126
197. 21-4. Commencement of Investigations in Special Facility Settings p. 126
198. 21-5. Gathering Evidence in Special Facility Settings p. 127
199. 21-6. Determining Capacity to Consent or Refuse Services p. 128
200. 21-7. Documentation p. 128
201. 21-8. Conclusion of Investigations for Vulnerable Adult(s) in Special Facility Settings p. 128

CFOPs it cites (8)

• CFOP 140-11 Adult Protective Services Registered Nurse Specialist Pages 119, 128
• CFOP 50-1 Department Use of Criminal Justice Information Services and Driver and Vehicle Information Database Pages 45, 46
• CFOP 140-4 Adult Protective Services Protective Intervention Page 31
• CFOP 140-8 Community Care for Disabled Adults Page 134
• CFOP 15-12 Procedures for Releasing Selected Information Pertaining to a Report of Abuse Neglect Exploitation or Abandonment of a Child or Adult Page 122
• CFOP 180-4 Mandatory Reporting Requirements to the Office of Inspector General Page 40
• CFOP 60-10 Americans with Disabilities Act Accommodation Procedures for Applicants-Employees-General Public Page 57
• CFOP 60-17 Privacy and Management of Protected Health Information Policy Page 102

CFOPs that cite it (7)

• CFOP 140-11 Adult Protective Services Registered Nurse Specialist Pages 9, 10
• CFOP 140-3 Adult Protective Services Protective Supervision Program Pages 5, 6, 11, 30
• CFOP 140-4 Adult Protective Services Protective Intervention Page 13
• CFOP 140-8 Community Care for Disabled Adults Page 39
• CFOP 5-1 Numerical and Subject Index to Administrative Publications Page 5
• CFOP 60-25, ch. 2 Employee Security Background Screening Pages 1, 7
• CFOP 60-25, ch. 2 Employee Security Background Screening Pages 1, 7

Florida Statutes (27)

• Chapter 415, F.S. Pages 8, 12, 15, 18, 19, 23, 54, 55, 61, 66, 79, 94, 97, 101, 109, 110, 113, 114, 116, 119, 136
• s. 415.102, F.S. Pages 17, 18, 26, 27, 54, 55, 66, 78, 79, 89, 119, 123
• s. 415.107, F.S. Pages 8, 9, 39, 97, 121, 122
• s. 415.1034, F.S. Pages 13, 35, 39, 94, 125
• s. 415.101, F.S. Pages 37, 42, 44, 133
• s. 415.1113, F.S. Pages 12, 13, 124, 125
• s. 415.1051, F.S. Pages 53, 96, 97
• Chapter 744, F.S. Pages 69, 134
• s. 415.105, F.S. Pages 53, 94
• s. 415.1071, F.S. Pages 8, 122
• s. 415.111, F.S. Pages 94, 129
• s. 415.113, F.S. Pages 94, 133
• Chapter 393, F.S. Page 89
• Chapter 765, F.S. Page 134
• § 39.201 Required reports of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect, sexual abuse of a child, and juvenile sexual abuse; required reports of death; reports involving a child who has exhibited inappropriate sexual behavior. Page 39
• § 39.202 Confidentiality of reports and records in cases of child abuse or neglect; exception. Page 39
• s. 393.063, F.S. Page 57
• s. 415.103, F.S. Page 46
• s. 415.1036, F.S. Page 94
• s. 415.104, F.S. Page 47
• s. 415.1055, F.S. Page 40
• s. 744.102, F.S. Page 66
• s. 775.083, F.S. Page 129
• s. 794.011, F.S. Page 136
• s. 825.101, F.S. Page 59
• s. 825.103, F.S. Page 10
• s. 960.03, F.S. Page 59