National Adult Protective Services Association

Annual Conference: NAPSA is a membership organization that provides a forum for members to collaborate throughout the year in monthly committees, interest groups, and regional meetings. NAPSA hosts the only national conference and elder financial exploitation summit focused solely on Adult Protective Services. 2024 was the 35th Annual NAPSA Conference held in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The annual conference features nationally known and respected professionals who share their expertise on cutting-edge issues applicable to APS practice and allied professions. Various tracks for medical, legal, and financial professionals are highlighted so that all can learn and share information about their interactions and work within APS. The research track of the annual conference continues to grow, with partners in various academic institutions connecting with APS practitioners during the meeting. Topics for research include APS training, services to self-neglecting adults, and national APS data collection and vulnerable adult mistreatment studies. This collaborative work between APS professionals, researchers, and allied professionals who meet at the Conference truly helps propel the field of APS forward.

Advocacy and Public Education: Fulfilling NAPSAs mission requires a coordinated, multi-layered approach. NAPSA partners with many diverse organizations to provide a cohesive network of research, practice, and policy to meet the diverse needs of the ever-changing population of vulnerable adults. The partner organizations include financial, medical, legal, and law enforcement. NAPSA works to increase national awareness of elder and vulnerable adult mistreatment through education, advocacy, serving on multiple advisory boards, and producing congressional testimony. Due to increased federal funding post-pandemic, several programs have been able to seek out NAPSAs assistance in providing or arranging training and conducting research within their states. This training, technical assistance, and research are essential in recognizing, reporting, and preventing the abuse of the elderly and adults with disabilities who are victims of abuse, neglect, and/or financial exploitation.

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