NOTE: POST A MESSAGE TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS!

WHEREAS, the Adult Protective Services Program of the TN Department of Human Services has the legal
mandate to provide protective services to adults, 18 years of age or older, who because of mental or physical dysfunctioning or advanced age are unable to protect their own interests and have no available, willing, and responsibly able person to provide the needed protection; and

WHEREAS, nationally conservative estimates are that 5 percent of the elderly population may be victims of abuse,
neglect, or exploitation, and based on this projection an estimated 49,000 (up from 42,000 in 1999) elderly Tennesseans may need protective services: and

WHEREAS, with the dramatic projections of increasing numbers of the old, old (85+) population, it is expected
that the number of adults requiring protective services will continue to increase significantly; and

WHEREAS, the efforts of the mental health and developmental disabilities systems to maintain greater numbers of
adults in the community increase the need for protective services; and

WHEREAS, the increasing demand for in-home care, without adequate support and resources for caregivers,
serves to increase the vulnerability of dependent adults; and

WHEREAS, there is a general lack of awareness of the Tennessee Adult Protection Act and a growing need for
additional services in this essential area; and

WHEREAS, over the past seven years, the Adult Protective Services caseload has increased by forty (40) percent;
and

WHEREAS, legislation passed in the 103rd General Assembly directing the Adult Protective Services division of
the TN Department of Human Services to establish a toll-free telephone service to enable citizens within the state to report abuse, neglect, or exploitation and to seek relevant assistance from the division;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that TCSW work in conjunction with the TN Department of Human
Services and other state and local agencies to enhance, build, and provide essential additional funding for a comprehensive system of protection for the frail and vulnerable adults in Tennessee; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that TCSW assist in every way possible publicizing the toll-free telephone
number – 888-277-8366, as well as gathering information from the department about the number of calls, the type of needed services, and documenting any resulting caseload increases in the public and private sectors dealing with this population.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that TCSW work in conjunction with the TN Department of Human Services and other state
and local agencies to enhance, build, and provide essential additional funding for a comprehensive system of protection for the frail and vulnerable adults in Tennessee; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that TCSW assist in every way possible publicizing the toll-free telephone number - 888-277-8366,
as well as gathering information from the department about the number of calls, the type of needed services, and documenting any resulting caseload increases in the public and private sectors dealing with this population.