About Us

Adult Protective Services Workforce Innovations (APSWI) is a training program of the Academy for Professional Excellence, a project of the San Diego State University School of Social Work.

APSWI provides innovative workforce development to APS professionals and their partners. Our mission is to provide exceptional learning and development experiences for the transformation of individuals, organizations, and communities to ensure that abused and vulnerable older adults and adults with disabilities receive high quality, effective interventions and services.

APSWI in partnership with state and national organizations has developed a nationally recognized Core Competency Training Curriculum for APS professionals. This curriculum is reviewed and approved by experts in the elder and dependent adult abuse fields.

APSWI Training Videos

Free E-Learning

Course Description

This course will address reporting responsibilities; help participants to understand how, when and where to report suspected abuse or neglect; and inform participants of what to expect after the report has been made.

News and Updates

June 2022

1.) Supervisor Core Module 4 A/B: Case Consultation Is Now Available.
APSWI is pleased to announce that the “Module 4 A/B: Case Consultation” material is now available. This 5-hour, interactive, 2-day training will address specific, foundational roles of case consultation and will incorporate a transfer of learning activity that will allow APS Supervisors to apply their own unique skills to approach and lead the case consultation process.

May 2022

1.) Effectively Working with People Who Have Disabilities eLearning Is Now Available.
APSWI is pleased to announce the revision of the NAPSA Core Competency eLearning. This revision was made possible by the generous funding of the California Department of Social Services. In this eLearning, learners will explore disability in the past and present and talk about the disability movement in the United States. They will briefly cover three categories of disabilities commonly experienced by people engaged in Adult Protective Services.

2.) Supervisor Core Module 1A: Understanding Trauma Informed Care for APS Supervisors eLearning Is Now Open for Enrollment
APSWI is pleased to announce the open enrollment of “Supervisor Core 1A:Understanding Trauma Informed Care for APS Supervisors.” In this foundational 90 minute training on a trauma-informed framework for APS supervisors, participants will explore a trauma-informed care approach from biological, programmatic, and policy levels.

3.) Mental Health Issues in APS Transfer of Learning (TOL) Is Now Available. 
APSWI is pleased to announce that the “Module 6: Mental Health Issues in APS Practice Transfer of Learning” material is now available. “Mental Health Issues in APS Practice” is one of the 23 NAPSA Core Competencies as well as some of Advanced Training curriculum.

February 2022

1.) Adult Protective Services Workforce Innovations (APSWI) Releases New Video Discussing Inclusive Demographic Questions

APSWI showcases how APS professionals can integrate inclusive demographic questions in their investigations. In this video, viewers will observe an APS professional demonstrating one example of how some of those questions can be discussed.

2.) APSWI is excited to announce the release of APS Supervisor Core curriculum on How to Talk about Elder Abuse! 

This interactive training will support APS Supervisors in learning the factors that influence the way the public thinks about elder abuse and practicing a new communication strategy developed by the National Center on Elder Abuse, in conjunction with the Frameworks Institute. This multi-module training consists of a 60 minute eLearning and a 90-minute instructor-led booster.

Many thanks to Julie Schoen, Alycia Cisneros and Alyssa Neumann from NCEA who developed the curriculum. And thank you the California Department of Social Services for the generous funding to support these projects.

Core Competency Curriculum Development

APSWI and its partner agencies have developed each of the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) Core Competencies into easily accessible in-person and on-line training modules. Each module is examined by skilled APS professionals and experts in the field to determine specific learning objectives. APSWI staff work with nationally recognized experts to develop evidence-based curriculum that builds on adult learning theory and teaches to the identified learning objectives. Once drafted, each curriculum is reviewed by curriculum advisory committees composed of APS staff, supervisors, and managers to ensure the training will meet the needs of APS professionals in the field. Each curriculum is piloted-tested, evaluated, revised, and made available for use in training.

Download the NAPSA to APSWI Table of Core Competency Areas
Check out the available training for the NAPSA Core Competency Areas
APSWI NAPSA Certificate Program–What You Need To Know

ADA Statement

The Academy for Professional Excellence and Adult Protective Services Workforce Innovations is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment that appreciates and builds on diversity. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended, The Academy for Professional Excellence prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. To request accommodations, please contact your county’s Human Resources representative.