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Family and Children's Services

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Adult Protection Services

Abuse and Neglect Hotline: 720-887-2271

The Adult Protection Services (APS) Program receives and investigates reports of mistreatment and self-neglect of at-risk adults.  Those who report mistreatment of at-risk adults remain anonymous and are immune from any civil or criminal liability if the report is made in good faith.  The APS Program is designed to intervene with or on behalf of at-risk adults to correct or alleviate situations in which actual or imminent danger of mistreatment and/or self-neglect exists and to utilize support systems to provide continuing safety from the incident(s) of mistreatment and/or self-neglect. 

To receive Adult Protective Services an individual must meet the state definition of "at-risk adult." The state defines an "at-risk adult" as one who is eighteen (18) years of age or older who because of a mental or physical dysfunction or advanced age is unable to manage his or her own resources, carry out the activities of daily living, or protect him/herself from neglect, hazardous or abusive situations without assistance from others and who has no available, willing, and responsible person for assistance and who may be in need of services. All residents of Broomfield County are served without regard to income.

Broomfield HHS offers the following voluntary services to at-risk adults who are susceptible to mistreatment such as abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

• In-home assessment for abuse, neglect and exploitation

• Arranging, coordinating, delivering where appropriate, and monitoring services, including:

  • Medical care for physical or mental health needs

  • Protection from mistreatment

  • Assistance with application for public benefits

• Crisis intervention

• Referral to community services providers

  Information and referral for assistance with money management and benefit availability

• Monthly home visits by a caseworker to monitor risk and service needs

Principles of the APS Program:

• Adults have the right to be safe.
• Adults retain all their civil and constitutional rights unless some of these rights have been restricted by court action.
• Adults have the right to make decisions that do not conform with societal norms as long as these decisions do not hard others.
• Adults are presumed to have decision-making capacity unless a court adjudicates otherwise.
• Adults have the right to accept or refuse services.

Self-Determination Policy:

The county department shall protect the right to self-determination for each adult referred for Adult Protective Services.

APS will investigate allegations of:

• Physical abuse

• Sexual abuse

• Emotional abuse

• Neglect or self-neglect

• Financial exploitation

• Abandonment

To report suspected abuse or neglect of an adult please call the Abuse and Neglect Hotline at 720-887-2271.

Additional resources:

Colorado Adult Protective Services: Roles, Responsibilities and Limitations (a presentation)

Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), Adult Protection Services Division