Adult Protective Services (APS)

If you or someone you know is 18 years of age or older, living in the community and is subject to abuse, neglect and/or exploitation, a county APS program may be the place to turn! There is an APS program in each of the 21 counties that is monitored and evaluated by state staff. Complainants may be clients, caregivers, family members, agencies or any interested or involved individuals. Calls may be made to the particular county APS office, or to the Public Awareness, Information, Assistance and Outreach Unit toll-free number 1-800-792-8820.

An APS investigation is a thorough assessment of a potential at-risk adult. Within 72 hours of a referral’s receipt, a face-to-face meeting with the adult by a trained APS social worker is required. During this meeting the potential client is interviewed in private. Every effort is made to determine the competence of the adult. Other individuals or agencies that have knowledge of the situation may also be interviewed. When the investigation is complete a report is submitted to the APS Supervisor who will then consult with the social worker and determine if the adult is at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation. All information generated by the investigation is confidential.

For additional information contact:

New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services
Division of Aging and Community Services
P.O. Box 812
Trenton, NJ 08625-0812
Phone: 609-341-5467

APS brochure [pdf 267k]