DHS Releases First Ever Comprehensive Report on Abuse in Community Care and Licensed Facilities
The Oregon Office of Adult Abuse Prevention and Investigations (OAAPI), a shared service between the Oregon Department of Human Services and the Oregon Health Authority, released today the first ever comprehensive report on abuse related to seniors, adults with all types of disabilities and children in licensed treatment settings.
Marie Cervantes, OAAPI Director, said, “The one significant factor that makes vulnerable Oregonians even more vulnerable is not knowing who they are.”
“The goal is to provide the public with a complete picture of the abuse of Oregon’s seniors, adults with disabilities and children in licensed treatment facilities. We produce this annual report to help us all better understand our state's abuse trends more clearly so we can target our prevention efforts to have the greatest impact,” she said.
Statewide in 2012, over 34,000 calls were received of reports of possible abuse or neglect across all program areas – an increase of nearly 6,000 calls over last year.
This is the first annual report published by OAAPI since the office was created in 2012 as a result of the merger of the Adult Protective Services Program and the DHS Office of Investigations and Training. It includes information on intellectual/developmental disabilities programs, older adults and people with physical disabilities, mental health programs (including the Oregon State Hospital) and children’s therapeutic care programs.
In addition, the report includes a “spotlight” feature on the state’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman and links to 2003-2011 annual reports by Adult Protective Services and the Office of Investigations and Training