(Notice the APS Online Intake Report has changed as of 5-24-2024 at 3pm)
Make a report to APS if you believe a vulnerable adult was abused, neglected, or exploited by an alleged perpetrator. You should make a report if you feel that a vulnerable adult has been harmed because of actions (or inaction) taken by a specific person or persons other than themselves. In most cases, this requires an alleged perpetrator to either intentionally or recklessly harm the vulnerable adult. Vermont Law establishes who are vulnerable adults and what constitutes abuse, neglect and exploitation.
APS does not provide emergency services. If a vulnerable adult is in a life-threatening situation or needs immediate intervention to protect someone from harm, call 911 so that law enforcement and medical personnel can get involved immediately. A report to APS can be made after emergency services have been provided.
General Guidelines for Making a Report
No matter how you make a report, please provide as much information as you can. If you don't have exact information, please provide what you believe is helpful or relevant. Keep in mind, the less information you provide, the harder it will be for APS to make an accurate decision whether to assign for field work, which could delay assistance to the vulnerable adult. Here is the information that APS needs to best help a vulnerable adult:
- Describe why you suspect a vulnerable adult has been abused, neglected or exploited. If possible, include a description of any incidents, to include locations and dates and how you became aware of this issue.
- Tell us if this abuse, neglect or exploitation is ongoing or poses additional risk at the current time.
- Tell us who you are, how you know the vulnerable adult, how to contact you and how you know about this situation.
- Tell us who the alleged victim is, how to contact them and how it is they are vulnerable. Also, let us know if reaching out to them could put them in danger.
- Tell us who the alleged perpetrator is, how they are related to the alleged victim and how to contact them.
- Tell us if there are any risks to our Investigator, such as potentially violent investigation participants or aggressive dogs at an investigation participant's home.
Reporting Options
You can make a report to APS in the following ways:
Make an Online Report This is the preferred method to make a report.
(Notice the APS Online Intake Report has changed as of 5-24-2024 at 3pm)
There is a temporary redirect from the old intake link please use the above link then save the url to a new bookmark.
IF YOUR BROWSER HAS A POPUP BLOCKER, TURN IT OFF BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO FILE AN ONLINE REPORT.
This system is accessible 24 hours a day, and information submitted is immediately uploaded into the APS investigation management system, making it immediately accessible to APS staff. This reporting system also requires key information for submission, which also ensures you’ve made a complete report so that APS can act faster on the information you provide. If you have technical barriers or are having difficulty with making an online report, we recommend using one of the other filing methods.
Telephone Toll Free: (800) 564-1612
Leaving a message with APS will give APS staff the opportunity to return your call and talk with you to help you complete your report, and to gather additional information to help us serve the vulnerable adult. APS returns calls Monday through Friday, typically from 8:00am to 4:30pm. Please leave a message with your name and phone number, and any relevant details about the vulnerable adult and the allegation you are reporting. If you call after hours or on the weekend, APS will call you back as soon as possible, usually the next business day.
Mail: Adult Protective Services Intake, HC 2 South, 280 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-2020
We do not recommend filing a report by mail as it delays our receipt of the information slowing down our ability to assist the vulnerable adult. To help ensure that APS has the information necessary to act on your report, please consider the reporting guidelines. Using one of the other reporting methods, especially online reporting, will address the same reporting guidelines and allow APS to process the report faster.