Institute on Protective Services
The Institute on Protective Services at Temple University Harrisburg provides education and consultation to human service and law enforcement professionals on identifying, investigating, and resolving cases of elder abuse and victimization of vulnerable adults. The Institute is supported through funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Aging and the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
Available training opportunities for APS and OAPS staff
The courses listed below are open for enrollment. The course description, outline and additional information can be found by clicking on the course name. The list can be filtered by using the “Choose Your Training” option on the left side of the page.
Enrollment is only available to adult protective services (APS) and older adults protective services (OAPS) staff and is not available to the public.
Courses that are full or not open cannot be accessed or viewed.
If you have questions regarding the training courses, please contact Pamela Tereo at pamela.tereo@temple.edu
Choose Your Training:
The list of available courses is below. It can be sorted by clicking on the appropriate table heading (e.g., course name or campus).
| Course Name | Campus | Start Date | End Date | Start Time | End Time | Days of the Week | Checkout |
|---|
Our Mission
To prevent, respond, and when necessary, obtain justice for victimized elders and other vulnerable adults.
The Institute on Protective Services at Temple University Harrisburg provides education and consultation to human service and law enforcement professionals on identifying, investigating, and resolving cases of elder abuse and victimization of vulnerable adults. The Institute is supported through funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Aging and the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
Training Topics offered by the Institute on Protective Services
Protective Services Basic Training - This is mandatory training for APS and OAPS staff who will conduct protective services investigations. OAPS participants must complete the Intake Worker Training Curriculum located on PDA's LMS website before attending this course: This prerequisite is not a requirement for APS participants.
Protective Services Five-Year Refresher - Required for all Protective Services supervisors and caseworkers, five years after attending the Basic Training course. This training is in addition to the required annual PS enrichment training.
Protective Services Enrichment Training - Protective Services staff are required to attend one day of enrichment training (defined as 6 hours) per calendar year.
Protective Services Supervisors' Training - Required annually for all Protective Services Supervisors, per § 15.127 In-service Training of the regulations. Training shall consist of a minimum of 1 day (defined as 6 hours). This training is in addition to the required annual PS enrichment training.
Training Courses
Protective Services Basic Training (IPS0039)
Instructors: Caroline Burnell, Donna Creager
Location: Temple University Harrisburg, State College Borough Municipal Building
This multi-day course is mandatory training for adult protective services (APS) and older adults protective services (OAPS) staff that will conduct protective services investigations. The training is focused on the basic knowledge and tools needed to conduct thorough and comprehensive investigations. Training modules are based on APS and OAPS regulations. Participants must complete all five days of training and all of the assignments to receive credit.
Dates:
- July 15-19, 2024
- August 12-16, 2024
- September 09-13, 2024
- October 21-25, 2024
- November 18-22, 2024 (State College)
- December 09-13, 2024
- January 13-17, 2025
- February 10-14, 2025
- April 07-11, 2025
- May 05-09, 2025
- June 09-13, 2025
Protective Services Five Year Refresher – OAPS ONLY (IPS0098)
Location: online, PDA LMS
The Five Year Refresher Course reviews core requirements of protective services along with any updates and new laws affecting protective services.
- This is a mandatory Training. Any staff member involved in older adult protective services must take this course starting in the fifth year after completing Basic Protective Services Training and every five years thereafter.
This training includes but is not limited to:
- full-time and part-time protective services caseworkers
- back-up/on-call/standby protective services caseworkers
- protective services supervisors and backup supervisors
- agency administrators who participate in the program either as backup investigators, supervisors, or clinical advisors
This class is a self-paced, self-study course located on PDA's Learning Management System (LMS) hosted by P4A.
- Below is a PDA LMS link and navigation path to access the training course (The course is listed in the LMS Course Catalog, under the Protective Services training category):
- COURSE LINK: Course Catalog > Protective Services > PS Five-Year Refresher Training Course
- NOTE: LMS users must have the ‘Protective Services’ training category enabled for their Course Catalog to access this training course. If not already enabled, click here to add/remove training categories.
- All four modules and the knowledge evaluation can be completed at any time during the year but must be completed by December 31st.
- Once all the course requirements are fulfilled, the LMS system will generate a certificate of completion. Provide a copy of the certificate to your PS Supervisor.
- It is estimated that the course and knowledge evaluation will take about 4 hours to complete.
For technical assistance with PDA's LMS or to submit an accessibility request, please contact the PDA LMS Help Center.
Addressing the Scam Phenomenon in Protective Services (IPS0091)
Presenter: Donna Creager
Format: Live, presented over Zoom Meeting
Duration: 6-hours
Scams do not discriminate. Anyone can fall victim to a scam given the right conditions. It is essential for protective services workers to understand why people succumb to scams and what can be done to address this fast-growing issue.
Dates:
- Wednesday, October 02, 2024
- Wednesday, October 30, 2024
- Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Adult Mental Health First Aid (IPS0089)
Presenter: Donna Creager
Format: Blended course - 2-hours of self-paced required pre-work on the MHFA Connect platform, followed by a 6-hour instructor led session, presented over Zoom Meeting
Duration: 8-hours
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a skills-based training that teaches people how to identify, understand, and respond to signs and symptoms of a mental health or substance use challenge. Mental Health First Aiders learn a 5-step Action Plan to recognize warning signs of mental health or substance use challenges, provide help in crisis and non-crisis situations, and understand where to turn for additional assistance. MHFA training reduces stigma, improves knowledge, and increases first-aid actions toward people experiencing challenges.
Dates (Instructor-led sessions):
- Wednesday, November 06, 2024
- Thursday, December 05, 2024
- Thursday, December 19, 2024
Motivational Interviewing (IPS0092)
Presenter: Dr. Kate Watson, The Advocacy Academy
Format: Live, presented over Zoom Meeting
Duration: 6-hours
Motivational interviewing is a collaborative, goal-oriented style of communication with particular attention to the language of change. It is designed to strengthen personal motivation for and commitment to a specific goal by eliciting and exploring the person’s own reasons for change within an atmosphere of acceptance and compassion.” (Miller & Rollnick, 2013, p. 29). Participants in this training will learn the basic concepts of motivational interviewing. Motivational interviewing is used by professionals across many disciplines, including social services and victim advocacy to help a person facilitate change.
Dates:
- Thursday, October 31, 2024
- Thursday, November 14, 2024
When Guardianship is an Option (IPS0096)
Presenter: TBD
Format: Live, presented over Zoom Meeting
Duration: 3-hours
More information coming soon!
Dates:
- TBD
Questions about the Institute on Protective Services or a training course?
| Contact Person: | Pamela Tereo, Project Manager, Institute on Protective Services at Temple University Harrisburg |
|---|---|
| Email Address: | pamela.tereo@temple.edu |
| Telephone Number: | (717) 232-6400 |
| Program Office Address: |
234 Strawberry Square
Harrisburg, PA 17101 |
| Office Hours: |
Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. |