Institute on Protective Services
The Institute on Protective Services at Temple University Harrisburg provides education and consultation to human services 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 |
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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 services 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 PDA OAPS Intake Worker Training curriculum located on PDA's LMS website before attending this course. Tjos prerequisite is not a requirement for APS participants.
Protective Services Five Year Refresher Training - Required for all Protective Services supervisors and Caseworkers. This is 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 requirement is in addition to the annual PS Enrichment training requirement.
Protective Services Enrichment Training - Protective Services staff are required to attend annually, as listed below:
- OAPS staff are required to attend one day of approved enrichment training (defined as 6 hours) per calendar year (January to December).
- APS staff are required to attend 40 hours of approved training per calendar year (April to March).
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 one day (defined as 6 hours). This training is in addition to the required annual PS enrichment training. The requirement is based on a calendar year and is in addition to the annual PS Enrichment training requirement.
Training Courses
Protective Services Basic Training (IPS0039)
Instructors: Caroline Burnell, MS, CFE, Donna Creager
Format: Classroom, in-person
Location: Temple University Harrisburg Campus
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:
- 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.
Protective Services Enrichment Training Courses
Motivational Interviewing (IPS0092)
Instructors: Dr. Kate Watson, The Advocacy Academy
Format: Live, presented over Zoom Meeting
Duration: 6-hours
This multi-day course is mandatory training for adult protective services (APS) and older adults protective services (OAPS) staff 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. It 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).
Dates:
- Thursday, February 06, 2025
Advanced Motivational Interviewing (IPS0095)
Instructors: Dr. Kate Watson, The Advocacy Academy
Format: Presented live, over Zoom Meeting
Duration: 6-hours
Prerequisite: Knowledge of motivational interviewing
The goal of this class is to practice the skills of motivational interviewing in a deeper level and build competency. This class builds upon the Motivation Interviewing class previously offered and includes 7 types of change talk and the 4 tasks of motivational interviewing. There is a heavy focus on building rapport with clients.
Dates:
- Tuesday, February 11, 2025
- Thursday, March 06, 2025
Safe Accessible Forensic Interviewing for Elders (SAFE) (IPS0104)
Instructor: Modell Consulting Group, LLC
Format: Presented live, over Zoom
Duration: 14 hours, Multi-day training (Attendance to all sessions/dates is required)
SAFE (Safe Accessible Forensic Interviewing for Elders) Training was developed to meet the growing need for victim-centered, trauma-informed interview techniques for use with older adults in criminal contexts.
SAFE is a multi-day training is designed for elder justice professionals seeking to gain additional information on communicating with older adults who are alleged victims of crime. This training is for Protective Services workers, law enforcement, district attorneys, attorneys general, victim services professionals, medical professionals, etc. While this is not a course specifically designed for forensic interviewers, it is intended for professionals to increase their understanding and skills for communicating with older adults who are alleged victims of abuse and neglect. The training is founded in forensic interviewing best practices with considerations and adaptations to account for age related declines in cognition, underlying neuropathology (e.g., dementia, Alzheimer's), language capacity, and cultural background. This training is in collaboration with Modell Consulting Group, LLC.
Dates:
- Tuesday, February 25 through Friday, February 28, 2025
Strategic Approaches to Investigative Planning and Interviewing in Protective Service (IPS0083)
Instructor: Donna Creager
Format: Classroom, in-person
Duration: 6-hours
The investigative process should be systematic, thoughtful, and flexible. It requires careful planning and implementation to conduct a thorough investigation for the best possible outcomes for individuals. In this full-day training, participants will learn how to develop a strategic plan to cover all bases and ensure that risks are prevented, mitigated, or eliminated. Participants will also learn important interviewing techniques to gather the most information in a trauma-informed and culturally sensitive manner and how to reconcile evidence. This is an interactive, in-person training that allows participants to practice what they've learned.
Dates:
- Tuesday, March 18, 2025 - Westmoreland County AAA
- Wednesday, April 30, 2025 - Borough of State College Municipal Building
- Wednesday, May 21. 2025 - Monroe County Emergency Center
Unlocking the Power of Collateral Contacts in Protective Services (IPS0106)
Instructor: Donna Creager
Format: Presented live, over Zoom Meeting
Duration: 3-hours
The effective use of collateral contacts is instrumental in making a determination in a case. In this training, you will discover the significant impact that effective collateral contacts can have on protective services outcomes, learning to distinguish between high-value and low-value contacts. Through practical exercises and case studies, you will gain the skills to identify and utilize evidence from the most relevant and reliable sources. By the end of this course, you will be equipped to make informed case determinations, ensuring better outcomes for those you serve.
Dates:
- Thursday, March 20, 2025
- Wednesday, April 16, 2025
- Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Valuing Diversity in Protective Services: The Key to Cultural Understanding (Panelist Series) (IPS0105)
Instructor: Donna Creager
Format: Presented live, over Zoom
Duration: 2-hours
Prerequisite: Two-hour self-paced prerequisite module on agency LMS
Valuing Diversity is a NEW three-part training consisting of a self-paced prerequisite module and attendance at two of the three live sessions held over Zoom. The total time commitment is an estimated 6-hours.
The prerequisite module aims to enhance cultural understanding for Protective Services professionals by addressing personal biases, promoting cultural awareness, and developing strategies for culturally responsive practices. Each live session focuses on a different population and includes a panel discussion with individuals who have firsthand experience, a Q&A segment where learners can pose questions to the panel, and insights on accessing resources to effectively meet clients' needs.
This training will help Protective Services professionals with successfully navigating differences in backgrounds and lived experiences. These skills are critical in building rapport and achieving the best outcomes in protectives services cases.
The topics and dates of the live sessions are below. These are the only live training dates. Each live session begins promptly at 9 am:
- Re-Entry Following Incarceration - Wednesday, January 22, 2025
- Mental Health - Wednesday, March 19, 2025
- Substance Use Disorder - Tuesday, May 20, 2025
When Guardianship is an Option (IPS0096)
Instructors: Caroline Burnell, MS, CFE, Institute on Protective Services, Temple University Harrisburg; PDA Office of Chief Counsel; DHS Office of Chief Counsel; Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC)
Format: Presented live, over Zoom
Duration: 3-hours
Guardianship is a court-appointed arrangement giving someone legal power to make decisions for another person over their person, estate, or both. Because guardianship strips individuals of certain rights, it should only be entered into after other less restrictive alternatives have been proven ineffective or unavailable. This training will review the types of guardianships available in Pennsylvania and recent changes to the guardianship statute, including the effects on protective services. The training will also explain what least restrictive measures and discuss misconceptions surrounding guardianship.
Dates:
- Thursday, April 3, 2025
- Thursday, April 17, 2025
Working with Clients Who Self-neglect (IPS0101)
Instructors: Caroline Burnell, MS, CFE
Format: Classroom, in-person
Duration: 6-hours
Self-neglect is the most reported case to both adult and older adult protective services, and the skills to deal with these clients are essential to effective job performance. In this interactive training, Protective Services professionals will learn the definition of self-neglect, how prevalent it is in our society, and the risk factors and indicators to watch for when assessing a case. They will learn how to assess self-neglect across five domains (medical, psychological, environmental, financial, and social), and will be exposed to promising interventions to incorporate when working with individuals experiencing self-neglect. They will explore how to develop service plans, how to document a self-neglect case, and what agencies they might want to partner with to work on these cases.
Dates:
- Thursday, April 24, 2025 - Temple Ambler Learning Center
- Thursday, May 01, 2025 - Borough of State College Municipal Building
- Thursday, May 22, 2025 - Venango County Training Center
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. |