NAPSA

R2P Webinar - From Research to Action: Outcomes from Colorado’s Alternative Response Pilot for Tailored APS Intervention
2026-02-11 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Senate Bill (SB) 21-118 authorized an Alternative Response (AR) pilot within the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), Adult Protective Services (APS). This pilot creates a dual-track model for tailoring APS response to risk level. Allegations of low-risk mistreatment and self-neglect are tracked to AR and higher-risk allegations are tracked to Traditional Response. The Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab at the University of Denver serves as the independent evaluator for the legislatively required outcomes study. The goal of the study was to understand the effectiveness of AR and inform the future of this practice model. This webinar will review the evidence building approach for AR and present select reach, implementation, and impact outcomes for a 2-year study period (January 2023 through December 2024). Participants will discuss ways to translate AR pilot learnings into implementation and policy action in their locale, to advance best practices in APS through a data-informed lens.
Courtney L. Everson, PhD, is the Senior Project Director of the Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab at the University of Denver. The Colorado Lab is the state’s research and policy lab supporting all three branches of government in unlocking data-informed solutions that improve lives. With fifteen years of experience in research, community engagement, and leadership in health and human services, Dr. Everson leverages the principles of collaboration, equity, and interdisciplinary science to advance evidence-based decision making and strategic learning. As a mixed methodologist, Dr. Everson leads much of the Colorado Lab’s research in public health, prevention sciences, and family strengthening across the life course. Dr. Everson is the principal investigator for the Alternative Response pilot outcomes evaluation. Dr. Everson holds a PhD in applied medical anthropology with doctoral-level concentrations in public health and women, gender, and sexuality studies.

Stefanie Woodard is the State Director of Colorado’s APS Program, in partnership with 60 county APS programs. She is committed to continual learning and system improvement, utilizing her experience in leadership, program development, quality improvement, and policymaking to guide collaborative practice in Colorado. With over 18 years of experience in at-risk populations both in the APS field and in I/DD services, Stefanie has experience overseeing investigations, complaints, workforce development, and program evaluation initiatives. Stefanie is passionate about advocacy to support positive outcomes for APS clients. She believes that leading with empathy and humanity is crucial to building genuine professional partnerships and supporting meaningful systemic changes. Stefanie holds a BA in Psychology and a Master’s in Public Administration, in addition to a Change Management certification.

Research to Practice (R2P) Interest Group
2026-02-18 15:00 - 16:30, 2026-03-18 15:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-15 15:00 - 16:30, 2026-05-20 15:00 - 16:30, 2026-06-17 15:00 - 16:30, 2026-07-15 15:00 - 16:30, 2026-08-19 15:00 - 16:30, 2026-09-16 15:00 - 16:30 and 6 more dates
This meeting is held the 3rd Wednesday every month from 3-4:30 pm EST.
Please contact admin@napsa-now.org to gain access to the meetings.

R2P Journal Club: Data Driven Decision-Making in APS
2026-03-04 12:00 - 13:00
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As Adult Protective Services programs navigate rising caseloads, increasing complexity, and growing expectations for measurable outcomes, many agencies are shifting toward more structured, data-driven practices such as the use of formal assessment protocols. But what does this change look like in real-world APS practice?

Join us for an engaging conversation exploring the implementation of the Identification, Services, and Outcomes (ISO) Matrix — and what it means for APS professionals working on the frontlines.

About this Webinar
In this interactive session, Dr. Jarmin Yeh will share insights from a recent study (with co-authors Marian Liu and Rebecca Park) examining how APS professionals experience the shift toward standardized, data-driven practices such as the ISO Matrix.

As APS programs strive for greater consistency, transparency, and analytic rigor, the use of structured tools bring both promise and challenges — especially within a human-centered, high-stakes field. Drawing from focus groups with APS caseworkers and supervisors, this discussion will explore:

How data-driven tools help APS workers demonstrate the value of their work
Workforce perspectives on implementing the ISO given the complexity of real-life cases
Strategies for balancing technological innovations with the need to maintain strong human relationships

Featured Speaker
Jarmin Yeh, PhD – Associate Professor, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Institute for Health & Aging, School of Nursing
Dr. Yeh is a sociologist and gerontologist whose research focuses on age-friendly communities, age-friendly health systems, and workforce issues impacting older adults, people living with dementia, and caregivers. She directs the Community Action Research in Gerontology (CARING) Lab and co-directs the UCSF Emancipatory Sciences Lab.

Participants will have the opportunity to engage directly with the authors, ask questions, and reflect on how APS programs can implement structured tools in ways that strengthen both workforce support and elder justice outcomes.

Whether you’re an APS professional, researcher, administrator, or policymaker, this conversation will provide valuable insight into the future of data-informed APS practice.

April R2P Webinar: APS Work with Clients at the End of Life: Challenges, Support Needs, and Advance Care Planning
2026-04-02 15:00 - 16:00
Join NAPSA’s Research to Practice (R2P) Interest Group for an upcoming webinar on Thursday, April 2 at 3:00 PM EST.
APS Work with Clients at the End of Life: Challenges, Support Needs, and Advance Care Planning
Adult Protective Services (APS) professionals often work with clients who are seriously ill or nearing the end of life while also addressing complex cases of elder abuse and self-neglect. This webinar will highlight findings from focus groups with APS professionals exploring the unique challenges they face in these situations, including family conflict, service barriers, client self-determination, and emotional strain.
The session will also examine how APS workers approach advance care planning conversations and identify critical support needs, including stronger interagency collaboration and organizational resources to better support practice in end-of-life contexts.
Speakers
Wei-Lin Xue, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University
Dr. Xue’s research focuses on dementia caregiving, dyadic relationship quality, and elder mistreatment, with an emphasis on developing theory-driven interventions to strengthen caregiver commitment and well-being. Her work integrates social, behavioral, and health sciences to improve outcomes for caregivers and persons living with dementia.
Joy Swanson Ernst, PhD, MSW
Associate Professor Emerita, Wayne State University School of Social Work
Dr. Ernst’s research draws on APS data and community partnerships to examine caregiver neglect, self-neglect, APS workers’ experiences in end-of-life care, and the effectiveness of interdisciplinary social work-nurse teams in APS interventions. Her recent work explores innovative approaches to addressing mistreatment, including technology-based strategies for self-neglect prevention. Dr. Ernst is also a long-time member of NAPSA’s Research to Practice (R2P) Interest Group.
If you are unable to attend live, the webinar will be recorded and posted to our website afterward for later viewing.
