Which agency provides short-term counseling and crisis intervention and coordinates with police, courts or other community services to stop or prevent abuse?

• A. Adult Protective Services (APS)
• B. Abuse Registry
• C. Social Worker
• D. Ombudsman

Answer: (A)

The main idea is how protective services respond to abuse of vulnerable adults by offering immediate support and coordinating with law enforcement and the courts to stop abuse. Adult Protective Services (APS) is the agency designed for this role. It receives reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, conducts risk assessments, and provides short-term counseling and crisis intervention to victims. Beyond that immediate help, APS works with police, prosecutors, the courts, and other community resources to ensure safety, arrange emergency or transitional housing if needed, and pursue protective actions to prevent further harm.

Abuse registries are databases that track substantiated cases, not agencies that provide direct counseling or crisis intervention. A social worker is a professional role rather than an agency, and while they can offer counseling and connect people to resources, the question asks for the agency that coordinates with police and courts. An ombudsman advocates for resident rights and helps resolve facility-related complaints, but their focus is not on crisis intervention and protective actions with law enforcement and the courts.