About Us

Adult Protective Services Workforce Innovations (APSWI) is a training program of the Academy for Professional Excellence, a project of the San Diego State University School of Social Work.

APSWI provides innovative workforce development to APS professionals and their partners. Our mission is to provide exceptional learning and development experiences for the transformation of individuals, organizations, and communities to ensure that abused and vulnerable older adults and adults with disabilities receive high quality, effective interventions and services.

APSWI in partnership with state and national organizations has developed a nationally recognized Core Competency Training Curriculum for APS professionals. This curriculum is reviewed and approved by experts in the elder and dependent adult abuse fields.

If you have questions please contact APSWI at apstraining@sdsu.edu

APSWI Training Videos

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Free E-Learning

Course Description

This course will address reporting responsibilities; help participants to understand how, when and where to report suspected abuse or neglect; and inform participants of what to expect after the report has been made.

Disclaimer: To ensure that you successfully obtain a copy of your certificate of completion, please be certain to follow the prompt after completing the post-test by entering your name and email address so that your certificate of completion can be emailed to you. Those who do not follow that prompt will be unable to obtain their certificate, and will need to retake the course again as a transcript of completion is unavailable.

Free Mandated Reporting for Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse eLearning

Gratis Denuncia Obligatoria Abuso y Negligencia de Ancianos y Adultos Dependientes al curso en línea

News and Updates

July 2026

New eLearning and Three New Microlearnings Are Now Available!
APSWI (Adult Protective Services Workforce Innovations) is pleased to announce one new eLearning and three new microlearnings that are now available, made possible by the generous funding of the California Department of Social Services.

• ***The new Rapport Building and Engagement Throughout APS Investigations eLearning explores strategies to help build, maintain, and strengthen rapport with clients, collateral contacts, and alleged perpetrators. These skills will support open communication, reduce reluctance and defensiveness, and help explore ambivalence while fostering collaboration and person-directed service planning.

Thank you to our Subject Matter Expert (SME), Quatana Hodges, MPA for developing the curriculum; to Ali Ernst, APSWI’s Workforce Development Specialist and Kat Preston-Wager, APSWI’s Workforce Development Supervisor for providing additional subject matter expertise; and to the Curriculum Advisory Committee for their work on this project.

• Open-ended questions are one of the most effective ways to guide an APS interview. They shape the tone of the conversation and support trauma‑informed, person‑centered practice by honoring each client’s voice, choice, and perspective on safety and well‑being. In the new video-based Practicing Open-Ended Questions microlearning, APS professionals will watch three short video clips and select the open‑ended questions that best encourage clients to share more of their story in support of trauma-informed, person-centered APS interviews.

Thank you to our SME, APSWI’s Workforce Development Specialist, Brenda Wilson-Codispoti, LCSW for developing the curriculum and coordinating this project; to Kat Preston-Wager, APSWI’s Workforce Development Supervisor for providing additional subject matter expertise; and to the Curriculum Advisory Committee for their work on this project.

• Two new microlearnings are now available at no cost on APSWI’s Enrichment Training page under the Quick Tips section. It’s recommended to access these microlearnings on your work issued smartphone for quick and easy access.

  • The Quick Tips: Preparing to Leave Your Desk microlearning helps APS professionals ground themselves, review the referral with clarity, and plan a safe, trauma‑informed approach before heading into the field. These quick tips will cover essential tasks that can be completed at your desk before interviewing an APS client.

  • The Quick Tips: Preparing to Leave Your Car microlearning offers practical habits APS professionals can use in the quiet moment before leaving their car to meet a client. Taking a few minutes to prepare yourself and your approach can make the difference between a stressful interaction and one that builds trust and safety. These quick tips will help prepare you by reviewing how to ground yourself, set the tone, and create a space for dignity and choice.

Thank you to our SME, APSWI’s Workforce Development Specialist, Ali Ernst, for developing the curriculum for these microlearnings and for coordinating these projects; to Kat Preston-Wager, APSWI’s Workforce Development Supervisor for providing additional subject matter expertise; and to the Curriculum Advisory Committee for their work on these projects.

Note: Funding for CA APS professionals to access eLearning modules is generously provided by the California Department of Social Services. APS professionals outside of CA can access this eLearning and video-based microlearning for a cost of $50 per module.

June 2026

New Transfer of Learning Tool and New eLearning Now Available!

APSWI (Adult Protective Services Workforce Innovations) is pleased to announce a new transfer of learning tool and a new eLearning that are now available, made possible by the generous funding of the California Department of Social Services.

• The Trauma-informed Supervision Transfer of Learning (TOL) is now available and is intended for both new and experienced APS supervisors. Designed to accompany the Trauma Informed Supervision in APS eLearning, it provides four activities that will help supervisors apply the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA)’s six trauma-informed principles within their supervisory practice. Once APS Supervisors have completed the Trauma-Informed Supervision in APS eLearning, the TOL can be utilized to enhance their skills. The activities in the TOL are independent of each other and created to deepen comprehension, promote discussion and encourage self-reflection on the SAMSHA concepts acquired from completing the eLearning.

Thank you to our Subject Matter Expert (SME) Alice Kirk, LCSW for developing the curriculum for this transfer of learning and to APSWI’s Workforce Development Specialist, Brenda Wilson-Codispoti, LCSW, for coordinating this project.

• The new APS Intake Overview: Taking Reports of Older and Dependent Adult Abuse eLearning is now available. APS Intake Professionals lay the groundwork for effective protection and intervention. Meant for new or experienced intake staff, this 90 minute eLearning course offers guidance and provides examples to help learn and practice how to speak with reporting parties and complete intake reports efficiently and comprehensively.

Thank you to our SME, Kim Nguyen Harper, MSW, for developing the curriculum for this eLearning and to APSWI’s Workforce Development Specialist, Brenda Wilson-Codispoti, LCSW, for coordinating this project.

May 2026

New Training Video & New Video Discussion Guide Now Available!

APSWI (Adult Protective Services Workforce Innovations) is pleased to announce a new training video and a new video discussion guide that are now available, made possible by the generous funding of the California Department of Social Services.

Content Warning: This video includes discussions of violence, threats of homicide, firearm access, substance use, and suicide.

• The Addressing High Risk of Death by Homicide in APS Services video follows an APS professional as they assess and respond to a client facing escalating violence and a high risk of homicide from an adult child. Supervisors, trainers, or APS professionals can view this to improve their ability to recognize key risk indicators, have direct but trauma‑informed conversations about danger, and develop practical, client‑centered safety plans that include firearm safety, emergency response, and immediate protective steps. It models clear, compassionate engagement while demonstrating how APS professionals can support clients in making informed decisions about their safety.

Thank you to our Subject Matter Expert (SME), Nashay Browning, for developing the curriculum for this video, to the Curriculum Advisory Committee for their work on this project, to Cynosure New Media for the video production and development, and to APSWI’s Workforce Development Specialist, Ali Ernst, and APSWI’s Workforce Development Supervisor, Kat Preston-Wager, for coordinating and supporting this project.

• • The Biopsychosocial Assessment of Noah Jackson Video Discussion Guide is now available. This guide is designed to complement the Adult Protective Services Workforce Innovations (APSWI) video “The Biopsychosocial Assessment of Noah Jackson” Episodes 1 through 5, and enhance learning and foster a deeper understanding of concepts in a biopsychosocial assessment. Supervisors, trainers, and linestaff can utilize both the discussion guide and corresponding videos to build their skill.

Thank you to our SME, Amy Waszak, LMFT, for developing the curriculum for this video discussion guide and to APSWI’s Workforce Development Specialist, Jae, Mohr, for coordinating and supporting this project.

APSWI training videos have been developed to support the training and professional development of Adult Protective Services Professionals. APSWI invites you to use these as demonstrations in your APS programs as training aids to encourage discussion and elevate the learning experience. All videos are available at no cost and appropriate citation is requested when using.

ADA Statement

The Academy for Professional Excellence and Adult Protective Services Workforce Innovations is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment that appreciates and builds on diversity. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended, The Academy for Professional Excellence prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability. To request accommodations, please contact your county’s Human Resources representative.