7-008.06B Mental Health Commitment

When the APS worker determines that a vulnerable adult requires inpatient or outpatient mental health treatment but law enforcement has not deemed emergency protective custody appropriate, the worker must contact the county attorney and request a mental health commitment hearing.

The APS worker must provide the country attorney with the following information:

1. The vulnerable adult’s current situation;

2. Why other forms of protection are unavailable or unworkable;

3. Information supporting the vulnerable adult’s unwillingness to voluntarily seek mental health treatment; and

4. What efforts have been taken to provide service in a less restrictive alternative and the results of those efforts.

During this period the APS worker must continue to monitor the vulnerable adult's situation until it has been resolved through the mental health commitment process or other action resolves the situation.