A Review of the Department of Social Services Adult Protective Services Program
July 2017
S.C. Code §2-15-64 requires that the Legislative Audit Council audit a program of the Department of Social Services (DSS) every three years.
We published an audit of the department’s child welfare services in 2014. In 2016, after consultation with the members of the General Assembly, the Legislative Audit Council determined that it would review the department’s adult protective services (APS) program.
APS provides for the health and welfare of vulnerable adults who are victims of actual or potential abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation.
Because DSS is the only entity legally authorized in South Carolina to investigate reports of noncriminal maltreatment of vulnerable adults in community settings outside of institutions, we believe that this program should be continued.