Adult Protective Services Worker Program (APSW)
"We believe in promoting choice, rights, independence and dignity so that people may make informed decisions about their lives."
What we do?
The Adult Protective Services Worker Program:
- supports adults with a developmental disability to make informed decisions about their lives through assessment, referrals, goal setting, advocacy, case coordination, problem solving, life skills development, and counselling;
- provides information to the individual with a developmental disability about resources/services appropriate to his/her needs and facilitate him/her in exploring options and consequences pertaining to his/her decision;
- helps the individual to identify his/her strengths and to learn ways of coping with, and adapting, to, life in the community;
- develops and maintains partnerships with a variety of community agencies to improve the economic and social conditions for adults with developmental disabilities;
- provides systemic and individual advocacy.
These purposes will be accomplished through direct service to clients and through consultative support to clients' families, friends, advocates and significant others by agreement, invitation, and permission from the client.
To Qualify for Service You Must: 
- be a resident of Niagara Region;
- be at least 18 years of age;
- have a confirmed developmental disability;
- be referred to the program by Contact Niagara;
- live independently or be moving towards independence;
- have no significant social supports;
- voluntarily request or want service. That is, the client must be prepared to contract with the service accordingly and must demonstrate a level of motivation that will ensure services and resources will be used to their best possible advantage.
Created in 1974, this accredited program is funded through the Ministry of Community & Social Services at no cost to the participant.