Adult Long-Term Care Program Specialist

Sawyer County Position Description

Title: Adult Long-term Care Program Specialist

Department: Health and Human Services

Reports to: Adult Long-term Care Unit Supervisor

The Adult Long-term Care Program Support Specialist is a full-time, integrated position within Sawyer County Health and Human Services. Under the direction of the Adult Long-Term Care Supervisor, this essential support role bridges the Aging and Disability Resource Center of the North (ADRC-N) and the Adult Protective Services (APS) unit. Rather than managing an independent, high-risk case investigation load, this position provides critical administrative, triage, educational outreach, and investigative groundwork to streamline operations across both programs.

POSITION SUMMARY:

This position serves as the primary operational backbone for services impacting vulnerable adults, the elderly (ages 60 ), and individuals with physical, developmental, or intellectual disabilities (ages 18–59). The specialist manages regional phone communications, handles all initial public walk-ins, updates public-facing information systems, coordinates the county's interdisciplinary team, and conducts vital data collection and statutory reviews to support the Adult Protective Services (APS) system.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

The duties and responsibilities described below are typical for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Front-line Triage, Regional Phones & Walk-Ins

• Regional Phone Operations: Serve as the dedicated staff managing regional incoming telephone lines for the ADRC-N on Sawyer County assigned days.
• Initial Contact & Screening: Receive calls from community members, family representatives, and service providers. Actively listen to determine immediate needs, de-escalate anxiety, and gather preliminary demographic information.
• Walk-In Reception: Greet, screen, and assist public walk-ins, de-escalating individuals in crisis and identifying immediate versus non-urgent service needs.
• Information and Assistance (I&A): Provide introductory information regarding public and private resources, community benefits, and available independent-living assistance programs before clients’ transition to formal options counseling.
• Referral Routing: Filter, screen, and route complex inquiries to appropriate ADRC Specialists for eligibility screening and long-term care functional assessments.

Digital Communications, Marketing & Community Outreach

• Website & Resource Updates: Maintain and update the Sawyer County ADRC public directories, resource pages, and regional website links to ensure community members have access to accurate, up-to-date program information.
• Public Information Distribution: Coordinate the development, printing, and digital distribution of educational brochures, newsletters, and community resource guides.
• ADRC Community Outreach: Coordinate and represent the ADRC-N at community events, local health fairs, senior expos, and farmers markets to build public awareness of available independence and aging resources.
• Resource Networking: Maintain ongoing professional relationships with local civic organizations, food pantries, faith-based groups, and tribal resources to expand the ADRC's referral network.

Community Education, Advocacy & Interdisciplinary Coordination

• Public Outreach: Design and deliver educational presentations to community groups, senior centers, and civic organizations regarding elder justice and adult protection.
• Fraud & Abuse Awareness: Educate the public, caregivers, and local stakeholders on identifying financial fraud, grandparent scams, healthcare exploitation, and subtle signs of physical or psychological abuse.
• Mandated Reporter Training: Provide training and resources to community stakeholders (e.g., bank tellers, medical staff, law enforcement) regarding reporting thresholds for adults at risk.
• IDT Team Coordination: Manage calendar scheduling, agenda preparation, and tracking for the county’s multi-agency Interdisciplinary Team (IDT / I-Team). Convene stakeholders—including law enforcement, tribal leaders, medical providers, and county social workers—to facilitate smooth case reviews.

Investigative Support & Statutory Reviews for APS

• APS Intake Gathering: Receive incoming reports of alleged adult/elder abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or self-neglect over the phone or via digital channels, thoroughly documenting details provided by reporters.
• Preliminary Information Collection: Conduct background data collection to assist formal APS investigators. This includes pulling historical records, reviewing prior county interactions, and searching database systems.
• Collateral Interviews: Assist APS Specialists by contacting collateral sources (such as medical offices, banks, neighbors, or utility companies) to collect supporting documentation, timelines, and facts required for formal investigations.
• Watts Reviews Assistance: Assist in completing mandated annual Watts Reviews for individuals under protective placement (Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 55). This includes gathering updated documentation, reviewing living arrangements, and coordinating information with guardians to ensure individuals remain in the least restrictive environment.
• Database Management: Log investigative timelines, track critical compliance dates under Wisconsin Statutes Chapters 46.90 and 55, and maintain clean record entries within the state's secure Wisconsin Reporting for Adult Protective Services (WRAPS) system.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Degree: Bachelor of Arts or Science degree or a license to practice as a registered nurse in Wisconsin.
• Experience: Have an equivalent of at least one year of full-time experience in a health or human services field, working with one or more of the client populations served by the ADRC. Qualifying work experience may be paid or unpaid and may include internships, field placements, and volunteer work.
• Alternate degrees or work experience may be considered.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Excellent telephonic communication, active listening, public speaking, and a high level of empathy.
• Foundational knowledge of Wisconsin Chapters 46.90, 54, and 55.
• Strong digital literacy with experience managing website content management systems (CMS) and navigating complex databases or multi-line phone systems.
• High level of discretion and strict adherence to confidentiality laws (HIPAA) regarding sensitive client information.
• A valid Wisconsin driver's license for travel to retrieve documents, coordinate local reviews, or conduct community outreach and presentations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS:

Physical Demands

• Sedentary Orientation: Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk, operating a computer, and managing phone systems (approximately 70–75% office-based).
• Outreach Mobility: Ability to travel locally, stand for periods during community public events or presentations, and lift/transport up to 20 lbs of outreach materials, pop-up banners, and brochures.
• Sensory Acuity: Clear verbal communication, acute listening skills, and strong typing accuracy are mandatory to process high-volume regional phone intakes and conduct community outreach effectively.

Working Conditions

• Environment: Primarily based in a professional, climate-controlled office setting at the county building, with frequent local travel to external community venues, health fairs, and public education events.
• Psychological & Emotional Stress: Regular exposure to highly detailed, raw descriptions of human distress, abuse, neglect, and cognitive decline while taking phone intakes or reviewing evidence files.

CLOSING STATEMENT:
This description has been prepared to assist in evaluating responsibilities, duties, and skills of the position. The duties listed above are intended as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the County and employee and is subject to change by the County as the needs of the County and the requirements of the position change.

Selection Guidelines
Formal application, rating or education and experience; oral interview and reference check. A state background check is required.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

Sawyer County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with representatives of Sawyer County.