Guardianship and Conservatorship Services

The City of Norfolk (the “City”) Department of Human Services (“DHS”) seeks qualified vendors to provide combined Guardianship and Conservatorship services for residents sixty (60) years of age or older or any person eighteen (18) years of age or older who is incapacitated and has been adjudicated by the court as needing assistance with both personal and financial affairs. Vendors must be able to provide both services together under a single contract and perform all responsibilities listed. The City anticipates multiple contract awards to qualified offerors, each for a five (5) year term.

Under the Adult Protective Services Program (APS), DHS assists incapacitated adults to make decisions regarding their health, safety, or financial affairs. Guardianship and Conservatorship appointments occur through court order when an adult is found incapable of managing personal and financial matters without assistance. Services must comply with the Code of Virginia (§64.2-2000 et seq.) and APS policy guidance. An incapacitated person is an adult who has been found by a court to be incapable of receiving and evaluating information effectively or responding to people, events, or environments to such an extent that they lack the capacity to (i) meet essential requirements for health, care, or safety, or (ii) manage property or financial affairs

APS’s goals are to

• Protect older adults and incapacitated adults from abuse, neglect, or exploitation;
• Prevent the abuse, neglect, or exploitation of older adults and incapacitated adults;
• Prevent the inappropriate institutionalization of the elderly and impaired adults;
• Assist when necessary with appropriate placement and;
• Maximize self-sufficiency.

DHS aims to reduce the number of adults in long-term care facilities by providing services that comply with federal and state regulations. DHS also seeks to support adults in remaining in the least restrictive settings and living independently at home. This is achieved by strengthening family and social support systems or by promoting self-determination.

Provision of APS services to eligible adults occurs when APS receives and investigates a valid report alleging abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a person age 60 years of age or older, or any person 18 years of age or older who is incapacitated. The investigation, which is completed by an APS Family Services Worker (“FSW”), determines the person’s need for services. Individuals may also be eligible for services following an APS intervention where the adult continues to need ongoing services but is no longer at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Additionally, a qualifying adult can request services without APS involvement.

The Virginia Uniform Assessment Instrument (“UAI”) is a standardized multi-dimensional questionnaire that assesses an adult’s social, physical health, mental health, and functional abilities. The UAI is used by FSW for all adults being assessed for the services to be purchased by DHS to gather information for the determination of an adult’s care needs and service eligibility, and for planning and monitoring the adult’s care.

Services are provided to the extent of available funding from the Commonwealth of Virginia (the “State”) and the City. The City expects to pay for these services for approximately one hundred (100) seniors and adults with disabilities per fiscal year (July 1 to June 30). The City does not guarantee any minimum or maximum amount of work under the agreements resulting from this solicitation.