WRAPS Resources is a program of Trellis offered in partnership with Adult Protective Services (APS) offices in the seven-county metro area. The purpose of the program is to help support adults 18+ who are suspected of experiencing abuse, financial exploitation or neglect. Each client referred to WRAPS Resources has access to a Trellis case manager and a budget they can use to help pay for any needs that would help them stabilize their lives.
“People in the adult protective services system face a lot of barriers. Our job is to find out what they need most and connect them with resources that can help,” says WRAPS Resources Manager Anu Narasimhan.
WRAPS Resources clients have received a range of services, from transportation and Meals on Wheels to housecleaning and legal aid. One client’s previous home had burned down, and he needed basic furnishings for his new home, which WRAPS Resources provided. Another client was feeling isolated and just wanted someone to take her outside to feel the sunshine. WRAPS Resources connected her with a caregiver service that offered friendly visits outdoors.
WRAPS Resources has helped more than 200 people access support. The program is based on a model developed in Missouri to improve coordination across state adult protective services and area agencies on aging. Four Minnesota area agencies on aging, including Trellis, have been involved in pilot programs with county APS offices since January 2024.
“This program has allowed our staff to provide a touch of dignity to many individuals at a time they need it most.”
Carmen Castaneda, Hennepin County Adult Protection Services Program Manager
Key to the program’s success are the partnerships between WRAPS Resources staff and county APS offices. County APS supervisors worked with Trellis staff to shape the pilot program and streamline the referral process. “These are complex cases that require strong coordination among counties, Trellis, and local service providers,” says Anu. “We haven’t had any return cases, which tells us what we’re doing is working.”
“In addition to resolving crises for people who have experienced maltreatment, this program has allowed our staff to provide a touch of dignity to many individuals at a time they need it most,” adds Carmen Castaneda, Hennepin County Adult Protection Services Program Manager.
WRAPS Resources is funded through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars through the end of September 2025. Despite the program coming to a close, Trellis learned several valuable lessons from the pilot program.
“We learned the importance of developing relationships with everyone involved,” says WRAPS Case Manager Simone Merriman. “We wouldn’t have the same impact without working closely with county staff and the clients themselves. We even worked with a few service providers who ended up giving us discounted rates because of the relationship we developed over time.”
WRAPS Resources staff also point out the role of teamwork in the success of the program. “We definitely used a team approach within WRAPS, within Trellis and with our partners,” says Case Manager Maylene Payne. “That helped us share resources and support one another with difficult cases.”
Trellis is grateful for our partnership with adult protective services in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington counties, as well as support from the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ Adult Protective Services office. We will look for opportunities to build on the relationships we’ve established through WRAPS Resources in the hopes we can serve more adults in the protective services system.
