Every person you support under a 245D license is, by law, a vulnerable adult — and you are a mandated reporter. This lesson gives direct support professionals a clear, practical understanding of maltreatment and their legal duty to report it, including who the law protects, the warning signs of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation, and the exact steps to take when something isn't right. It is built directly on Minnesota law, including the Vulnerable Adults Act (Minn. Stat. 626.557) and the staff training requirements of Minn. Stat. 245D.09, and covers how to reach the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC) and how quickly you must act.

Learning Objectives

• Identify who qualifies as a vulnerable adult under Minnesota law
• Recognize the signs of abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation
• Understand your duty as a mandated reporter — reporting suspicion, not proof
• Know how and when to report, and what to include