Vulnerable Adults

Identifying maltreatment in vulnerable adults can be challenging because the adult may not be able to communicate what happened or may be considered an unreliable witness. For example, an elderly man with dementia has a bruise on his arm. Is the bruise the result of caregiver abuse or did he accidentally bump into the wall?

There are three basic kinds of maltreatment:

• Abuse - physical, emotional or sexual
• Neglect - caregiver neglect or self neglect
• Financial exploitation

Contact: If you suspect maltreatment of a vulnerable adult in St. Louis County call 218-726-2164 or (800) 450-9777 to reach the Common Entry Point. If you do not reach a worker, leave a message. If your situation is an emergency call 9-1-1 to reach your local law enforcement. Learn more about services to Vulnerable Adults...
 

Adult Guardianship

A guardian is appointed by the court to make the personal decisions for the protected person ("Ward".) The guardian has authority to make decisions on behalf of the protected person about such things as where to live, medical decisions, training and education, etc. Visit the Minnesota Courts website for legal information about Guardianship.

Contact: Duluth Court Administrator 218-726-2430; Virginia Court Administrator 218-749-7106; Hibbing Court Administrator 218-262-0105; Ely residents may contact the Court Administrator in any location. Or call toll-free (800) 450-9777.
  

Adult Protection

The County Attorney's Public Health and Human Services Division handles a variety of matters, including civil commitment, adult protection, economic assistance, and assorted social services appeal matters including foster care and day care licensing.

This Division represents the St. Louis County Public Health and Human Services Department in filing involuntary commitment actions to provide necessary treatment for individuals who are mentally ill, chemically dependent, or developmentally disabled.  This Division also handles sex offender commitments and Rule 20 petitions from criminal court where a defendant is found incompetent to stand trial for a criminal charge or was found not guilty by reason of mental illness or incapacity on a criminal charge.

This Division also assists the St. Louis County Public Health and Human Services Department by providing legal advice and representation in actions involving the developmentally disabled, services to seniors and legal matters affecting vulnerable adults, including Probate Court guardianships and conservatorship cases.