FORT DEFIANCE, Ariz. – The Department for Child Well-Being (DCWB), formerly the Department of Family Services, held its first public hearing on the Vulnerable Adult Protection Act (VAPA) on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at the Fort Defiance Chapter House.
The hearing, which is being held to obtain public input on amending the VAPA, was available virtually for participants to allow for accessibility for those who could not attend in person.
DCWB staff read the VAPA out loud in both English and Navajo to ensure that all participants knew what is in the law.
Once the reading was completed, participants were able to provide their comments in person or online.
The Navajo Division for Children and Family Services (NDCFS) has been working on amendments to the VAPA along with partner organizations and Navajo Nation Council Delegates for more than a year. The VAPA is in Title 9, Domestic Relations, of the Navajo Nation Code. It provides protection for adults over 18 years old to end of life who cannot protect or care for themselves.
“The act recognizes that every vulnerable adult has the right to live safely, be treated with dignity and respect, make choices whenever possible, receive services that promote independence, and be free from abuse, neglect and exploitation,” Crescentia Tso, DCWB Department Manager, said. “The goal is always to protect vulnerable adults while preserving their independence and cultural values whenever it is safe to do so.”
Tso added that the purpose of the act is to provide assistance while respecting an individual’s dignity, culture, and right to self-determination whenever possible. She said the DCWB has certain responsibilities in the act, including receiving reports of suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation; assessing immediate safety concerns by conducting investigations, coordinating with law enforcement and health care providers; developing protective service plans; and connecting vulnerable adults to available services.
Thomas Cody, NDCFS Executive Director, said that the amendments to VAPA are a priority for the Division.
“We need to make sure that this law is working for our vulnerable adults, that they are being protected and provided the services that they need to be safe and live independently,” he said.
Public hearings begin at 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will be held at the following chapter houses:
- August 11, 2026 – Crownpoint
- August 26, 2026 – Tuba City
- September 9, 2026 – Dilkon
- September 23, 2026 – Kayenta
The public is invited to attend the public hearings to provide their input on shaping the law to fit the needs of vulnerable adults on the Navajo Nation. The Navajo Nation Council has the authority to approve amendments to the law and refer to the Navajo Nation President.
The NDCFS thanks partners for assisting in preparing proposed amendments, including Navajo Nation Advisory Council on Disabilities and Native American Disability Law Center.
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