Facilitating Systems Change for Adults of All Ages

NCACDSS Adult Services Committee Wednesday, October 7, 2020 Linda Kendall Fields, M.Ed. UNC Chapel Hill School of Social Work The Cares Program Facilitating Systems Change With and For Adults of All Ages

Our History- Our Present Our Future Rethinking Guardianship: Building a Case for Less Restrictive Alternatives January 2015 - December 2017 Rethinking Guardianship: A Person-Centered Approach July 2018 December 2019 Rethinking Guardianship Bridge Initiative January 2020 June 2020 Making Alternatives to Guardianship a Reality in NC July 2020 June 2023 Collective Impact framework: Backbone, Common Agenda, Shared Measurement, Continuous Communication, Mutually Reinforcing Activities Statewide workgroup and Steering Team National WINGS (Working Interdisciplinary Network of Guardianship Stakeholders)

Rethinking Guardianship is 1) Creating long-term changes in the state s guardianship system 2) Promoting less restrictive alternatives to guardianship

Common Agenda Core concepts and basic principles: Autonomy, liberty, freedom, dignity Presumption of competence Right to life-time decision-making support

Common Agenda/Shared Aspiration The System-as-it-Should-be would Always use least restrictive options and be based on best practices; Offer easily available and accessible information about options and alternatives to guardianship that is communicated to and understood by stakeholders Rest on a process in which all stakeholders are identified and engaged Have built-in accountability for all stages of guardianship and less restrictive alternatives.

Its About Adults with Disabilities of All Ages Jenny Hatch.jpg Jenny Hatch I don t need a guardian. I just need a little help

Its Also About Ensuring Rights and Protecting Elders

Making Alternatives to Guardianship a Reality in North Carolina Recommended by Rethinking Guardianship - NCCDD Funded for July 2020 June 2023 Focused on Youth Transitioning to Adulthood and Adults Transitioning to the Community from Long Term Residential Facilities If you want fewer guardianships, stay out of the courtroom

Key Partners

Key Objectives Expand and facilitate the Rethinking Guardianship Workgroup and Steering Team Continue and further the Collective Impact model Develop an on-line, interactive training on SDM strategies Promote the practice of using SDM Agreements Evaluate state interest and readiness for possible SDM legislation.

Supported Decision-Making (an umbrella term)consists of building a support team - empowers the individual to make decisions with support Your life choices Who will be your personal advisor? Who will be your financial advisor? Who will be your health advisor? Who will be your personal advisor? Your life choice s Who will be your health advisor? Who will be your financial advisor?

Accomplishments July through September 2020 Established Steering Team & Statewide Workgroup meetings recruited self advocate and Spanish-speaking members Initiated working relationships with key partners Provided best practice materials to NC DPI Released survey on awareness of SDM strategies Shared survey with other state(s) Initiated training (9/23/20) on SDM Recommended major changes to Public Guardianship Training Continued commitment & substantial work on recommended GS 35A changes

Where we started in 2019: North Carolina GS 35A Reform Items requirement for consideration of alternatives to guardianship provide for appointed counsel in addition to GAL process for regular review (rather than presumption of permanence) with possibility of increased use of limited guardianship and restoration change language (e.g., ward/incompetence, etc.) rights for those under guardianship simplify requirements of spouses acting as guardians, at discretion of the clerks improve quality, consistency and availability of MDEs

What we redirected simplify requirements of spouses acting as guardians, at discretion of the clerks improve quality, consistency and availability of MDEs

Where we are now change language (e.g. adult subject to guardianship) requirement for consideration of alternatives to guardianship process for regular review (rather than presumption of permanence) with possibility of increased use of limited guardianship and restoration requirement for consideration of alternatives to guardianship rights for those under guardianship provide for appointed counsel in addition to GAL

A Hard Working Crew: The Rethinking Guardianship Statute Writing Team Angela Ellis Gilbert File Carol Kelly Athena Kinch Rosalyn Pettyford Cynthia Ross Stacey Skradski Larkin Taylor-Parker Nancy Warren Linda Kendall Fields Frank Johns

Diligent Review Team Wanda Burney Frank Johns Regina Manly Cheryl Walfall-Flagg Johanna Finkelstein Tienna Luong Beverly Colwell

Next Steps Put individual pieces together Develop strategy to move forward, including concept of pilot Network with stakeholders Await results of November election Comments are welcome via email

How Can You Help? Supported Decision-Making SurveySDM Survey Link Distribute SDM educational material stakeholders as modules are created Join the Rethinking Guardianship Workgroup! Email me at lkfields@email.unc.edu