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The Controversy of Guardianship
The recent news involving Britney Spears has shone a spotlight on the concept of guardianship. By definition, a guardian is a person, institution, or agency appointed by a court to manage the affairs and interests of another individual. It is a legal process that was designed to protect people who are not able to make decisions for themselves. But once it is established, as we have seen in Britney’s case, it can be very difficult to revoke. It is an extreme intervention in a person’s life to have personal and/or financial decisions transferred to someone else for an indefinite, and many times, permanent period of time. It requires having a judge declare someone ‘incompetent’ and therefore should be used only after other strategies have been evaluated.
A large percentage of people who have been declared ‘incompetent’ and assigned guardians are people with IDD and/or mental health issues. For people with IDD, guardianship is often recommended to families without a thorough evaluation of the needs and possible solutions. While it may be necessary in certain circumstances, it is not and should not be the only solution. It is often based on incorrect assumptions like ‘someone with IDD is cognitively incapable of making decisions about their own mental health’, or ‘someone who needs assistance with daily living skills cannot make medical or financial decisions’, or ‘someone who needs assistance in one area of their life, must need assistance in all areas of their life’. These assumptions have to be challenged when something as serious as guardianship is being considered. Exclusion of people from conversations about important decisions in their own life may lead to feelings of helplessness and inadequacy.
The truth is that we all ‘need assistance’ from others – it is a part of being human. When we make big decisions about our health, our finances, our relationships we often seek guidance from trusted people in our life. When we see decision-making as a collaborative activity between a person, trusted family/friends, and services providers, we can explore alternatives to full guardianship over someone’s life. There are multiple options including family/community support, supported decision-making models, power of attorney, health care power of attorney, advance instruction for mental health treatment. These do not strip people of all their rights and allow a way to provide more specific support to meet identified needs. Being an agent of change in your own life creates a sense of competency and hopefulness. That is what we want to promote for all of us!
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NY START Region 1 Leadership Announcement
"NY START Region 1 is excited to share that Caitlin Sestokas will be moving into our Program Director position in August. We are saddened to see Tanya Kelly leave us, but so excited for her new adventures in her relocation! Caitlin has been with Region 1 since its infancy. In her nearly seven years with the program, she has mastered program development - filling the shoes of Resource Center Director, Therapeutic Supports, Director, and Assistant Clinical Director. We welcome her years of experience in her new role." - Rose Hazlitt, Clinical Director
NH START Resource Center Annual State Residential Certification
"NH START Resource Center just completed our annual state residential certification process. Special thanks to Michelle Bernier, Program Administrator, Shelly Marrulo, Program Manager, and Laura Houle, START Center Counselor, for their efforts to assure a successful certification process." - Michael Blau, Resource Center Director
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Certification Celebrations
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The coordinator certification process is rigorous and ensures that START team members are equipped to be effective specialists in the mental health aspects of IDD and able to apply their knowledge in the context of the START model. It requires active learning and active practice and should be celebrated! Congratulations to the coordinators certified in the first half of 2021:
- Deborah Wertheim - NY Region 3
- John Callahan - NC East
- Danielle Seivwright - NY Region 4 - YAI
- Andrew Johnson - NC West
- Symone Pompey - CA San Diego
- Rachel Lettieri - NC Central
- Andrea Houle - NH START
- Ariana Davello - NC East
- Dawn Wilson - NY Region 5 - Suffolk
- Vanesa Barboza - CA San Andreas
- Dylan Dalton - CA San Andreas
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Upcoming Professional Development
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MHIDD Course for Mobile Crisis Responders
Registration is open for Next Course Beginning on September 7, 2021
This live 6-week online course offers the expert training and support needed to develop expertise in providing effective crisis supports to people with intellectual/developmental disability and mental health needs (MH/IDD). Topics address best practices in crisis assessment, response strategies, and disposition recommendations. Registration fee is $149 per person.
“I appreciated the case study and being able to apply what we learned into our jobs. It was very informative and it already helped me in my job.” - Course Participant
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MHIDD Course for Care Coordinators & Case Managers
Registration is open for Next Course Beginning on October 11, 2021
This live 6-week online course is designed to improve knowledge for care coordinators and case managers to successfully support children and adults with IDD and mental health service needs and their families. Speakers will include family members and people with lived experiences along with experts in the field. Dr. Joan B. Beasley will demonstrate how the information provided can be applied to improve the ability of care coordinators/case managers to identify service and support needs, and monitor outcomes for individuals and their families. Registration fee is $299 per person.
“The format is flawless and helps facilitate a learning experience in a non-traditional way” - Course Participant
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MHIDD Course for Direct Support Professionals
Registration is open for Next Course Beginning on November 2, 2021
This live, 6-session course gives Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to provide individuals with IDD and mental health service needs (IDD-MH) positive, person-centered, strengths and wellness-based supports and services. The course facilitators will demonstrate how the information reviewed during session can be applied in the day-to-day support of people with IDD-MH. Registration fee is $149 per person.
"This course offers the content I need to do my job and the many facets of one’s life we must always consider." - Course Participant
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Share Good News. We welcome START programs to share their good news - this could be a START team member accomplishment, kudos to an entire START team, an update about a well-received training delivered in your community, or any other news worth celebrating! Your good news updates will be shared as part of future editions of CSS News & Views.
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Have a healthy and happy week,
The Center for START Services
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