SJI assists courts in improving court oversight of guardians and conservators for the elderly and incapacitated adults through visitor programs, electronic reporting, and training.
Guardianship and Technology
The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) will develop technology requirements for software vendors to provide effective and efficient guardianship and conservatorship monitoring modules, including improved training, tools for court staff, and online submission of reports. The project team will gather user stories and stakeholder perspectives, review existing software, hold a guardianship/conservatorship technology planning summit, and establish guidelines and certification for software.
2021 National Guardianship Network, Fourth National Guardianship Summit
The National Guardianship Network (NGN) is a collaborative group of national organizations dedicated to effective guardianship law and practice, to include both guardianship (of the person) and conservatorship (of the assets). With support from the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), the NGN will hold the 4th National Guardianship Summit. The Summit will be hosted by the Syracuse University College of Law and organized around the theme, “Maximizing Autonomy and Ensuring Accountability.” The primary objectives of the Summit will be the development of recommendations for changes in state guardianship laws, policies, and procedures to ensure the greatest protection of adults at risk of, or under, a guardianship; and the publication of papers addressing a number of emerging issues and critical topics for state courts and other stakeholders. To assist state courts, the participants will produce a lasting body of recommendations, law review articles, and issues briefs that include new procedures and techniques, and ideas for enhancing existing guardianship practice.
Central Oregon Regional Guardianship Summit
The Deschutes County, Oregon, Circuit Court partnered with the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) to convene a one-day Central Oregon Regional Guardianship Summit to bring together stakeholders from various disciplines from the region to improve guardianship, conservatorship, and services for the elderly. The final report includes recommendations for improving collaboration, improving outcomes, and maximizing cost-effectiveness as well as Guardianship and Conservatorship Map, which was developed using the Sequential Intercept Model.
Colorado Justice for All Online Triage for Aging Adults
The Colorado Bar Association (CBA) collaborated with the Colorado Supreme Court and the Colorado Access to Justice Commission to launch an online triage portal, Colorado Resource Portal, to support aging adults and their caregivers. The concept of the portal was included in the Strategic Action Plan developed as part of the Colorado Justice for All Project.
Conservatorship Accountability Project
The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) is directing the Conservatorship Accountability Project with the goal of modernizing conservatorship accounting and tracking processes and building safeguards to protect vulnerable adults from financial exploitation. The project includes an examination of data collection and monitoring efforts which resulted in the Guardianship/Conservatorship Monitoring Recommended Data Elements and the Implementation Guide for Modernizing Conservatorship Monitoring reports that include steps towards modernization.
Judicial Response Protocol to Address Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation in Guardianship Cases
The National Center for State Courts (NCSC), in collaboration with, the American Judges Association (AJA), the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ, and the National College of Probate Judges (NCPJ) has developed judicial response protocols to guide judges/judicial officers in taking preemptive steps to address allegations or evidence of abuse, neglect, or exploitation in guardianship cases (including both guardianships of the person and of the estate). The protocols and educational materials are available on the Center for Elders and the Courts website.