Certified Professional Guardian Board (CPGB)

November 13, 2006

Chair:
Judge Vicki Hogan

Vice-Chair:
Comm. Fred Aronow

Members  Present:
Ruth Craven
Ray Dingfield
Judge M. Karlynn Haberly
Hank Hibbard
John Jardine
Michael Longyear
Deborah Murphy
Lori Petersen
Comm. Kimberley Prochnau
Winsor Schmidt
Elizabeth Turner
Judge Chris Wickham
Sharon York

Visitors:
Ree Ah Bloedow, DSHS
Lisa Camerota, Capital Guardianship
Lexie Lamborn, Crossroads Guardianship

Members Absent:
Judge Vicki Hogan (Excused)
Judge Marywave Van Deren (Excused)
Robin Balsam (Excused)
Suzanne Thompson Wininger (Excused)

Staff:
Shirley Bondon
Lynne Alfasso
Sylvia Nelson

Call to Order:

The meeting was called to order by the Vice Chair, Commissioner Aronow. The Chair was not in attendance. All members of the Board were allowed to introduce themselves, for the benefit of the two new Board members, Elizabeth Turner and Deborah Murphy.  Members of the public, Ree Ah Bloedow, DSHS, Lisa Camerota, Director of Capital Guardianship Services, and Lexie Lamborn, Crossroad Guardianship, also introduced themselves.

MINUTES:
A motion was made and seconded to approve the October 9, 2006 minutes. The motion passed and the minutes were approved.

The Board went into Executive Session to consider applications for certification as professional guardians.

Concluded Executive Session

Following is the list of applicants who were reviewed for certification as professional guardians and the disposition of their applications.
A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the applications of:

Victoria E. Barr
Joshua H. Gortler
Clifton R. Messerschmidt
Donald A. Petrich
Marshan G. Raub
Dick E. Tarr
P. Ann Wagner

The motion passed. Sharon York abstained.

Following is the list of applicants who were reviewed for certification as professional guardians and the disposition of their applications, ending receipt of clear background checks.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve the applications of:

Stephanie A. Galbraith
Carol S. Smith
Sean C. Thomas

The motion passed.  Mike Longyear and Sharon York abstained.

Following is the list of applicants whose request for inactive status was reviewed.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve inactive status for Lori Anaya and Eunice Powell. The motion passed.

The Appeals Panel presented its findings and conclusions of law related to the appeal of denial of certification submitted by Terri L. Salter. The Appeals Panel recommended denial of the appeal.  A motion was made and properly seconded to accept the recommendation of the Appeals Panel and deny the appeal.  The motion passed.  Ray Dingfield abstained.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Application Committee

The Board has decided to clarify the qualification requirements of certified professional guardians (CPGs). The Board plans to clearly define the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) needed to be a CPG. Once defined, a position description will be developed and used to assess and measure new applicants.

To accomplish this goal, the Board plans to conduct a study to determine what duties and tasks CPGs perform.  The study will involve a survey of CPGs. Ray Dingfield recommended sending the survey to a random sample of active practitioners. A sample survey was presented to the Board.  The Board discussed the survey and the method of distribution at length. After the discussion, the Board asked that the committee take the recommendations discussed during the meeting and revise the plan. A revised plan should be presented to the Board at the January 8, 2007 meeting.

Revised language for the experience section of the certification application was presented to the Board. The Board approved the language with the addition of the following:

“Describe the duties performed requiring the use of independent judgment with regard to financial, social service, legal, healthcare or other needs of incapacitated persons.”

Education Committee

Mike Longyear shared that Mandatory Initial Certification training is scheduled for March 29 & 30, 2007.  The Board discussed reducing the number of initial certification trainings offered per year to one.  This was tabled until the January 8, 2007 meeting.

Budget Committee

No new budget requests were received. The budget remains unchanged.

Public Information Committee

Development of an electronic newsletter is progressing. The newsletter will communicate regulations, ethics opinions, best practices, and other guardian related information to judicial officers, and certified professional guardians.  Commissioner Aronow will write an introductory article for the first issue, explaining why the newsletter has been developed.

Rules Committee

The Disciplinary Regulations are being reviewed. A review meeting will be held immediately following today’s board meeting.

Standard of Practice Committee

No report.

Ethics Committee

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve Ethics Advisory Opinion 2005-003, Preappointment Conduct. The motion passed.

A motion was made and properly seconded to approve Insurance Regulation 117.  The motion passed.  Insurance Regulation 117 had been revised since it was last posted, therefore the Board decided that the regulation should be posted for comment again. The comment period will be for 45 days from the date of posting. The effective date for implementation of the new regulation is July 1, 2007.

Old Business

None.

New Business

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has asked that Suzanne Thompson Wininger, the DSHS Board representative, be replaced by Ree Ah Bloedow as Ms. Wininger no longer works for Adult Protective Services (APS).  Because Ms. Wininger is an attorney and a nurse, and these areas of expertise are specified by GR 23 for representation on the Board, the Board considered allowing Ms. Wininger to remain on the Board if her employer would support her decision to continue board membership. Board members agreed that GR 23 does not limit the number of members on the Board and that Ms. Wininger satisfies the qualifications for board membership. It was moved and properly seconded to extend an invitation to Ms. Wininger to continue as a board member.

One board member noted that the number of board members who make their living as full time guardians had decreased over the years. This member felt it important to have the perspectives of full-time guardians on the Board. After some discussion, it was moved and properly seconded to add one full-time practicing guardian to the Board. The motion passed.

New members were asked to select a committee to serve on.

Announcements

A telephone conference is scheduled for December 11, 2006 @ 8:00 am.  Please let the AOC know if you are not able to participate.

Adjourn

Commissioner Aronow adjourned the meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Shirley Bondon