Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

Public conference Aug. 7: Gaining Ground on Guardianship Questions, Connections

WENATCHEE — Questions, concerns and ideas about adult guardianship in Washington will be discussed at a day-long conference in Wenatchee on Aug. 7. The event is free and open to the public.

 The conference is sponsored by Washington WINGS — the Working Interdisciplinary Network of Guardianship Stakeholders — and its goal is to strengthen connections among families and friends of persons in need of guardianship assistance, courts and professionals involved in adult guardianship. This is the first such conference sponsored by Washington WINGS.

  The conference will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Wenatchee Valley College. Pre-registration is requested. For information on how to pre-register, visit http://www.courts.wa.gov/content/publicUpload/Guardian%20WINGS/WINGS%20Conference%20Registration%20Brochure.pdf .

  Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Barbara Madsen will open the conference and welcome participants. The keynote speaker will be author Mary Joy Quinn, who wrote Guardianships of Adults: Achieving Justice, Autonomy, and Safety.

  Other sessions will examine recommendations to support family and friends; improve guardianship services; and improve assessments.

   “It’s important that we build the best network we can to provide our loved ones with  decision support when they are in need,” said Shirley Bondon, manager of the Office of Guardianship and Elder Services at the Administrative Office of the Courts. “This conference is another step toward creating that strong network.”

  WINGS was developed as an ongoing problem-solving mechanism made of individuals and groups involved in adult guardianship. It works to enhance the quality of care of adults affected by guardianship and other decision-making alternatives.

  The conference is meant to be a forum that can strengthen a partnership between community members and the Washington Supreme Court in order to:

·                    Identify strengths and weaknesses in the state’s current approach to adult guardianship and less restrictive decision-making options;

·                    Address key policy and practice issues;

·                    Engage in outreach, education and training, including training on supported decision-making.

  Sponsors of the conference include the Washington Supreme Court; the state Department of Social and Health Services (Home and Community Services Division); the Washington Association of Professional Guardians; the Washington State Senior Citizens’ Lobby; the Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging; Aging and Adult Care of Central Washington and Cheryl Marshall; the Tom and Helen Goldsmith Memorial Grant; Gary Beagle, Beagle, Burk and Associates; the National Guardianship Network; the State Justice Institute; and the Albert and Elaine Borchard Foundation Center on Law and Aging.

CONTACT:  Shirley Bondon, manager, Administrative Office of the Courts Office of Guardianship and Elder Services, (360) 705-5302, or Shirley.Bondon@courts.wa.gov.