December 2, 2016, the WINGS Steering Committee approved and prioritized the recommendations listed below.
It also directed Staff to convene subcommittees to study the topics listed on the last page of the table below and submit additional information to the Steering Committee. In 2017, Staff will announce the formation of these new subcommittees and seek interested persons to serve.
Anyone interested should contact Stacey Johnson.
| APPROVED WINGS RECOMMENDATIONS |
| Cost less than $50,000 Annually |
Action Needed |
| 2017 - 2018 Priorities |
| Change the term Title 11 Guardian ad Litem (GAL) to court investigator. |
● Legislation |
| Change the statutory reference "incapacitated person" to "individual in a guardianship "and "alleged incapacitated person" to "respondent". |
● Legislation |
| Promote the use of standardized guardianship forms statewide. |
● Collaborate with the Pattern Forms Committee |
| Require Title 11 GALs to explicitly address alternatives in the GAL Report.
Create a Pattern Form GAL Report that requires explicitly addressing alternatives.
|
● Legislation
● Guardianship Pattern Forms Committee
develops form |
| Develop and distribute a brochure describing alternatives to guardianship.
|
● Legislation
● Small committee develops brochure |
| Require Title 11 GALs to file a Motion for Order to Show Cause within five days of knowledge of any apparent conflict. |
● Legislation |
| Require completion of a functional assessment for each guardianship petition.
Create a Pattern Form GAL Report that includes a functional assessment.
Train GALs to perform a functional assessment.
|
● Legislation
● Guardianship Pattern Forms Committee
develops form
● Include in Title 11 GAL initial training |
| Require that GALs ensure appropriate individuals receive notice of the right to request special notice in collaboration with Respondent.
|
● Legislation
● Include in Title 11 GAL initial training |
| Authorize AOC to be responsible for updating and maintaining the Title 11 Guardian ad litem training curriculum.
2017 - 2018 Priorities
|
● Legislation
● Collaborate with interdisciplinary committee
to develop curriculum |
Execute the OPG Strategic Plan
- Expand OPG’s methods of service to include less restrictive alternatives to guardianship.
- Rebrand OPG to align its name, mission, vision and values with the proposed additional methods of service.
- Develop a plan to fully fund the services of OPG.
- Educate stakeholders about the roles and responsibilities of OPG.
- Develop and track outcome measure
|
● Legislation
● Develop a funding plan
● Develop a pooled special needs trust
● Educate stakeholders
● Develop research proposal and obtain grant
funding to execute |
| Educate decision-makers about the benefits of mediating guardianship disputes and explore developing a pilot program for Eldercaring Coordination in collaboration with the Dispute Resolution Centers.
|
● Form a committee of interested stakeholders,
including the Dispute Resolution Centers
and the Eldercaring Coordination
Advisory Panel.
● Provide education at judicial conferences,
CLEs and other continuing education events. |
| Provide planning workshops to those who may be considering guardianship.
|
● Develop curriculum
● Schedule training |
| Give the court more discretion to determine whether a person who has committee a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude should serve as a court-appointed guardian. |
● Legislation |
| Convene a committee to develop and fund a guardianship helpline. |
● Convene a committee to develop and fund |
| 2019 - 2020 Priority |
| Expand Moderate Means Panels to provide assistance to lay guardians, family and friends on post-guardianship issues. |
● Collaborate with WSBA and the three law
schools to revise policy |
| APPROVED WINGS RECOMMENDATIONS |
| Cost more than $50,000 Annually |
Action Needed |
| 2017 - 2018 Priorities |
|
| Require APS and CPS Background Checks for Proposed Lay Guardians and GALs |
● Legislation and Budget |
| Require WSP/FBI Background Checks for Proposed Lay Guardians and GALs |
● Legislation and Budget |
| Authorize the Administrative Office of the Courts to manage the credentialing process for all Title 11 Guardians ad Litem. |
● Legislation and Budget |
| 2019 - 2020 Priorities |
|
| Fund and Implement Statewide Guardianship Monitoring |
● Legislation and Budget |
| Provide on-line or in-person training on guardianship, alternatives to guardianship and supported decision-making in each county. |
● Legislation and Budget |
| Provide county specific mandatory guardianship training before final orders are entered. |
● Legislation and Budget |
| WINGS RECOMMENDATIONS NOT APPROVED and/or REFERRED for ADDITIONAL STUDY |
| Develop a plan to provide attorney representation for alleged and adjudicated incapacitated persons. |
● Convene subcommittee to study and refine recommendation. |
| Prohibit Title 11 GALs from acting as emergency or temporary guardians or perform guardian like tasks. |
Convene subcommittee to study and
● Define when it is appropriate for a GAL to
perform guardian like tasks
● Define a process to ensure due process when
a GAL makes decisions on behalf of another
before the individual has been adjudicated
incapacitated.
● Research temporary guardianship statutes
and process in other states |
| Establish additional minimum qualifications for GALs. |
● Convene a small 3 to 5 person subcommittee
to revise minimum education requirements
for Title 11 GALs. |
| Develop a process for the court to determine if an individual should not receive notice of right to receive special notice. |
● Convene a subcommittee to develop the
process. |
| Develop and distribute a brochure describing alternatives to guardianship. |
● Convene a small 3 to 5 person subcommittee
to draft the brochure and develop a
distribution process. |
| Collaborate with administrators of existing helplines to organize resources and respond to guardianship questions. |
● Convene a committee to develop and fund a
guardianship helpline. |
