Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

Guardianship and you: Second WINGS conference seeks to continue building statewide network

A conference focused on building a statewide network to help enhance the quality of care for Washington adults affected by guardianship is set for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 17, at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center in Seattle. The conference is open to anyone interested in issues surrounding guardianship and other decision-making alternatives, with a cost of $65 for general attendees, and $105 for professionals seeking Continuing Professional Education credits.

A full description of the conference, along with information on how to register, can be found at http://www.courts.wa.gov/content/publicUpload/Guardian%20WINGS%20II/WINGS%20Conference%20Registration%20Brochure.pdf.

The Washington Interdisciplinary Network of Guardianship Stakeholders (WINGS) effort launched in August, 2015 with its first conference in Wenatchee, aided by a grant from the National Guardianship Network. The effort brings together judges, court officials, legislators, social service workers, professional and lay guardians, mental health professionals, advocates, attorneys, family members and many more to assess services and processes that now exist, and to recommend actions that will improve the quality of life for those who need guardianship and decisional support.

“It’s important for us to build the best network we can to provide our loved ones with decisional support when they are in need,” said Shirley Bondon, manager of the Office of Guardianship and Elders Services at the Administrative Office of the Courts.

The first conference produced 23 prioritized recommendations and four ongoing workgroups.

The second conference will address the recommendations and will provide training, networking opportunities, policy discussion and more.

Breakout topics include:

·         How DSHS Allows Deductions in Cost of Care for Persons with Court-Appointed Guardians

·         Alternatives to Guardianship

·         Communicating with and Supporting the Life Choices of Elders

·         Reporting to the Court when you are Guardian of the Estate

·         Reporting to the Court when you are Guardian of the Person

·         Improving Support and Relationships with Good Communication

·         Understanding Social Security Administration’s Representative Payee Program

·         Understanding the Veterans Administration’s Fiduciary Program

·         Guardianship Monitoring

Materials for the conference can be found at www.courts.wa.gov/wings.

“We heard at the first conference that more training is needed,” Bondon said. Lay guardians (family members, friends or other non-professionals) in particular “really need more information,” she said.

Alternatives are also important, Bondon said. With a large portion of the population living much longer than in the past, time- intensive and costly court processes are not a sustainable way to help all of those who will need decision-support.

The goal of the WINGS effort is to help develop a set of plans and recommendations for courts and other stakeholders on how best to help this growing population.

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