Preventing Guardianship

2005

Association for Community Advocacy, in conjunction with Michigan Protection and Advocacy Services, Inc, Developmental Disabilities Institute, and Attorney Kathleen N. Harris proposes to embark on a two-year project entitled "Preventing Guardianship" to address the conflict which exists in the Michigan mental health system between the promotion of self-determination and the continuing reliance on guardianship to direct the lives of people with disabilities and the elderly community within our state. The project revolves around an educational and informational effort which will begin in three local project sites in the first year and expand to a statewide effort in the second year of the grant. Trainings, technical assistance, and dissemination of informational materials are all planned to increase the information that consumers, families, educational institutions, service providers, and policy makers have about the unnecessary use of guardianship and the alternatives that exist to assist people in living more self-directed lives of choice, freedom, and inclusion.

Guardianship; developmental disabilities; self-determination

Performing Research or Evaluation

Quality of Life, Other

Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, General Public

Disadvantaged Circumstances

State

N/A