The Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman is pleased to announce that the first statewide Oregon Public Guardianship program has been launched as a division of the Office. The program will provide surrogate decision-making services to adults who are unable to manage some or most of their affairs and do not have a responsible family member or friend to serve as their guardian or conservator, nor have the resources for a private guardian or conservator.
There is significant need for a state public guardianship program. Senator Michael Dembrow explains that, “The Legislature heard so much about the tremendous unmet need for guardianship services as we worked on the legislation creating this program. Looking at some successful public guardianship programs, we were able to craft a statewide program that will begin to address the issues faced by Oregonians who are in need of but are unable to access guardianship services. I’m very proud today to see this program getting off the ground.”
In 2013, a state public guardianship task force estimated that between 1,500 to 3,000 adult Oregonians with diminished capacity to make decisions are at risk of abuse or neglect and need but lack guardianship or conservatorship services. “The work of many years to establish a much needed service throughout Oregon was finally successful last year in a rare, unanimous vote by both the Oregon Senate and House of Representatives,” states Judge Elizabeth Welch, a member of the Residential Facilities Advisory Committee that provides support and oversight to the Office.
The Oregon Public Guardianship program is being developed in consultation with the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, the Residential Facilities Advisory Committee, groups representing seniors and people with disabilities, long-term care providers, human services and health care organizations, and local and state governmental officials.
In providing guardianship and conservatorship services, the Oregon Public Guardianship program will support and use less restrictive alternatives whenever possible. In addition, it will provide information and education about guardianship, conservatorship and best practices. During the program’s development phase, it will evaluate and plan how best to provide services, hire staff and initiate services. Services will be limited to individuals most at risk and in need of guardianship or conservatorship. The program plans to begin taking referrals in the summer of 2015. In advance of this, the program will publish its eligibility standards and referral process.
The program will be led by S. Travis Wall, who was recently appointed to the new position of Oregon Public Guardian. Travis comes to his new responsibilities with broad guardianship experience. As a director of and analyst with advocacy programs for people with disabilities and seniors in California and Nevada, Travis worked to reform guardianship practices and laws. Later, he developed and directed the Utah Office of Public Guardian. For the past eight years, Travis was a manager with Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation.
