Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Suitable for health care professionals and advocates working or seeking to work with clients with cognitive incapacity and looking for an understanding of guardianship or conservatorship in Oregon, as well as individuals considering guardianship or conservatorship or a related field as a practice choice, and trustees, paralegals, or attorneys seeking greater understanding about the full scope of the practice area. Also suitable for individuals serving as guardians, conservators, or primary decision?makers for a family member or friend, but wanting more content that that provided in Introduction to Guardianship. Required for the Gerontology: End of Life Care and Support Certificate.

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

1. Assume the basic responsibilities of professional guardians and conservators in Oregon under supervision, understanding legal and standards-related responsibilities to protected persons and the court.
2. Assess their own knowledge base and best fit within the practice arena, and pursue continuing education and professional development within the practice context in Oregon.
3. Screen a client for appropriateness for guardianship or conservatorship services and participate effectively in the intake process, working with service team members and attorneys to get the best possible outcome for the proposed protected person.
4. Use an understanding of the basic responsibilities of guardians and conservators in Oregon, in order to advocate for a person who has a guardian, and make a complaint about problems in a guardian or conservator case if needed.

Lecture, presentations, discussions and readings on key concepts, issues, laws, and skills Case studies involving practice?like care conferences and other decision?making process Selected use of media and selected printed material to solidify key concepts

• A variety of assignments will be used to facilitate skills and knowledge acquisition.
• Assessments in the form of quizzes, essays and other types of objective tests will prepare students for practice issues and the national certification test
• Case studies involving care conferences and other decision?making practices with concerned parties will prepare students for effective guardianship practice.

1. Overview of history and role of guardianship/conservatorship in US and in Oregon
2. Overview of Guardianship and Conservatorship duties and responsibilities
3. Overview of current Oregon law and related national services and programs
4. The guardianship process and determination of capacity, and how to decide which clients you can effectively serve
5. Care conferences, substituted judgment and best interest decision?making on living arrangements, care, property, medical issues and end?of?life issues for persons no longer capable of making or communicating safe or sound decisions, including obtaining input from members, medical and social service professionals, courts, and other entities
6. Abuse prevention and protection, and alternatives to guardianship
7. Professional standards, practices, and ethics
8. How to work with your attorney to protect yourself and your clients
9. Business and fiduciary information and skills required for professional practice
10. Mental health, aging, disability and other social services relevant to guardianship
11. Basic information about business and malpractice insurance, and bonding