Since 2005, Project Guardianship has offered guardianship services with a comprehensive, best-in-class model
After 15 years as a demonstration project of the Vera Institute of Justice, Project Guardianship spun off as an independent nonprofit in 2020 — at the same time the COVID-19 pandemic began to dramatically change the world.
High death rates among nursing home residents and decisions about the deployment of resources shined a bright light on ageism and the prioritization of young people in our society. The pandemic also proved that keeping people in their own homes can be safer and that much work is needed to ensure human dignity is at the center of how we care for people facing difficult times. In addition, the financial repercussions of the pandemic translated into major cuts in funding for direct social services as state and city spending was redirected.
In response to the current situation, Project Guardianship’s goal is to reduce the overall need for guardianship and, when all else fails, to ensure that those who require guardianship are supported by high-performing guardians who have the resources to provide person-centered care that promotes autonomy and guarantees the least restrictive setting possible.
We envision a world where our older neighbors and those with disabilities are celebrated and provided with the support and care they need to thrive and live with pride.
Project Guardianship’s mission is to provide person-centered care for older adults and individuals living with disabilities and mental illness who need help making decisions and to transform the systems that support them to ensure safety, promote independence, preserve dignity, and advance racial and social justice.
We will pursue this mission with strategic investments in advocacy, awareness, and alliances to ensure quality decision-making supports and good guardianship for all who need it; provide education and training to build local capacity for good guardianship, alternative protective arrangements, and supports for older adults and individuals living with disabilities and their caregivers; and prove and provide a comprehensive, supported guardianship model for decision-making individuals.
IMPACT GOALS
To achieve our mission, Project Guardianship will become the premier organization for the advancement of quality guardianship, making the necessary organizational investments to reach our strategic goals:
Goal 1: Awareness, Advocacy, and Alliances
Ensure access to quality decision-making supports and, when necessary, good guardianship, by influencing the public agenda and increasing resources and accountability.
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Objective 1: Build strategic alliances and connect stakeholders to improve guardianship, promote alternatives to guardianship, and increase needed services.
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Objective 2: Influence government policies that stand to impact how guardianship and protective arrangements are resourced and provided.
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Objective 3: Increase public awareness of guardianship, guardianship alternatives, the number of people aging alone, and injustices in the care system.
Goal 2: Education and Training
Build local capacity for good guardianship; alternative protective arrangements; and supports for older adults, individuals living with disabilities and mental illness, and their caregivers.
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Objective 1: Increase resources and supports for family members and caregivers to promote greater access to good guardianship and avoid unnecessary guardianship.
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Objective 2: Formalize and grow Project Guardianship's training and educational services.
Goal 3: The Model
Prove and provide a comprehensive, supported guardianship model to better address current and future needs of individuals who need help making decisions.
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Objective 1: Ensure access to quality guardianship for older adults and people living with disability and mental illness, regardless of ability to pay and complexity of situation, through direct service.
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Objective 2: Build credibility and awareness of Project Guardianship's model.