The Arc New York Guardianship Program
Who Will Step into My Shoes when I am Gone?
This is a question often asked by parents facing their own mortality, uncertainty, and planning options when they have a family member with developmental or intellectual disabilities. And this is why The Arc New York's Guardianship Program came to fruition. The Corporate Guardianship Program was established 53 years ago by The Arc New York (then NYSARC) as a service to its members, individuals with I/DD, and their families in New York State to help parents make legal arrangements for the future and gain some peace of mind. The Guardianship Program offers a commitment to parents, relatives, and friends of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities that someone will always be available after parents are gone or incapacitated. Under Article 17-A of the Surrogate’s Court Procedures Act, Guardianship provides legal advocacy and support for people with I/DD who need assistance in managing their life affairs. The Mission The mission of the Guardianship Program is to offer a continuum of services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who require different levels of advocacy and support for decision-making. This is done in the least restrictive manner, while promoting individuality, autonomy, dignity and self-worth. The Guardianship Program honors the personal wishes, preferences and beliefs that afford each person the independence and participation in all decisions affecting their lives. Each individual in the Guardianship Program has their voice heard and respected in every life decision. The fundamental purpose of the Guardianship Program has always been to ensure that if the primary guardian becomes unable to serve, the Guardianship Program will be available to provide ongoing oversight, advocacy and support for those in need of this level of as- sistance in managing their personal life affairs through the local Chapter's volunteer Guardianship Committee.
The Guardianship Program endeavors to offer families a seamless and smooth transition upon the death or disability of the primary or current guardian. The Arc New York blends professional corporate oversight with dedicated volunteerism and staff collaboration to operate its Guardianship Program based on "family and self-determined values and needs." In addition to being mission- driven, with benchmarks, outcomes and standards of practice, guardianship expertise helps to promote the least restrictive intervention while focusing on the person's ability for self-directed living: autonomy, independence, and decision- making. As most caring parents do for their adult children, the program strives to promote independence, autonomy, decision-making and quality-of-life initiatives that include the person's full participation as a citizen and member of their communities. The Promise Through its network of 36 Chapters, The Arc New York is a leader in providing innovative programs and services to 60,000 individuals of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Since 1970, we have made a life-long promise to these individuals and their families. We don’t come in and out of their lives. They can depend on us now and if ever guardianship – for the entire arc of their lives. The Arc New York's Guardianship Program is the largest program of its kind. The program ensures that medical and dental needs are appropriately met, responds to emergencies, celebrates birthdays and holidays, and provides companionship and transportation to community activities, while promoting self-reliance and independent decision- making to the maximum extent of the individual’s abilities.
Questions? Contact Erica Berman, Director for Guardianship Services bermane@thearcny.org
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