Project Activities

Mentorship Project
Robin Daning, Project Director

Guardianship is the most restrictive solution to the issue of persons with impaired decision-making ability who are at risk of harm. Not only is guardianship involuntary and often stigmatizing - it also removes a person's civil rights. Indeed, because of its restrictive nature the NH guardianship statute states that guardianship is only appropriate if a less restrictive alternative is not available.

The goal of this two-year project is to establish mentorship as a voluntary alternative to guardianship that preserves an individual's autonomy and decision-making rights. The model is based on an alternative to guardianship used in several European countries, in particular Sweden, which has abolished guardianship in favor of a mentor alternative. Mentorship assumes that such persons don't require a guardian so much as they need someone to assist and advise them to make better decisions while retaining their civil rights.

Participants

A person will be considered as a candidate to participate if he/she:

• is a client of an area agency, mental health center, or special education program in Regions 7, 8, or 10;
• has financial resources that he/she can manage adequately with or without the help of a representative payee;
• does not have an existing condition that requires a guardian;
• needs someone to offer advice and guidance rather than exercise directive powers;
• would appear to be amenable to, and benefit from, a mentor; and,
• displays a decision-making ability that has lead to, or is likely to lead to, the appointment of a guardian.

If all criteria are met and there is consensus to participate among all parties, a mentor will begin working with a participant (after guardianship has been terminated if one is in place). The mentorship will be evaluated monthly to assess changes in the participant's decision-making abilities and overall quality of life.

Mentors

Mentors selected for participation will be individuals who are:

• able to pass a criminal record check;
• willing to work with a person to develop his/her decision-making skills;
• committed to each person's right to self-determination;
• familiar with the community in which the participant lives and works;
• familiar with the human service system;
• not the individual's relative or service provider;
• willing to participate in all required training, supervision, and peer support meetings; and,
• willing to complete all monthly progress reports, satisfaction surveys, and other project evaluations.

Mentors will receive a two-day in-service training after which they will devote an average of 10 hours a month (an average of two hours a week) to the project. Mentors will receive $100 a month.

For more information about the Mentorship Project, including becoming a mentor, please contact:

• Robin Daning, Project Director
  Mentorship Project
  rdaning@mentorship.us
• Granite Bay Connections
  26 Pleasant Street
  Concord, NH 03301
  224-5588, ext. 20
• Community Support Services
  8 Commerce Drive
  Atkinson, NH 03811
  893-1299, ext. 334

For information about the Real Choice Systems Change Project please contact:

• Sue Fox, Project Director
  Real Choice Systems Change
  swfox@cisunix.unh.edu
• Institute on Disability
  10 Ferry St
  Concord, NH 03301
  603-228-2084