To establish grants to provide education on guardianship alternatives for older adults and people with disabilities to health care workers, educators, family members, and court workers and court-related personnel.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · May 8, 2024
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
# Summary
The Alternatives to Guardianship Education Act establishes a federal grant program to educate health care workers, educators, family members, and court personnel about options to guardianship for older adults and people with disabilities. The bill recognizes that while guardianship is sometimes necessary, it can reduce personal independence and decision-making rights, and that less restrictive alternatives such as supported decision-making and advance directives often go underutilized due to lack of awareness. Grants will be awarded competitively for six-year periods (with possible renewal) to partnerships between disability organizations, legal services agencies, or aging agencies and relevant institutions like health clinics, schools, and courts. The program authorizes ten million dollars annually through fiscal year 2030, with funds supporting curriculum development, instructor training, accessible materials, and program evaluation. The bill requires states receiving vocational rehabilitation funding to collect and report data on guardianships and guardianship alternatives, and establishes an advisory council to oversee the programs and recommend sustainability strategies.
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