LIFEguardianship Supports and Services

Lifetime Commitment to Alternatives to Guardianship, Restoration of Rights, and Guardianship

LIFEguardianship enables The Arc of NC to become guardian for individuals, when there is no family member or other individual able or willing to do so. However, guardianship is restrictive and as such should never be taken lightly. Alternatives to guardianship should be pursued before the initiation of guardianship of the person, of the estate, or both. Alternatives include: Power of Attorney; Durable Power of Attorney; Health Care Power of Attorney; Declaration Regarding Natural Death (DNR or Living Will); Advance Instruction for Mental Health (AIMHT); Social, Habilitation, Case Management and Advocacy Supports; Circle of Friends; Representative Payee for Social Security and other pensions/benefits; and/or Trust.

LIFEguardianship Supports and Services is available in every county in North Carolina. It is provided only when other alternatives have been pursued and are found not to be appropriate. Individuals may have a developmental disability, chronic mental illness, or be elderly or substance abusers.

The mission of LIFEguardianship is to advocate and ensure that person-centered supports and services are provided in the least restrictive/intrusive manner possible; that the personal preferences and desires of the individual/ward are important and given serious or total consideration; that every opportunity is made available to the individual/ward to exercise all rights within his or her judgment and comprehension, allowing for the possibility of error to the same degree allowed persons who are capacitated. Thus, even with a guardian, an individual should participate as fully as possible in all decisions that affect him/her. In addition, guardianship should be reviewed periodically, at least annually, and a decision made as to whether an individual's/ward's rights need to be partially or fully restored.

For More Information

Contact one of the following:

•   Jean Farmer Butterfield, Director

             Email jfarmerbutterfield@arcnc.org

            1-800-662-8706 or 919-782-4632

•   Barbara Cooper-Robinson, Assistant Director/Regional Guardianship Specialist

      Email bcooperrobinson@arcnc.org

      910-525-4600

•   Becky Wood, Assistant Director/Regional Guardianship Specialist

      Email bwood@arcnc.org

      336-297-0106

The NC Guardianship Association

The North Carolina Guardianship Association, a nonprofit membership organization, provides leadership, advocacy, education, training and public awareness to achieve the highest levels of excellence in guardianship practices. Please visit our website http://www.nc-guardian.org for more information on membership, education and training opportunities, resources and the registered guardianship program.