The Arc Westchester supports the principles and practices of person centered planning to promote self-determined lives. To further these efforts, our guardianship staff provides information on advocacy, guardianship, decision-making supports, and alternatives to guardianship. Periodic seminars are offered to assist with completing the petition for guardianship through the Surrogate Court.
A guardian offers assistance based on the individual's capacities and expressed wishes, while ensuring that the individual has the opportunity to express preferences and have them honored to the extent possible. A guardian will consistently promote self-reliance and independent decision-making to the maximum extent of the individual's abilities in all decisions pertaining to the individual. The Court only appoints a guardian after there has been an independent review of the need for guardianship. To promote best practices, the need for continued guardianship should be reviewed annually at planning meetings with the team or other appropriate party including the guardian.
The Arc Westchester's Guardianship Team is here for you. For more information contact Nancy Succoso of The Arc Westchester at (914) 495-4503 or by email at [email protected].