| Program Goals and Objectives |
- The OSG will ensure the provision of quality guardianship services to adults with disabilities.
- The OSG will continue to serve as legal guardian for persons with disabilities who are unable to make personal or financial decisions.
- The OSG will ensure that all wards for whom it acts as plenary guardian of the person shall be visited four times per year.
- The OSG will advocate for its wards through effective guardianship planning, assessment, monitoring, visitation, and other case management activities. The OSG will participate in or review care plans that address placement, medical, therapeutic, and vocational concerns.
- The OSG will monitor wards impacted by consent decrees (e.g., Ligas, Colbert, and Williams).
- When appointed estate guardian or when serving as representative payee, the OSG will perform fiduciary transactions by accurately logging receipts and processing disbursements.
- OSG representatives will be sensitive to consumer needs.
- The OSG will provide cost-effective and comprehensive guardianship services.
- The OSG will conserve state resources by successfully exploring guardianship alternatives for intakes and referrals prior to OSG appointment.
- The OSG will process intakes through its toll-free intake number.
- OSG staff will utilize technology in the delivery of cost-effective, comprehensive, and efficient services, including Internet services, netbooks, remote access, and upgraded data collection and documentation systems.
- The OSG will collect fees on wards' estates pursuant to court order.
- The OSG will maintain contact with the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services to determine if tasks performed by the OSG are reimbursable through the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
- The OSG will sensitively handle controversial issues and will aggressively advocate for each ward's human rights.
- The OSG will continue to refine procedures for handling end-of-life decision-making.
- The OSG will elicit input from medical providers, interest groups, courts, and other stakeholders to consider the need to adjust end-of-life decision-making and medical consent response procedures.
- All OSG staff will be trained in areas related to death and dying, religious values, cultural issues, abuse and neglect, and service provision for persons with disabilities.
- The OSG will refine its procedures for handling anatomical gifts.
- The OSG will maintain a state-of-the-art professional staff.
- During each fiscal year, the OSG will coordinate at least 10 hours of continued professional training for each caseworker to meet requirements for continued National Certified Guardian re-certification and to provide educational resources and support in managing the highest guardianship caseloads in the nation.
- OSG staff will demonstrate proficiency in guardianship standards and practices by participating in guardianship certification training. All new OSG staff will receive certification training through the National Guardianship Association (NGA).
- At least 95% of staff will successfully complete and pass the National Certified Guardian exam offered by the Center for Guardianship Certification.
- The OSG will continue to play a leadership role at the national and state guardianship levels.
- The OSG will continue to actively participate with the NGA as board members, training coordinators, and/or attendees at the annual NGA conference and the Center for Guardianship Certification, pending administrative approval.
- OSG staff will actively participate with the statewide affiliate of the NGA, the Illinois Guardianship Association (IGA), as board members, officers, and local training coordinators and attendees at IGA conferences.
- OSG staff will continue participating in community outreach and public awareness events to provide ongoing education about adult guardianship issues to health-care consumers, service providers, and the citizens of Illinois.
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Public Accountability Report
