Beyond
Guardianship
Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute
June 2026
In this issue, we explore how person-centered practices, community partnerships, and thoughtful advocacy are shaping the future of guardianship across Massachusetts and beyond.
Person-Centered Guardianship: What Matters to the Individual
By Heather L. Connors, Ph.D. Heather is the Executive Director of the Center for Guardianship Excellence.
Person-centered guardianship means making decisions that are important to a client, as well as decisions that are important for the client. Decisions important for a client include attending to the medical, housing, and financial issues with which the person needs assistance.
This might mean providing informed consent for cancer treatment or ensuring that an application for subsidized housing is completed and filed on a client’s behalf. These are the types of actions typically associated with guardianship: making decisions for people who are unable to make them independently.
What sets a good guardian apart, however, is understanding what is important to the client. This means getting to know the individual, understanding their needs, goals, and values, and making decisions that support them.
In the News:
Following Up on the Federal Veterans Guardianship Initiative
In our last issue, we spoke with Charles P. Golbert, head of the Cook County Public Guardian's Office, who shared concerns about federal involvement in guardianship proceedings for vulnerable veterans and the potential impact on individual rights and autonomy.
Since then, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth has introduced the Guardianship Bill of Rights Act of 2026, legislation designed to strengthen protections for veterans and others under or at risk of guardianship. The bill would promote less restrictive alternatives, increase oversight, and help ensure that guardianship remains a last resort rather than a default solution.
Around the Commonwealth
Massachusetts Pilots Decisional Support Mapping Initiative
The Massachusetts Probate and Family Court, in collaboration with the National Center for State Courts, recently piloted "mapping" workshops in Barnstable and Hampden Counties to identify less restrictive alternatives to guardianship and strengthen community-based supports for vulnerable adults.
Supported through a federal Elder Justice Innovation Grant, the initiative brought together First Judges, Registers, court staff, healthcare providers, educators, lawyers and advocates, and community organizations to identify entry points, service gaps, community resources, and to develop collaborative action plans focused on person-centered support, less restrictive alternatives and autonomy.
The Arc of Massachusetts Launches "After I'm Gone"
The Arc of Massachusetts recently launched After I'm Gone, a planning initiative designed to help aging caregivers prepare for the future support of loved ones with disabilities.
The project offers practical planning tools, educational resources, and webinars focused on long-term decision-making, future supports, and preserving independence. Families can explore public and private resources while building personalized plans for the years ahead.
Planning early can help families create greater stability, preserve autonomy, and ensure loved ones have the support they need when caregivers are no longer able to provide it.
Our People:
Meet PGS's Newest Care Manager: Caroline Prescott
Building connections, advocating for others, and helping people navigate life’s most difficult moments.
With more than eight years of experience across a variety of social work settings and populations, PGS Care Manager Caroline Prescott brings the kind of person-centered approach to guardianship that makes a lasting impact.
Meet the Clients:
Kevin's Story
Kevin's story is a reminder that even when memory fades, dignity, personhood, and connection remain.
How do you help someone who can no longer advocate for themselves and who has been failed by the people meant to care for them?
This is how PGS Care Manager Madeline Feist came to know her client, Kevin.
Help shape future issues
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Learn More About Us
Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute — research, policy, and advocacy
Guardian Community Trust, Inc. — funding and care coordination
Public Guardian Services (PGS) — person-centered guardianship in practice