Programs and Training
We offer guardianship conferences, programs and training for professionals and lay people. Programs include scholarships, mini-grants, low-interest loans, and reimbursed legal fees for low-income guardianships.
- The Guardian Institute provides two 12-credit, two-day continuing education conferences designed for certified professional guardians but open to anyone who works with incapacitated individuals in Washington State. The Spring conference is held in Bremerton and the Fall conference is held in Spokane. Vendors or sponsors are welcome.
To receive information about upcoming Guardian Institute conferences, please email us or go to “Resources”, then “Newsletters”.
- The Guardian Institute offers a limited number of partial scholarships for lay and certified professional guardians to attend one of these conferences per year.
- Mini-grants can be accessed by court-appointed guardians to provide funds for clients who have needs that area resources don’t cover.
- Low-interest loans can be accessed by court-appointed guardians on behalf of low-income clients who need funds to clear out a house, make repairs not covered by area resources, etc. The loan will be paid back at the closing of the house sale if there are funds available.
- Legal Fees can be reimbursed for court approved legal fees for low income guardianships.
- The Guardian Institute trains and provides support to volunteers who are interested in becoming guardians of low-income adults who have been determined to be incapacitated by the courts.
- Washington State has a Public Guardianship Program but due to budget problems, funding has been stalled for a number of years.