Center for Guardianship Certification

National Guardianship Association certifies Barb Helm

This year, Arcare became a proud member of the National Guardianship Association (NGA). NGA represents more than 1,000 guardians, conservators and fiduciaries from across the United States who share a vision for advancing the nationally recognized standard of excellence in guardianship and protecting incapacitated adults. NGA and its members work to strengthen guardianship and its related services through quality assurance, networking and education.

In October, Barb Helm, Arcare’s executive director, attended NGA’s National Guardianship Conference in Mesa, Arizona, to benefit from the association’s resources and take a comprehensive look at pertinent guardianship issues. Topics included, but were not limited to, elder justice, special needs trusts, protecting digital assets in guardianship and the ABLE Act.

NGA has also led the way in advocating certification of guardians by forming the Center for Guardianship Certification. This week, Barb earned her National Certified Guardian designation, becoming one of just 2,000 individuals who have earned certification as either a National Certified Guardian or National Master Guardian. As a certified Guardian, Barb can:

  • Let potential clients, the court system and the general public know she is held to specific standards of practice
  • Declare her professional competence
  • Demonstrate her commitment to standards and ethics
  • Have an objective measure and validation of her knowledge
  • Be set apart from non-certified guardians as someone who has met nationally recognized requirements, including training and an examination
  • Potentially meet requirements to practice as a guardian in some states

The certification is yet another representation of Arcare’s commitment to being a knowledgeable, trusted resource for individuals who need such services. We plan to have additional staff members complete the application process and examination required for certification in 2016.

View Barb’s official certification here.

National Business Institute training on special needs trusts

Arcare presents NBI workshop on special needs trusts

Special Needs Trusts expertise is at the heart of how our Arcare staff helps families ensure their loved ones with disability can maintain financial independence without jeopardizing eligibility for important benefits. Because of our team’s familiarity with the issues surrounding creating, funding and maintaining these trusts, we are often asked to participate in trainings and workshops about these planning tools.

Yesterday, Lynn Carter and Barb Helm joined board member Emily Donaldson and strategic partner Stacey Janssen in co-presenting at a National Business Institute (NBI) workshop titled “Protect Your Clients Assets Amidst Changing Healthcare Policy” in Kansas City. The focus of this seminar was on how Special Needs Trusts and private health insurance may be impacted under the ACA, and how that may affect decisions about care for individuals with disabilities. This one-day seminar provided attending legal professionals with continuing education credits and information about how to help clients make sound decisions in establishing special needs trusts.

The agenda for the workshop was broken down into the following categories:

  1. What Is a Special Needs Trust and Does Your Client Need One?
  2. Drafting the SNT – Sample Provisions Review and Analysis
  3. Protecting Eligibility for Public Benefits
  4. Special Needs and the Affordable Care Act
  5. Ethical Considerations

In addition to the attorneys who attended, other participants included paralegals, home care professionals, nursing home administrators, accountants, financial planners and other professionals working with disabled clients. At the conclusion of the workshop, attendees gave all presenters rave reviews for their knowledge and insight on the topics at hand.

National PLAN Alliance

Barb Helm elected to National PLAN Alliance board of directors

As part of the vital role Arcare plays in helping individuals with disabilities and their families, we are a proud member of the National PLAN Alliance. NPA is the only non-profit organization in America dedicated solely to meeting the planning needs of families with adult children having lifelong disabilities.

PLAN (Planned Lifetime Assistance Network) programs were founded to assist families in planning for the future care of loved ones with lifelong disabilities. Established as a tax-exempt non-profit organization in 1997, the National PLAN Alliance is the umbrella organization for 18 PLAN affiliates in 22 states.

NPA provides a variety of vital support services to existing and new programs, such as program and board development, feasibility surveys, fund raising, marketing, conferences and strategic planning assistance to its affiliate PLAN programs.

Recently, our Executive Director, Barb Helm, was elected to the NPA Board of Directors. The Board is comprised of volunteer and staff leaders, as well as family members representing the 22 affiliates. Barb’s leadership, knowledge and experience are a welcome addition to the Board. Because of her involvement in the Arcare Pooled Trust Program, she will be integral to the continued growth and evolution of this aspect of support NPA provides its state PLAN programs.

For more information about National PLAN Alliance, visit http://www.nationalplanalliance.org/.

Arcare Provides Pooled Trusts Testimony

Arcare provides expert testimony on pooled trusts in Iowa

On February 24, Arcare served as an expert on pooled trusts in front of the Iowa Legislature. Our testimony was in support of a new law that would basically negate Section 633C.2 of the existing Iowa law regulating medical assistance trusts.

633C.2 Disposition of medical assistance special needs trusts.
Regardless of the terms of a medical assistance special needs trust, any income received or asset added to the trust during a one-month period shall be expended as provided for medical assistance income trusts under section 633C.3, on a monthly basis, during the life of the beneficiary. Any increase in income or principal retained in the trust from a previous month may be expended, during the life of the beneficiary, only for reasonable and necessary expenses of the trust, not to exceed ten dollars per month without court approval, for special needs of the beneficiary attributable to the beneficiary’s disability and approved by the district court, for medical care or services that would otherwise be covered by medical assistance under chapter 249A, or to reimburse the state for medical assistance paid on behalf of the beneficiary.

This restrictive clause hinders persons with disability to benefit from distributions currently allowed through special needs trusts by federal regulation.

To view the complete testimony, click here.

Providing food prep skills for individuals with disabilities

For adults with special needs, living independently is a challenge. On yesterday’s edition of Up To Date on KCUR, Steve Kraske interviewed Sarah Mai, executive director of The Mission Project, a local organization dedicated to helping adults with developmental disabilities live on their own. Also joining the conversation was Beverly Palomba, the author of a cookbook specially designed for their needs.

Sarah shared information about the benefits and opportunities The Mission Project provides its residents. She also spoke about how the group is looking for ways to expand its offerings to various locations throughout the Kansas City area and beyond to help a larger population of individuals with disabilities. But overall, the focus of the conversation fell on the importance of teaching food preparation and planning skills to help them live independently and safely.

Listen to the 20-minute program by clicking on the video below.

In addition to learning from the YouTube channel Sarah has created (available online here) that provides “how to” videos on everything from popping popcorn in an air popper to preparing for guests in the home, the individuals in The Mission Project are also benefitting from a new program offered by Master Food Volunteers through the K-State Johnson County Research Extension.

This program is being supported by a grant from the Arcare Foundation, and we are thrilled to be part of its growth and evolution. Run by Jean Porter and Sherry Carter, the to-be-named program will allow individuals with disabilities to develop culinary skills and increase their knowledge about nutritious meal planning for just a few dollars per class. Jean and Sherry hope to get other organizations like The Mission Project involved to expand their reach and help more adults with disability live successfully on their own.

Check our Arcare Charitable Fund page for more information as the program takes shape!