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HELENA, Mont. -- While traditional guardianship for an individual can be necessary, it also can restrict the choices they make in their lives. In Montana, a movement is afoot to provide less limiting options.
Most of the folks under guardianship have disabilities or are older.
Theresa Baldry, transition program coordinator for the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities, said this approach doesn't always allow for people to grow over time.
She explained one alternative, known as "supportive decision-making," asks what kind of support a person needs.
"Where are you at on this?" Baldry asked as an example. "How are you doing with this? Do you believe you need help? Do those around you believe you need some help, and if so, how can we do this so that you still have control and choice in your life, but you find success in these areas?"
Baldry described there are other alternatives to guardianship, such as advocacy forms that lay out how a person wants to interact with others; giving someone power of attorney; and a "special needs trust" for safely keeping a person's finances.
She added people can get creative and look at what's available in their community to support an individual.
Baldry noted the Montana Legislature could codify supportive decision-making, and other less restrictive guardianship options, into law this session.
"The other piece with that is to recognize less restrictive options," Baldry suggested. "And not only recognize them, but to consider them first, before we put someone under a guardianship and remove their rights."
For people with disabilities, Baldry cautioned overly restrictive guardianship can remove the dignity of taking risks and learning from mistakes, because the person isn't able to make choices on their own.
"When we include you, it lifts you up," Baldry remarked. "And that's, to me, one of the beauties of supportive decision-making; you have regular communication, and you expect to have support so that you can be successful."
