The Good Shepherd Fund acts as court-appointed conservator or guardian of adults with developmental disabilities. The Fund is conservator or guardian for more than 100 individuals in California, Oregon, and Colorado.

The Director of the Conservatorship/ Guardianship Program is a licensed clinical social worker with extensive experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities. The Director is supported by a team of Conservatorship/Guardianship Coordinators in the following base locations:

• Portland, OR
• Denver, CO
• Orange County, CA
• San Francisco Bay Area, CA
• Porterville/ Bakersfield, CA
• Visalia, CA
• Fresno, CA

Program staff get to know the individual and advocate for him/her, visiting at both home and work or day program to ensure that these settings are appropriate. Visits are both scheduled and unannounced. Visits are made at least monthly, more often if needed because of health or other reasons.

By law the conservator/guardian plays a key role in making decisions affecting many aspects of the protected persons’ lives. Program staff interact with the court, service providers, family, governmental agencies and other members of the interdisciplinary team to see that the needs and interests of the individual are being met.

While conservatorship or guardianship is a formal, legal relationship, The Good Shepherd Fund program also works to build a friendship with each individual being served. This enables the staff to better know what the individual’s wishes and needs are, improving our ability to advocate effectively. A monitoring visit or attendance at a team meeting might include a meal out or a special shopping trip. Program staff arranges special recreational opportunities, as well: a beach trip, a dude ranch trip or taking the individual to visit family are examples.

The Good Shepherd Fund can be nominated to accept transfer of an existing conservatorship or guardianship or to initiate a new proceeding. The Fund can be nominated to step in upon the death of a family conservator by including this direction in a clause in the will or living trust – consult your family legal advisor.

New guardianship or conservatorship requests will be considered for individuals with developmental disabilities living in California, Oregon, and Colorado. Please contact afbahr@comcast.net for further information.

Program staff also provide case management services to support a family Guardian or Conservator who wants professional input or additional support for the protected person.