Receive presentation on the Office of the Public Guardian and updates regarding referral, caseload, and staffing data, current challenges, and future needs. (No general fund impact) (Sullivan) (Est. Time: 10 min)

Receive presentation on the Office of the Public Guardian and updates regarding referral, caseload, and staffing data, current challenges, and future needs.

This informational presentation will provide an overview of the Office of the Public Guardian and share relevant program data. The Office of the Public Guardian, established in Yolo County by ordinance of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors, is committed to treating every conservatee with dignity, compassion and understanding. Their statutory role is to act in the best interest of each conservatee and execute sound fiscal management of client estates. The Office of the Public Guardian’s core functions are fully funded by County General Fund by State mandate with additional ancillary supports currently funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA).

At present, the Public Guardian includes three (3) Conservatorship Officers/Deputy Public Guardians and serves 178 individuals who have a medical or mental health diagnosis and have been found by a Judge to be unable to manage their own affairs. Over the past fourteen years, the number of conservatorship officers has decreased and during that same timeframe, the demands on the Office of the Public Guardian have significantly increased, both in referrals for service and conservatees served.  These challenges have impacted the Public Guardian’s ability to implement recommended actions from the 2016/2017 County Audit and resulting Corrective Action Plan and the 2020 Grand Jury Report.

The Office of the Public Guardian anticipates notable increases in referrals due to the passage of several legislative bills and the growing aging population in Yolo County. Greater demands for service are expected with the implementation of Senate Bill 43, which significantly expands the definition of “grave disability” in determining eligibility for Lanterman-Petris-Short (“mental health”) conservatorships, and Senate Bill 1338, which establishes the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act, a civil court process to create a voluntary agreement or a court-ordered plan to implement services to individuals with specific mental health conditions. Lastly, the growing population of older adults (defined as ages 60 and above) in Yolo County is growing significantly over the next 30 years and is likely to increase the number of probate conservatorships.

The Public Guardian partners with a variety of internal Health and Human Service Agency programs, including Adult Protective Services, In Home Supportive Services, and Behavioral Health. Additional partners include local hospitals, law enforcement, treatment providers, care facilities, and community-based organizations that serve adult clients.