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About the Working Interdisciplinary Networks of Guardianship Stakeholders (WINGS)

WINGS is a court-stakeholder partnership that promotes improvements in adult guardianship practice and use of less restrictive decisional options. By coming together in a collaborative network, WINGS can make a positive impact on the lives of Virginians potentially affected by the guardianship process.​

Stakeholder Agencies and Organizations

WINGS includes a diverse range of stakeholders from the judicial, legal, aging, disability, health care, and guardianship arenas:

  • AARP Virginia

  • Alzheimer’s Association

  • The Arc of Northern Virginia

  • Arlington Aging & Disability Services Division

  • Family Guardian

  • LeadingAge Virginia

  • Office of the Executive Secretary, Virginia Courts

  • Senior Connections – The Capital Area Agency on Aging

  • The Center for Gerontology, Virginia Tech

  • Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

  • Virginia Association of Community Services Boards, Inc.

  • Virginia Bankers Association

  • Virginia Center on Aging

  • Virginia Circuit Court Clerks (individual clerks designated)

  • Virginia Circuit Court Judges (individual judges designated)

  • Virginia Conference of Commissioners of Accounts

  • Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)

  • Virginia Health Care Association

  • Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association

  • Virginia League of Social Services Executives

  • Virginia Lifecare Planning

  • Virginia Network of Private Providers, Inc.

  • Virginia Poverty Law Center

  • Virginia State Bar, Senior Lawyers Conference

Structure

WINGS meets in person three times per year, in the Spring, Summer, and Fall in locations throughout the state.

WINGS works through three Committees:

The Monitoring Committee makes recommendations for improvements in the Virginia monitoring process in which local departments of social services review guardian reports; and local commissioners of accounts review conservator accountings.​

The Training & Resources Committee develops and disseminates a variety of materials for guardians, conservators, judges, attorneys, aging and disability professionals, health care professionals, other stakeholders in the guardianship process, and the public. Many of these materials are posted on the Guardian and Conservatorship webpage created by WINGS on the Virginia Courts website.

 

The Legislative Committee shares pending legislative proposals with the WINGS member organizations, provides a forum for discussions of those proposals, and tracks legislative activity.​​​​​

WINGS Activity
  • Guardianship Data & Case Management. In 2022, the Supreme Court of Virginia, with support from WINGS, received a three-year Elder Justice Initiative guardianship grant from the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL) to develop a guardianship/conservatorship application (Guardianship & Probate Management System, GPMS) as an integrated module of the existing statewide circuit court case management system. Under the Virginia ACL guardianship grant, WINGS is working with the Office of the Executive Secretary of the Supreme Court to identify needed data elements. The new system will provide a common platform for the collection of statewide guardianship data for Virginia’s circuit courts to use.

 

  • Monitoring Pilot. WINGS partnered with Arlington County to develop a program to address cases in which guardian reports to the local department of social services are delinquent. A program coordinator contacts the guardian and the adult served, provides any needed assistance to the guardian, and reports to the court if any action is needed. The Virginia guardianship monitoring pilot has markedly decreased the delinquent reports and helped guardians with their duties.

 

  • Pilot File Study.  WINGS completed a pilot file study of characteristics of adults subject to guardianship in Smyth County VA during a two-year period, including demographics, medical conditions, type of residence, and kind of guardian.

 

 

 

  • Less Restrictive Options Guide. WINGS produced a 7-page, plain language booklet describing approaches to help adults make their own life choices. These approaches may delay or avoid the need for guardianship or conservatorship. Options in Virginia to Help Another Person Make Decisions.

 

  • Posting of Forms, Instructions. WINGS has posted for ready access guardianship and conservatorship forms, instructions, and samples for inventories, guardian reports, and accountings. Forms and Resources

Other State WINGS

Over 20 states have WINGS or similar stakeholder partnership groups frequently convened by the state's highest court. For information about other state WINGS, as well as a WINGS assessment, briefing paper, and replication guide, see the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging, WINGS.

 

For more information about Virginia WINGS, call 804-786-8902.

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