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12 people are interested
People in your community need a guardian!
ORGANIZATION: Department of Human Services Riverplace
Please visit the new page to apply.
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12 people are interested
Help people in your community by volunteering as a guardian!
The Department of Human Services is currently in need of volunteers to serve as guardians for wards of the state. Wards of the state are typically individuals with mental illness, disabilities, or dementia. Often, family members of the ward are not able to serve as guardian, and we look to caring community members for help.
One of the most difficult decisions a family has to make involves how to deal with elderly family members or family members who have mental illness or intellectual disabilities. Often these people can no longer make decisions for themselves. Most of us know of someone who has faced this situation. Usually, with the help of the family, arrangements can be made. However, there are times when tough circumstances make this process more challenging. Acting as a guardian can take as much or as little time as one is willing to give and can be very rewarding. Guardians are not financially responsible for their ward, nor do they take them into their homes. What they do is to work with professionals from DHS and other service agencies to make placement and treatment decisions for the ward. Thus, a guardian would be asked to sign admission requests for hospitals, applications for state assistance or Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security benefits, and to monitor the ward's treatment and condition and to make a brief yearly report to the court. If additional court involvement is necessary, the county attorney's office will file the necessary paperwork. Guardians make a big difference for some of our community's most needy populations.
For more information please contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Mackenzie Mahoney, at 515-725-2743 or mbartus@dhs.state.ia.us.
More opportunities with Department of Human Services Riverplace
No additional volunteer opportunities at this time.
About Department of Human Services Riverplace
Location:
2309 Euclid Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310, US
Mission Statement
Our mission is to help individuals and families achieve safe, stable, self-sufficient, and healthy lives, thereby contributing to the economic growth of the state. We do this by keeping a customer focus, striving for excellence, sound stewardship of state resources, maximizing the use of federal funding and leveraging opportunities and by working with our public and private partners to achieve results.
Description
We provide services for adoption, foster care, children and family guidance, child care, child support and recovery, civil commitment for sexual offenders, diversion programs, family investment programs, food assistance, health insurance premium payment, healthy and well kids program, juvenile facilities, medical assistance, mental health and developmental disabilities.
CAUSE AREAS
WHEN
WHERE
2309 Euclid AveDes Moines, IA 50310
DATE POSTED
September 28, 2017
SKILLS
- Mental Health
- Elder care
- Case Work / Management
- Problem Solving
- Healthcare
- Counseling / Mental Health
GOOD FOR
- People 55+
REQUIREMENTS
- Driver's License Needed
- Background Check
- Must be at least 18
- Orientation or Training
- Case Specific
- References