AARP Guardianship Monitoring Program

Schafer Law Firm
Washington Building, Suite 1302
1019 Pacific Avenue
P.O. Box 1134
Tacoma, Washington 98401-1134
(206) 383-2167 (Fax: 572-7220)
June 21, 1995

Presiding Judge Terry D. Sebring
Pierce County Superior Court, Dept. 17
County-City Building
930 Tacoma Ave. So.
Tacoma, WA 98402

            Re:     AARP National Guardianship Monitoring Program

Dear Judge Sebring:

            I enclose materials regarding the National Guardianship Monitoring Program, a program that could be implemented locally with assistance from the Legal Counsel for the Elderly office of the American Association of Retired Persons. I was told by the program director, Mary S. Twomey, (415-282-8790) that it is a rapidly expanding program that now has been established in 20 jurisdictions, including Portland, Oregon. It's pilot project was cited favorably in footnote 71 on page 59 of the National Center for State Courts, National Probate Court Standards (1993)(avail. for $3.50 postage/handling from NCSC, P.O. Box 8798, Williamsburg, VA 32187-8798; 804-253-2000).

            Ms. Twomey informed me that her office assists court personnel in implementing the program, both in soliciting volunteers through direct mailings to AARP members and in training them. She indicated that she recently was contacted by King County Superior Court Commissioner Maurice Epstein, and has sent him a copy of the full program handbook. Possibly, the program could be implemented in King and Pierce Counties (and even other counties) at the same time.

            I am sending this letter and these materials also to Mr. Hank Hibbard, Legal Services Developer at DSHS's Aging and Adult Services Administration ( 360-493-2543), who may be able to help establish the program and, at least, should be made aware of it.

            Because of my outspokenness, I have been excluded from the local bar's efforts, if any, to improve the local guardianship system. Nonetheless, I am eager to help improve that system. If I can be of any further assistance, please advise me.

            Please extend to me the professional courtesy of acknowledging receipt of this letter. Thank you.

Very truly yours,

Douglas A. Schafer

Enclosures
cc:    Edward A. ("Hank") Hibbard, Attorney
        Joseph F. Quinn, Attorney (w/o encl.)

Post Script by D. Schafer on March 25, 2000:
        The AARP Guardianship Monitoring Program has been set up in several Washington state counties, including Clark, King, Snohomish, Spokane and Thurston. But it can only be set up if a county's judges welcome it. Pierce County's judges never have. Since about 1996, AARP ceased providing national administrative support for program implementations, but in Washington, the Department of Social and Health Services began in 1998 providing administrative support for counties wishing to implement it. DSHS maintains an informative website [2004 webnote: no longer on the Internet] on the AARP/DSHS Volunteer Guardianship Monitoring Program, and more dedicated volunteers are always welcome.