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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Kimberly George, President and CEO of Project Guardianship, on Guardianship and Mental Health Crisis in New York City
4:27:26
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129 sec
Kimberly George, President and CEO of Project Guardianship, testified about the critical role of guardianship in addressing mental health crises in New York City, particularly for older adults and individuals with serious mental illness. She highlighted the overwhelming strain on the guardianship system and the potential impact of proposed federal funding cuts on vital services.
- The guardianship system in NYC is severely overwhelmed, with courts unable to appoint guardians in nearly half of the cases due to a lack of qualified individuals.
- Proposed federal cuts to programs like Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and Social Security would significantly impact the guardianship system and the ability to meet clients' basic needs.
- The strain on the system is leading to longer hospital stays, potential appointment of unqualified guardians, and increased pressure on social service agencies working with vulnerable populations.
Kimberly George
4:27:26
Hello, thank you Chair Schulman, Chair Brennan, and members of the committee for the opportunity to testify today.
4:27:33
I'm Kimberly George, President and CEO of Project Guardianship.
4:27:36
We are a nonprofit organization that provides person centered guardianship services for New Yorkers who have no family, no friends, and no financial means to manage their personal medical or legal affairs.
4:27:48
Alongside our direct services, we also advocate for reforms to modernize the guardianship system and prioritize less restrictive alternatives whenever possible.
4:27:58
In New York City, the guardianship system intersects critically with the mental health crisis, particularly for older adults and individuals living with serious mental illness.
4:28:07
When a person lacks the capacity to make decisions and has no family or support network, guardianship can be the only means of ensuring access to care, stability, and protection.
4:28:17
Guardians often step in to make decisions about psychiatric treatment, coordinate services, and advocate for appropriate housing and benefits.
4:28:25
Yet without a guardian, many individuals fall through the cracks, cycling through emergency rooms, shelters, and the streets, often without continuity of care or a voice in decisions that affect their lives.
4:28:36
Unfortunately, the guardianship system is overwhelmed.
4:28:39
Despite article 80 one's promise of access to guardianship, courts often cannot meet this mandate.
4:28:44
Judges report that in approximately one third of cases statewide and nearly half in New York City, they are unable to appoint a guardian due to a lack of qualified individuals.
4:28:54
Many of those in need are isolated or impoverished and in the absence of a public guardianship system, they are left without protection.
4:29:01
This crisis could intensify.
4:29:03
Proposed federal cuts to vital programs like Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and Social Security would significantly impact the guardianship system.
4:29:10
Guardians depend on these programs to secure housing, health care, and food for their clients.
4:29:14
Without them, even the best guardian cannot meet a client's most basic needs.
4:29:18
The strain is already being felt.
4:29:20
Hospitals are forced to keep patients longer than necessary.
4:29:23
Judges under pressure may appoint unqualified guardians.
4:29:26
Social service agencies are stretched thin, especially as they work with individuals experiencing homelessness or untreated mental illness without anyone to represent their interests.