Kansas Guardianship Program
The Kansas Guardianship program is a volunteer-based model that provides guardianship or conservatorship services for vulnerable adults.
Legal Guardianship for Adults with Disabilities
Welcome to Kansas Guardianship Program
The KGP celebrated 40 years of volunteer service in 2019.
This unique model involves a collaborative working relationship with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS).
The KGP serves people who are identified by Adult Protective Services and State hospital social workers. State hospital social workers may make formal requests to the KGP for an approved volunteer who may be nominated to the court for appointment as guardian or conservator.
In 2020, in observing National Volunteer Month, we celebrated our organization’s most valuable asset. More than 775 volunteers throughout the State of Kansas serve approximately 1,285 individuals. Through their volunteerism, Kansans play an integral role in the inclusion of marginalized and vulnerable fellow community members.
The KGP would not be possible without the dedication of these citizen volunteers. KGP volunteers donate many hours advocating for the people they serve. These volunteers exemplify the dignity and respect all persons are accorded while reflecting a commitment to their communities.
Why is the KGP needed?
Every year many adult Kansans experience diminished capacity and become unable to make informed decisions regarding their lives and finances.
For those who do not have willing and able family members to assist them, the court can appoint fellow citizens as a guardian/conservator.
The Kansas Guardianship Program recruits, screens, and trains interested persons to be court appointed guardians and conservators.
Find a KGP Recruiter
What is a Guardian or Conservator?
Guardians and conservators provide a check and balance on the human services system. Through their legal authority, advocates have access to group homes, nursing facilities, public institutions, or residences of the person receiving support and services.
Their advocacy and protective efforts frequently extend to a roommate or another resident. A guardian’s very presence can afford a sense of safety, protection, and security.
Responsibilities of a Guardian or Conservator
Guardianship for adults with disabilities is not something to be taken lightly. The responsibilities of a guardian or conservator are to:
- Advocate for a higher quality of life for another, while monitoring and protecting individual rights.
- Advocate for and exercise authority as necessitated by the person’s limitations.
- Access services and supports including physical, psychological, and emotional care and treatment.
- Monitor quality of supports and services.
- Provide necessary paperwork such as court reports and accountings, applications for supports, services and benefits, etc.
- Provide necessary consents.
- Visit the person regularly.
- Manage the finances and estate on behalf of person (if conservator).
How to Become a Guardian for an Adult With Disabilities
It is a significant matter to ask someone to accept both legal and moral responsibility for the well-being of another person—someone who is often previously unknown and not a family member.
KGP seeks this considerable personal commitment from volunteers who agree to serve as guardians or conservators. The process of a guardian or conservator becoming an effective advocate takes time and commitment.
Responsibilities of a Guardian or Conservator
Guardianship for adults with disabilities is not something to be taken lightly. The responsibilities of a guardian or conservator are to:
- Advocate for a higher quality of life for another, while monitoring and protecting individual rights.
- Advocate for and exercise authority as necessitated by the person’s limitations.
- Access services and supports including physical, psychological, and emotional care and treatment.
- Monitor quality of supports and services.
- Provide necessary paperwork such as court reports and accountings, applications for supports, services and benefits, etc.
- Provide necessary consents.
- Visit the person regularly.
- Manage the finances and estate on behalf of person (if conservator).
Legal Guardianship for Adults with Disabilities
Guardian and Conservator Information
Guardianship or conservatorship is an attempt by the state to provide a way to help and protect a person when they are incapable of self-care or of acting in their own best interest.
A guardianship or conservatorship, while intended to be helpful, may place the most severe restrictions on a person’s freedoms that a court can impose.
A guardianship or conservatorship should be used only as a method of last resort and be considered only after they have explored all other lesser restrictive alternatives.
Kansas Guardianship Program Annual Report
The annual report provides an overview of the program, how it functions and statistical information on persons served through the program.
Guide to Kansas Laws on Guardianship and Conservatorship
The guide provides an overview of the guardianship and conservatorship statute in Kansas.
The KGP seeks volunteers with the following characteristics:
- Compassion
- Wisdom
- Self-initiative
- Desire to serve as a personal advocate
- Interest in learning new information
- Ability to make wise and appropriate decisions regarding another person
What volunteering with KGP can mean for you:
- What volunteering with KGP can mean for you:
- An opportunity to blend personal interests & abilities with those you serve
- Experience the satisfaction of helping another person
- Provide a valuable service to another in your community
- Walk with another person on the road of their life
Kansas Guardianship Program Mission Statement
Agencies we work with in this process include Adult Protective Services, Department for Children and Families (DCF), and Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS).
About the Kansas Guardianship Program
The Kansas Guardianship Program’s overarching goal is to protect the rights of persons with disabilities and to encourage respect for the rights and dignity of all Kansans.
Someone needs what you have to offer.
KGP Program Philosophy
The KGP strives to advocate and protect the rights of persons with disabilities in ways that recognize the interdependence of all individuals and encourage respect for the rights and dignity of all Kansans.
It is our belief that there should be trained and capable people available to fill the role of guardian or conservator for individuals in need. We believe a guardian or conservator is someone who will make positive efforts to benefit their ward, and our work is to build those relationships.
Kansas Guardianship Program Model
This model involves a collaborative working relationship with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS).
Persons served by the KGP are identified by DCF Adult Protective Services and State hospital social workers.
Social workers make formal requests to the KGP for an approved volunteer who may be nominated to the court for appointment as guardian or conservator. The individuals served are usually dependent upon public support.
Referrals to the KGP are considered after all other, less restrictive, alternatives have been exhausted.
The needs of the potential ward/conservatee are matched with the abilities and interests of the volunteer. DCF and KDADS legal services petition the court for the trial to determine the need for guardianship or conservatorship. The District Court determines the need for and level of guardianship or conservatorship services and makes the appointment of the guardian or conservator.
KGP trains volunteers to become guardians and conservators.
After a KGP volunteer is appointed as the guardian or conservator, the KGP contracts with the volunteer to provide a high level of advocacy and protection to the ward or conservatee.
We require a written monthly report of activities undertaken on behalf of the ward or conservatee; provide a small monthly stipend to the volunteer to offset out-of-pocket expenses for services provided on behalf of the person(s); and provide ongoing training and support to the volunteer in order to enhance the quality of life of the persons they serve.
If you’re looking for a way to give back to your community, consider acting as a court-appointed guardian or conservator to an adult with disabilities in need.
There are so many Kansans each year who lose their ability to care for themselves and who need someone to be there for them. We provide training, as well as a small stipend, to the special individuals who come to answer that call for help. The Kansas Guardianship Program is always recruiting, screening and training interested persons to become court-appointed guardians and conservators.
If you’re looking for a way to give back to your community, consider acting as a court-appointed guardian or conservator to an adult with disabilities in need.
There are so many Kansans each year who lose their ability to care for themselves and who need someone to be there for them. We provide training, as well as a small stipend, to the special individuals who come to answer that call for help. The Kansas Guardianship Program is always recruiting, screening and training interested persons to become court-appointed guardians and conservators.
Kansas Guardianship Program
Main Office – Manhattan
3248 Kimball Ave
Manhattan, KS 66503
Satellite Office – Wichita
505 S. Broadway, Suite 207 Wichita, KS 67202
Satellite Office – Wichita
505 S. Broadway, Suite 207 Wichita, KS 67202
After their original publication in January 2009, the instructions were revised and updated in June 2015. The instructions make up the basic instructional program concerning the duties and responsibilities of a conservator required by K.S.A. 59-3069(j).
After reading these instructions, a proposed conservator should sign the affidavit of completion at the end of this booklet and file it with the court as evidence of completion of the basic instructional program.
Additional Resources
Legal Guardianship for Adults with Disabilities
Printable Court Forms for Guardianship or Conservatorship
Kansas Counties A-Z
Allen County
Anderson County
Atchison County
Barber County
Barton County
Bourbon County
Brown County
Butler County
Chase County
Chautauqua County
Cherokee County
Cheyenne County
Clark County
Clay County
Cloud County
Coffey County
Comanche County
Cowley County
Crawford County
Decatur County
Dickinson County
Doniphan County
Douglas County
Edwards County
Elk County
Ellis County
Ellsworth County
Finney County
Ford County
Franklin County
Geary County
Gove County
Graham County
Grant County
Gray County
Greeley County
Greenwood County
Hamilton County
Harper County
Harvey County
Haskell County
Hodgeman County
Jackson County
Jefferson County
Jewell County
Johnson County
Kearny County
Kingman County
Kiowa County
Labette County
Lane County
Leavenworth County
Lincoln County
Linn County
Logan County
Lyon County
Marion County
Marshall County
McPherson County
Meade County
Miami County
Mitchell County
Montgomery County
Morris County
Morton County
Nemaha County
Neosho County
Ness County
Norton County
Osage County
Osborne County
Ottawa County
Pawnee County
Phillips County
Pottawatomie County
Pratt County
Rawlins County
Reno County
Republic County
Rice County
Riley County
Rooks County
Rush County
Russell County
Saline County
Scott County
Sedgwick County
Seward County
Shawnee County
Sheridan County
Sherman County
Smith County
Stafford County
Stanton County
Stevens County
Sumner County
Thomas County
Trego County
Wabaunsee County
Wallace County
Washington County
Wichita County
Wilson County
Woodson County
Wyandotte County
Volunteer Information Form
A person interested in becoming a volunteer and serving as a KGP guardian or conservator must complete a Volunteer Information Form. To become a Volunteer click the link below.
Training Videos
The Kansas Guardianship Program provides the following four video training modules for a quick overview: