Court system to offer training seminars for guardians Thursday, October 12, 2023

We are happy to announce five upcoming virtual education seminars that may of interest to guardians and attorneys. Participants must register for each session separately for attendance tracking.

These seminars have been approved by SBAND for CLE credits.

Abstracts and Faculty Bios:

JoLynn Larson:

BIO:
JoLynn has eleven years of experience working in Programs and Services with individuals with disabilities. Ten of those years were spent specifically working in Employment Services which included job coaching, employment preparation, training of businesses, identifying accommodations needed, working with employers to ensure a smooth transition to employment. For the last four years, JoLynn has dedicated her time to working specifically with individuals who are on the Autism Spectrum and are searching for long-term career-focused employment.

SYNOPSIS:
The discussion will focus on: understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder; the importance of individuals on the Spectrum having jobs that fit their skill levels; understanding how to support individuals who can and want to work independently; encouraging individuals who are on the spectrum to focus on working their way towards their goals of successful employment; and how entry-level employment can help them find that long term success.

Nancy Joyner, RN, MS, APRN-CNS, ACHPN®:

BIO:
Nancy is a nationally recognized consultant, speaker, educator, and author. As a Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist, she works as the palliative care consultant and expert disseminating awareness and education regarding palliative care statewide. Nancy has over 40 years of nursing proficiency that includes 17 years as an advanced practice nurse in palliative care. Nancy is an End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) trainer. She has had training through the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC). Nancy created numerous CME sessions on palliative care for the University of North Dakota’s Project ECHO and is involved with the Dakota Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program. She has presented and published at local, state, and national levels. She has researched and published articles on POLST and advance care planning. Nancy is an ambassador for the Serious Illness Community of Practice, Ariadne Labs. She is currently president of Honoring Choices® North Dakota, North Dakota’s POLST Program Coordinator and co-creator of the HCND ACP Facilitator Certification Course.

SYNOPSIS:
This session will outline choices patients and families have to focus on: the four “C”s - Comfort, Communication, Choices, and Control; issues that patients with serious illness can have facing future healthcare. Palliative care and hospice will be explored with similarities and distinctions. Advance care planning with the ultimate result of healthcare directives and POLST medical orders being created. This will hopefully provide more options for patients and their families in future healthcare decisions.

Sara Behrens:

BIO:
Sara Behrens is a staff attorney in the North Dakota Supreme Court’s Office of State Court Administrator. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Dakota. She graduated from the University of North Dakota School of Law with Honors in 2006. After law school, she spent a year as the judicial law clerk for the South Central Judicial District. She then went into private practice in Grand Forks, North Dakota with Zimney Foster, P.C. until 2014 when she took a position with the North Dakota Insurance Department and moved closer to home and family. Sara worked at the North Dakota Insurance Department until she began employment with the Court in August of 2018. In her current position as staff attorney, she serves as staff on several judicial committees tasked with reviewing of court rules, orders, and programs, proposing amendments or repeal of existing rules and programs and proposing new rules and programs for consideration by the Supreme Court. In her spare time, Sara runs a cat rescue called Purrfect Pound Pals.

SYNOPSIS:
Information on the bills pertaining to guardianships and conservatorships during the 2023 North Dakota Legislative Session.

Ryan Boosinger, MA:

BIO:
Ryan currently heads the marketing, outreach, and education for Lutheran Social Service’s Older Adults line of service; dedicated to connecting-the-dots of support when it comes to tools such as guardianship, supported decision making, and pooled trusts.
Ryan has served the community for 20 years in a variety of capacities revolving around housing and homelessness, disaster relief, healthcare, and aging, and currently acts as a go-to resource for those working to navigate increasingly complex systems of care.

SYNOPSIS:
A Pooled Trust is a financial investment tool used to preserve funds that will enhance the quality of life for individuals with a disability determination. Establishing a Pooled Trust can help protect eligibility for public benefits while still maintaining assets from other sources. You’ll learn about the options that are available, how they work, why they’re important, and how to get them set up for yourself or those you support.

Catie Palsgraaf:

BIO:

Catie Palsgraaf is the Citizen Access Coordinator for the ND Legal Self Help Center, which is a division of the North Dakota Supreme Court Law Library. Since 2018, she is also the Acting Law Librarian.
Catie received her B.A. from the University of Utah and her J.D. from the University of North Dakota School of Law. Catie has worked for the North Dakota court system since 2011.

SYNOPSIS:
A brief overview of the North Dakota Legal Self Help Center’s services and resources; a brief overview of the Guardianship Standards Workgroup; and a more in-depth review of the guardianship forms created by both the Guardianship Standards Workgroup and the Legal Self Help Center, including when and how to use the forms.

Questions? Call or email:

Rose Nichols

North Dakota Courts

Guardianship Monitoring Program

701-328-2212

rnichols@ndcourts.gov