Our mission is to empower children and adults with developmental disabilities to achieve their potential based on personal choices, abilities and interests...
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Regina Moore
Marketing Manager
phone: (914) 428-8330,
ext. 3117
fax: (914) 997-2985
or (914) 428-0322
rmoore@westchesterarc.org
Westchester Arc
Herbert Katzenberg Center
121 Westmoreland Avenue
White Plains, NY 10606
(914) 949-9300
info@westchesterarc.org
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Press Release
Westchester Community Foundation Funds
Guardianship Counseling
Families Confront Legal Maze
WHITE PLAINS, NY – July 24, 2007 – The Westchester Community Foundation has awarded a $15,000 grant to Westchester Arc’s guardianship services for new outreach programs to the Hispanic and African-American communities. Counseling sessions will assist the parents of teenagers who have developmental disabilities with the often daunting guardianship process. The grant enables Westchester Arc to provide four family support workshops in Peekskill, Port Chester, Mount Vernon and Yonkers, as well as 25 one-on-one training sessions and financial assistance with court fees.
Westchester Arc is the largest agency in the county serving children and adults who have disabilities such as autistic spectrum disorders, Down syndrome, mental retardation, cerebral palsy and learning delays.
“Many families, especially in these communities, are unaware that you have to apply for guardianship,” explains Nancy Succoso, Westchester Arc assistant executive director. “This is an age where healthcare is improving and people with developmental disabilities are living longer, so it’s increasingly important for families to establish guardianship from the time an individual reaches the age of 18. Ideally, this program will ensure that individuals who have a developmental disability and are incapable of making their own decisions receive a lifetime of care.”
For many families, the guardianship process can be very costly and time-consuming. Legal counseling averages a minimum of $5,000 and court proceedings may take up to two years. If families choose to work with Westchester Arc, they pay $500 and the process is typically completed in three to six months.
“The idea of going to court can be intimidating for many people. When families realize they will be able to complete the guardianship paperwork without having to hire an attorney, they are relieved,” comments Roberta Nickelsen, Westchester Arc guardianship coordinator. “The fear of having to submit a legal petition will sometimes result in families postponing the procedure. We help to remove that fear.”
“Guardianship is a very emotional process,” adds Kim Kaiser, Westchester Arc guardianship advocate. “It’s not easy to fill out a high volume of paperwork while contemplating your child’s future. And missing one form can set the process back by months. Westchester Arc guardianship advocates look at forms with an objective and detailed eye to ensure they are complete. We are there for families every step of the way, from clinical evaluations to scheduling court proceedings.”
In addition to counseling, Westchester Arc, as the local chapter of NYSARC, can serve as an individual’s legal guardian. Currently, the agency is primary guardian for 43 individuals and secondary guardian for 75.
“The Westchester Community Foundation funds projects that change people’s lives. Guardianship is one such program,” comments Westchester Arc Foundation Executive Director Anne Sweazey.
The Westchester Community Foundation (WCF) is a non-profit community endowment for the benefit of Westchester County. Its mission is to develop and manage philanthropic resources and to distribute them in a way that is responsive to donor interests and community needs. The Foundation actively promotes charitable giving on behalf of the area’s non-profit organizations. WCF is a division of the New York Community Trust, the largest community foundation in the country with assets of approximately $2 billion.
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