The Department of Human Resources

Adult Public Guardianship

This program is limited to matters essential to safeguard the welfare of a disabled person. It is limited to those decisions where a substitute decision- maker is necessary.

There are two types of adult guardianship:

• A guardian of the person is authorized by the court to make decisions for the disabled person about their health care, shelter, or other daily needs.
• A guardian of the property is a person or agency appointed by the court to manage the property of a disabled person. A public agency may not be the guardian of the property.

WHO DOES IT?

Public Guardianship of the person may be granted to an agency considered appropriate by the court, as a last resort.

ADULT PUBLIC GUARDIANSHIP REVIEW BOARDS

Adult Public Guardianship Review Boards (available in each county) are interdisciplinary teams that act as consultants to the public guardians.

WHAT DO THEY DO?

Adult Public Guardianship Review Boards review public guardianship cases every six months. They make recommendations to the court to either continue, modify, or terminate guardianship of the person.

There is no mechanism for state agency oversight of private guardianship cases.

WHO ASSISTS BOARDS?

Local departments of social services provide office space and personnel, as needed to assist the boards in performing their duties.

The Council of Adult Public Guardianship Review Boards, supported by the Department of Human Resources' Office of Adult Services, is a grass-roots organization of local boards. They are organized to share information and provide mutual support and to act as a conduit to the Department of Human Resources.

ADULT PUBLIC GUARDIANSHIP REVIEW BOARD CONSISTS OF:

• A professional representative of the local department of social services;
• Two physicians (one of whom should be a psychiatrist from the local health department);
• A representative from the area agency on aging or the State Department on Aging;
• A professional representative of a local non-profit social service organization;
• An attorney;
• Two citizen representatives from the local community; and
• A public health nurse.

To VOLUNTEER Or for further information, contact your local department of social services.

Please click here to view and download the brochure!

For further assistance, contact your local Department of Social Services:

ALLEGANY COUNTY DSS (301) 759-8079	HARFORD COUNTY DSS 410 836-4717
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY DSS 410 269-4500	HOWARD COUNTY DSS 410 872-8700
BALTIMORE CITY DSS 443-423-6600 Fax 6601	KENT COUNTY DSS 410 810-7600
BALTIMORE COUNTY DSS 410 853-3000	MONTGOMERY COUNTY DSS 240 777-3000
CALVERT COUNTY DSS 443 550-6900	PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY DSS 301 909-2000
CAROLINE COUNTY DSS 410 479-5947	QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY DSS 410 758-8000
CARROLL COUNTY DSS 410 386-3450	ST. MARY'S COUNTY DSS 240 895-7016
CECIL COUNTY DSS 410 996-0100	SOMERSET COUNTY DSS 410 822-1617
CHARLES COUNTY DSS 301 392-6702	TALBOT COUNTY DSS
DORCHESTER COUNTY DSS 410 901-4100	WASHINGTON COUNTY DSS 301 739-8975
FREDERICK COUNTY 301 631-2635	WICOMICO COUNTY DSS 410 713-3900
GARRETT COUNTY DSS 301 533-3004	WORCESTER COUNTY DSS 410 632-2705