For Vulnerable Individuals
North Dakota
Compassionate Attention for Each Client
Multiple Locations Statewide
Dedicated Services
Request Lorem Epsom
Hero Request Form
Thank you for contacting us.
We will get back to you as soon as possible.
Please try again later.
Protect and Support Vulnerable Individuals in North Dakota
Catholic Charities North Dakota is dedicated to helping vulnerable individuals across our state. We provide essential support and protection services to those who need it most. Our specialized programs address various needs of vulnerable adults, including:
- Guardianship services
- Vulnerable adult services
- Counseling services
- Post adoption search and disclosure
- Adults adopting special kids
If you or someone you know needs our services,
contact us today.
Compassionate Care for the Most Vulnerable
Vulnerable individuals often face difficult challenges that require specialized care and support. Our services address a wide range of needs, such as:
- Protection from abuse and neglect
- Help with daily living activities
- Support for decision-making
- Access to essential resources
- Emotional support
We understand that every person's situation is different. Our team works hard to ensure the safety and well-being of each client we serve.
Why Choose Catholic Charities North Dakota
Catholic Charities North Dakota offers several advantages when it comes to supporting vulnerable individuals:
- COA accredited for quality assurance
- Emergency response within one hour
- Serving North Dakota communities for over 100 years
- Personalized care for each client
- Convenient locations across the state
- Wide range of services in one organization
Our long history of community service and dedication makes us a reliable partner in caring for vulnerable individuals throughout North Dakota.
Contact Us
If you're worried about a vulnerable person or need help yourself, please reach out. Our team is here to provide support and guidance. We offer private consultations and can help you understand the care options available for vulnerable adults.
Contact us today to learn how Catholic Charities North Dakota can help vulnerable individuals in your community.
There’s no easy way to determine who needs guardianship, which is why each person’s situation must be considered in the following way:
- Identifying and meeting the needs of our clients by receiving referrals from friends and family, community members, hospitals, Vulnerable Adult Protective Services, nursing homes, psychiatric centers, judges, human service centers, county social services, or the courts.
- Talking to staff at the individual's home or residential facility to make sure that their needs are met.
- Involving the individuals in the decision making process whenever possible and providing dignity of risk.
- Ensuring that the individuals are living as independently as possible while meeting their health and safety needs by preventing abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
- Keeping the individual’s best interest in mind when making residential, medical, legal, and financial decisions.
- Visiting the individuals in our care regularly so we know their needs and wishes.
Guardianship is when a person has the legal authority to care for the personal and property interests of another person who is called a ward. Guardianship is the appointment of a person or entity to oversee the physical and medical care of a person with limited capacity. A guardian is required to act in and represent the best interests of the individual, and to protect the individual and his or her rights. A guardian must ensure that services are provided in the least restrictive way possible and are tailored to the needs of the individual.
Conservatorship may be appointed to manage the estate and finances of an individual. This is usually done when an individual has significant assets to manage. The appointment is a separate legal process and does not involve making decisions regarding the individual’s personal life.
Representative Payee is a person who acts as the receiver of United States Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income for a person who is not fully capable of managing their own benefits, i.e. cannot be their own payee. The representative payee is expected to assist the person with money management along with providing protection from financial and victimization.
Individual Benefits & Supports will be maximized through applications for North Dakota Medicaid, social security, and housing needs. We will also provide assistance with asset and resource determination.
North Dakota Century Code recognizes that a ward may need the protection of a guardian in all areas of their life, or only specific areas.
- General Guardian: Responsible for decisions in all aspects of the individual’s life. This guardian assures that the individual has a place to live, food to eat, proper clothing and other necessities as well as medical treatment, schooling, vocational opportunities and other needed services.
- Limited Guardian: Given authority to make decisions only in specific areas of the individual’s life. The court’s orders or letters will identify these areas.
- Emergency Guardian: Appointed in situations where immediate action is required to prevent harm to the individual. An emergency guardianship cannot be in effect longer than 90 days.
- Testamentary Guardian: The guardian spouse or guardian parent of a person who has been adjudicated to be incapacitated may, by will, appoint a successor guardian for that person.
A guardian is required to act in and represent an individual's best interests and protect the individual and his or her rights. They must ensure that services are provided in the most normalized and least restrictive means possible and are specifically tailored to the needs of the individual.
North Dakota Century Code requires a guardian to involve the individual in all decisions to the fullest extent possible, which the court will clearly define.
Unless specifically limited by order of the court, an individual retains: the right to vote; the right to seek to change marital status; and the right to obtain or retain a motor vehicle license.
Description Title
Steps for Referrals
We provide guardianship services for individuals who are vulnerable, elderly, or have mental health concerns and are 18 years or older.
If you feel that your family member, friend, or client needs the support of a legal guardian but no one can help, please contact us at 701-235-4457 or by email at gsv@catholiccharitiesnd.org.
Referrals can come from many different people or places, such as:
- Family
- Friend
- Adult Protection Services
- Attorney
- Community Member
- Hospital
- Nursing Home
- Psychiatric Center
- Human Service Centers in North Dakota
- County Social Services
- Courts/Judges
We provide guardianship services for the vulnerable across North Dakota. Here are the specific areas we cover.
- Fargo
- Grand Forks
- Wahpeton
- Lisbon
- Devils Lake
- Valley City
- Jamestown
- Rugby
- Minot
- Cando
- Bottineau
- Rolla
- Carrington
- New Rockford
- Grafton
- Cavalier
- Ellendale
- LaMoure
- Dunseith
- Bullet text
- Bullet text
- Bullet text
- Bullet text
- Bullet text
- Bullet text
- Bullet text
- Bullet text
- Bullet text
- Bullet text
Title or Question
Describe the item or answer the question so that site visitors who are interested get more information. You can emphasize this text with bullets, italics or bold, and add links.Title or Question
Describe the item or answer the question so that site visitors who are interested get more information. You can emphasize this text with bullets, italics or bold, and add links.Title or Question
Describe the item or answer the question so that site visitors who are interested get more information. You can emphasize this text with bullets, italics or bold, and add links.
What services does Catholic Charities North Dakota offer for vulnerable adults?
Catholic Charities North Dakota provides various services for vulnerable adults, including guardianship, counseling, and support for adults adopting special kids. We also help with daily activities, protect from abuse, and assist with decision-making and personal matters.How quickly can Catholic Charities North Dakota respond to emergencies involving vulnerable individuals?
Catholic Charities North Dakota responds to emergencies involving vulnerable individuals within one hour. Our team is ready to provide immediate support and care when urgent situations arise.What makes Catholic Charities North Dakota qualified to assist vulnerable individuals?
Catholic Charities North Dakota is well-qualified to assist vulnerable individuals. We are COA accredited and have over 100 years of experience serving North Dakota. Our team provides personalized care, and we have multiple locations across the state offering a wide range of services.How do I go about establishing a guardianship?
There is a legal procedure that must be followed in order to establish a guardianship. Once it has been determined that guardianship is the most appropriate solution, the first step is to contact an attorney. Your attorney will help you file a petition for guardianship and a court hearing will be set. Notices of the petition for guardianship and date of the hearing will be given to all interested parties, including the proposed individual. At the hearing, the court decides if the proposed individual needs a guardian, the level of guardianship (limited or general) and who will be the guardian.What happens before the court hearing?
The attorney representing the person seeking the guardianship (the petitioner) will continue to gather information and evidence that supports the need for establishing guardianship. The court will appoint a guardian ad litem, a visitor, and an expert examiner (physician, psychiatrist, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant or psychologist) to evaluate the need for and appropriateness of establishing a guardianship for the proposed individual. The guardian ad litem (GAL) is an attorney who represents the proposed individual. The GAL visits with the proposed individual and evaluates all of the available information on the case. The GAL then files a report and recommendations with the court. The guardian ad litem makes recommendations based on what he or she feels is in the best interests of the proposed individual. The visitor is usually a social service professional who visits with the proposed individual, his or her current (future, if applicable) residence and the proposed guardian. The visitor may meet with others who are involved in the case and examine information pertinent to the case. The visitor then files a report and recommendations with the court. The expert examiner examines or evaluates the proposed individual. His or her recommendations and report are then filed with the court.What happens at the court hearing?
All interested parties could and should attend the hearing. The proposed individual must attend unless very good and clear reasons for his or her absence are provided to the court. (The court may hold the hearing at an alternative location such as a nursing home or hospital to ensure the proposed individual’s attendance.) The attorney representing the petitioner presents evidence to establish that the proposed individual is unable to make or communicate responsible decisions for his or her well-being in all or certain areas of his or her life. The court accepts and carefully considers the reports and recommendations filed by the visitor, guardian ad litem, and expert examiner. Anyone involved in the case may testify to prove or disprove the need to establish guardianship. Once the evidence has been presented and testimony has been given, the court must decide if there is clear and convincing evidence that the proposed individual is incapacitated and there are no other options available to safeguard the proposed individual’s health, safety and habilitation. If so, the court appoints a guardian who will be able to fulfill the assigned duties properly.Does it cost anything to set up a guardianship?
In order to protect the freedoms and rights of a proposed individual, the procedure to establish a guardianship is detailed, specific and requires the services of a number of professionals. The cost of setting up a guardianship includes attorney’s fees, court costs, and fees for the guardian ad litem, visitor and the expert examiner. The cost to establish a guardianship can range from $3,000 to $6,000 or more. In most cases, these costs are paid by the person who is petitioning for the court to establish a guardianship or if the court orders, the proposed individual may be required to pay. In some cases, certain fees can be paid by an outside agency or may even be waived.How do I know what authority I will have as a guardian?
The court will issue orders and letters that specify the areas where the guardian does and does not have authority and responsibility. After the guardianship orders and letters have been signed and filed with the court, the guardianship becomes official.As a guardian, will I be financially responsible for the individual?
You may have the authority to oversee and handle the individual’s funds. You must make sure that the individual’s money is spent to cover his or her needs such as rent, clothing, and other bills. Unless you agree to take on more financial responsibility for the individual or are clearly negligent in handling the individual’s funds, you have no personal financial responsibility.Will the individual have to live with me?
You need to make arrangements for the care of the individual; you are not required to have the individual move into your home. You are responsible for seeing to the well-being and best interest of the individual.As a guardian, do I have to make reports to the court?
Guardians are required to file an Annual Wellbeing Report, an Annual Financial Accounting and a Confidential Information Form with the court. The report forms are available from the probate office of the district court as well as the North Dakota Supreme Court website. The reports consist of information about the physical and emotional condition of the individual, the services that the individual receives, any problems that have occurred since the last report, what the guardian has done for the individual, a summary of any medical decisions the guardian has made on behalf of the individual and an accounting of the individual’s financials.Once I am appointed guardian, am I all alone?
As a guardian your primary responsibility is to ensure that the individual is receiving necessary and quality services. There are agencies and organizations that can provide assistance in obtaining these services. Some of these agencies and organizations are: Protection & Advocacy Project, North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services/Vulnerable Adult Protective Services, Legal Services of North Dakota, your district court, North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services/Developmental Disabilities Division, North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services/Aging Services Division, Mental Health Association of North Dakota, area social services, the Guardianship Association of North Dakota and the Guardianship Division of Catholic Charities North Dakota.
Gallery Heading H2
Reviews
COA Accredited for All Adoption Services
Contact Catholic Charities North Dakota today.
Start Your Adoption
Journey Today!
Contact Us
Related Services
Our Team of Guardianship for the Vulnerable Social Workers
Shannon H
Director of Guardianship Services: Vulnerable
Neal H
GSV Assistant Director
Crystal A
Guardianship Worker
Kathy F
Guardianship Worker
Alicia O
Guardianship Worker
Tammy H
Guardianship Worker
Peace D
Guardianship Worker
Abby W
Guardianship Lead Support Staff
Kristin R
PPAS and GSV Support Staff
Chantal K
Guardianship Worker
Ashley R
Guardianship Worker