Register for Pathways in Guardianship: Advocacy, Ethics, and Care

A Four Hour Guardianship Conference

October 8, 2026

PATHWAYS IN GUARDIANSHIP: Advocacy, Ethics and Care is a virtual conference hosted by the Guardianship Association of North Dakota (GAND), bringing together professionals dedicated to supporting and protecting vulnerable individuals. The conference features inspiring opening and closing keynote speakers, along with two specialized learning tracks: Fiduciary and Case Management. Each track includes two educational sessions focused on best practices, ethical decision-making, advocacy, and person-centered care in guardianship services.

Opening Session: S.T.R.I.V.E. For Excellence, Presented by Eric Collett

As humans, most of us want to achieve excellence in our work, but we often operate by default rather than by design. We put out whatever fire is burning at the moment and do our best to squeeze in whatever else we can fit into the day. The fact that we also have many non-work responsibilities and distractions competing for our time is a recipe for stress, overwhelm, and wondering how we will keep going. This empowering presentation will introduce you to the S.T.R.I.V.E. framework – a powerful strategy for accomplishing your most important priorities and becoming the best version of yourself.

BREAKOUT SESSION ONE

Fiduciary Track: The Guardian’s Guide to AI: Opportunities, Pitfalls and Professional Responsibility, Presented by Rebecca Hobbs, Esq.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the way professionals work, and guardians are no exception. From drafting correspondence and summarizing records to organizing information and improving efficiency, AI offers powerful tools that can help guardians better manage their responsibilities. However, with these opportunities come significant ethical, practical, and legal considerations.

This presentation explores how guardians can responsibly incorporate artificial intelligence into their practice while remaining faithful to their fiduciary duties, protecting confidentiality, safeguarding vulnerable individuals, and exercising independent professional judgment. Attendees will learn about common AI tools, practical applications in guardianship practice, potential risks such as bias, inaccuracies, and privacy concerns, and emerging ethical considerations surrounding the use of AI in decision-making. The program will provide guidance on leveraging AI as a valuable assistant—without allowing technology to replace the human judgment, compassion, and accountability that are at the core of effective guardianship.

Case Management Track: Advocacy in Guardianship: Improving Outcomes and Advancing Less Restrictive Alternatives, Presented by Debra Bookout, Esq.

Guardianship is often viewed as a protective safety net, but without rigorous legal safeguards, it can result in the profound loss of fundamental civil liberties. In this session I will discuss the balance between protection and legal rights, highlighting why access to legal representation is paramount to driving fair, person-centered outcomes in guardianship proceedings.

I will explain how attorneys represent persons with decision-making limitations. And discuss how these attorneys serve as essential catalysts for justice—challenging unnecessary petitions, protecting due process, and advocating for less restrictive alternatives such as supported decision-making, powers of attorney, and targeted community supports, for example. Attorneys in guardianship work with court professionals, social workers, guardians, family advocates and others developing strategies which preserve individual autonomy, ensure the individual’s voice remains at the center of every legal decision while also providing the requisite protective safety net.

BREAKOUT SESSION TWO

Fiduciary Track: ND Medicaid for Aged and Disabled Individuals, Presented by Joyce Johnson

Everything You Wanted to Know About Medicaid but Were Afraid to Ask.

Joyce brings valuable expertise to conversations involving guardianship, vulnerable adults, and the Medicaid systems that often intersect with their care. Her presentation will offer attendees a practical overview of Medicaid eligibility, with attention to the questions, challenges, and policy considerations most relevant to guardians, conservators, service providers, and other professionals supporting adults in North Dakota.

Case Management Track: The Midnight Call: Dignity, Decision-Making and End of Life, Presented by Heather Sabino, NCG

The phone rings and you pull yourself from your dream-state. It’s the ‘midnight call’. You carefully listen to the update knowing this will end with you being asked to make a decision. If only it was that simple. However, it is more than a decision. You need to consider and apply the decision process, especially If you need to seek further guidance or Court guidance.

Through discussion and case examples we will explore how to apply substituted judgment, best-interest principles, supported decision-making and person-centered planning while remaining aware of personal bias and committed to preserving the individual’s identity. We will also discover that applicable standards can help guide the process.

Closing Session: Leading The Way In North Dakota: The Future of Guardianship, Presented by Rachel Sinness, Esq.

In this presentation Rachel will focus on current challenges in guardianship and conservatorship and discuss ideas and collaborations to take on those challenges. Through real-world examples and an examination of relevant data, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how North Dakota can work with its newest state agency—the Office of Guardianship and Conservatorship—to lead the way in creating a system that is transparent, accountable, and adaptable.

Date: October 8, 2026

Time: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm (CDT)

Location: Virtual (virtual login information will be sent after registering)

Cost: $150

CEUs: 4 CEUS from the ND Board of Social Work Examiners available. 4 CEUS for the Center for Guardianship Certification available. You are encouraged to pursue CEUs through your own organization as long as the training offered qualifies under the applicable licensing or credentialing guidelines and complies with appropriate documentation.

Eric Collett

Eric Collett is the Principal and CEO of a Mind For All Seasons. For over 24 year Eric has delivered keynote addresses, workshops and classes at events in 38 States. He is known for his ability to explain complex topics in engaging and understandable ways. He regularly speaks on topics ranging from dementia and brain science research to leadership and personal development. Eric has taught as an adjunct instructor at Boise State University and is currently an instructor at the College of Western Idaho. Participants in one of his sessions often describe him as “authentic” “disarming” and “the kind of guy you want to have lunch with to pick his brain.” Eric will stir you to think carefully, provide you with tools to develop a plan and challenge you to become the best version of yourself. It will become apparent that Eric is a person who never stops learning and when he wants to relax, he takes walks with his amazing wife, loves on his kids and plays classical piano.

Rebecca Hobbs, Esq.

Debra Bookout, Esq.

Rebecca Hobbs, Esq. Certified Elder Law Attorney is a principal at O’Donnell, Weiss & Mattei, P.C., and has been certified as an Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation as authorized by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court since 2015. Rebecca focuses her practice on elder law, Medicaid planning, special needs planning, guardianships, estate planning, estate and trust administration and Veteran’s Benefits. Rebecca has many honors and is actively engaged in many professional associations. In 2025 Rebecca was the WealthCounsel Scholarship Award Winner and in September of this year she will be a speaker at the WealthCounsel Annual Symposium…a gathering of some of the top Elder law/Financial legal minds in the nation.

Debra Bookout, Esq. Directing Attorney, Guardianship Advocacy Project…Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, Inc.

Debra read “To Kill a Mockingbird” as a young girl and her fate was sealed. Law was her destiny. And what a ride. Debra Bookout, Esq. is the Directing Attorney of the Guardianship Advocacy Project associated with the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada. She is a recognized Guardianship Reform and Advocacy Expert. Debra has been described as a systemic reformer and speaker with over 30 years of legal experience, specializing in adult guardianship, guardianship reform, elder justice and vulnerable adult advocacy. She served as a Commission Member on the Nevada Supreme Court Commission to Study the Creation and Administration of Guardianships—a body that fundamentally overhauled Nevada’s guardianship system. Debra currently directs one of the nation's largest, most robust guardianship advocacy programs, managing a 26-member team dedicated to defending the rights of protected persons. She is a trusted advisor and national presenter on establishing systemic checks, standardizing advocacy models, and preventing institutional elder abuse.

When asked by a colleague what word immediately pops into his head when he thinks of Debra…”the word is ‘feisty’. In the very best possible sense. She’s incredibly dedicated, basically fearless with an innate abhorrence for injustice and will do whatever she can to fix the wrong…”

Rachel Sinness, Esq. Executive Director of the North Dakota Office of Guardianship and Conservatorship (OGC)

Rachel is originally from North Dakota, where she resides with her wife, two kids, six dogs, one cat, and three horses. Prior to working with the OGC, Rachel was an Assistant Attorney General, the Legal Director for Protection & Advocacy, and had her own private guardianship practice for over ten years. When she is not working at the OGC, Rachel plays violin with the Bismarck-Mandan Symphony Orchestra and teaches piano and violin lessons out of her home. Her devotion to family, animals, music, and career is rivaled only by her fondness for gardening and all things Golden Girls.

Rachel Sinness, Esq.

Joyce Johnson, State Medicaid Policy Director

Joyce Johnson serves as the State of North Dakota Director of Medicaid Eligibility Policy, and brings extensive experience in Medicaid eligibility, public benefits policy, and program administration. She helps guide the interpretation and application of Medicaid eligibility requirements for individuals and families across the state. In this role, she works with complex Medicaid policy issues, including long-term care eligibility, coverage requirements, client share considerations, and the practical questions that arise when people need access to health care coverage and support services.

Joyce Johnson

Heather Sabino, NCG

Heather Sabino, NCG, Public Guardian Case Manager Supervisor, Clark County Public Guardian's Office, Las Vegas, NV

Born and raised in Las Vegas, Heather Sabino has dedicated over two decades to serving her community through the Clark County Public Guardian's Office. As the Public Guardian Case Manager Supervisor, Heather is passionate about advocating for the personal worth, dignity, and respect of every individual she supports. Her early experiences relying on local social service programs inspired a lifelong commitment to social equality and community support.

Public service leader and advocate, her career has centered on navigating complex ethical, legal, and human considerations while protecting individual dignity, autonomy, and quality of life. Heather believes in the importance of emotional grounding and effective communication in guardianship and encourages others in the field to prioritize self-reflection and self-care.

Heather initially became NCG Certified in 2007 and has been a proud member of the National Guardianship Association since 2008. Notably, Heather is a graduate of the inaugural Leadership NGA class of 2025 and was selected to be in the member spotlight for the NGA 2025 Spring Newsletter.