History

Given inadequate court resources to provide the level of detailed review each individual under guardianship deserves, there was a compelling need for a solution to bridge the gaps and provide more protection for elders, disabled adults and children under guardianship care.

Compounding the problem's significance is the aging of the baby boomer generation, a lack of guardians in general, and a lack of funding to oversee guardianship cases throughout Oregon.

In January 2012, Chief Probate Judge Katherine Tennyson of the Multnomah County Circuit Court convened a meeting of attorneys, fiduciaries, professional guardians, court visitors and other stakeholders to explore establishing a volunteer adult guardianship monitoring and assistance program in Multnomah County. Special Advocates for Vulnerable Oregonians (SAVO) resulted from that initial conversation. SAVO was incorporated in August 2012 and secured 501c3 status in February 2013.  The organization was housed and given initial funding and staff support at the law offices of Nay & Friedenberg.

In January, 2014, the Board of Directors voted to change the name of the organization to Guardian Partners and adopted a plan to provide education, case monitoring, and resources to guardians and their families throughout Oregon.  The organization moved to its current location on 109th & Halsey in Portland.

Guardian Partners' strengths are its leadership and support from the community, its use of a proven program model that follows best practices, and demonstrated ability to operate a lean and cost-effective organization with every penny spent wisely.

We currently provide classes for new guardians and case monitoring in Clackamas, Clatsop, Douglas, Gilliam, Hood River, Jackson, Multnomah, Sherman, Tillamook, Wasco, Wheeler, and Yamhill Counties. Our goal is to bring these services to every county in Oregon.