Webinar Series – “Understanding Guardianship, Advanced Directives and Supported Decision-Making in Illinois”

A free, three-part series of webinars to help Illinois families explore options and plan for the future of children with disabilities transitioning to adulthood

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission (IGAC) and the Illinois Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program will host “Understanding Advanced Directives” on June 10 from 3 to 4 p.m.

This session will feature Laurel Spahn, an attorney with the Legal Advocacy Service, a division of the IGAC. Dedicated to providing trial and appellate representation to persons with mental illnesses, Laurel brings experiences including arguing mental health cases in all five Illinois Appellate Court districts and the State Supreme Court, speaking at national and state mental health conferences and co-authoring a chapter on Mental Health Law in an Illinois guide for lawyers.

Laurel will help participants understand the power of advance directives, the legal documents that a person age 18 or older makes to ensure someone else can make important healthcare decisions for them if they’re ever unconscious or unable to make their own decisions. She will explain:

• Why it’s a good idea for adults to have one, even if they are in perfect health right now.
• The types of healthcare advance directives available in Illinois and their legal implications.
• How the documents can help prevent delays in treatment.
• How the documents can help prevent someone else from making a decision that the person might not want.

This free webinar series is open to Illinois residents, families, guardians and the general public.

See the “Understanding Guardianship, Advanced Directives and Supported Decision-Making in Illinois” flyer for more details, including descriptions of the other webinars and how to join the virtual events.

You do not need to register to attend.  Use the flyer QR code or the Zoom registration link to join the sessions.

The series will wrap up with “Understanding Supported Decision-Making” on June 24 from 3 to 4 p.m.