Education & Research

Education and research are central to our mission of rethinking and reforming guardianship in Massachusetts. Through publications, data-driven analysis, and collaboration with experts across disciplines, we work to expand understanding of decisional support systems and improve the policies that govern them. Our educational initiatives aim to inform practitioners, policymakers, and the public—while our research explores innovative, person-centered alternatives that promote dignity, autonomy, and equity.

PUBLISHED STUDIES

- Tompkins, J., & Connors, H. (2025). Help! I Need Somebody: The Impact of Cognitive Status on Designating a Healthcare Proxy. Health & Social Work, 50(4), 307-314.

- Tompkins, J., Connors, H., & Robinson, D. (2024). Seize the Data: An Analysis of Guardianship Annual Reports. Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 1-18.

- Brierley-Bowers, P., Connors, H., Tompkins, J., & Macy, P. M. (2022). The Cost of Medically Unnecessary Days Due to Waiting for Guardianship in a State Acute Hospital System. INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 59.

- Moye, J., Cohen, A. B., Stolzmann, K., Auguste, E. J., Catlin, C. C., Sager, Z. S., Weiskittle R. E., Woolverton C. B., Connors, H., & Sullivan, J. L. (2022). Guardianship Before and Following Hospitalization. HEC Forum.

- Moye, J., Stolzmann, K., Auguste, E., Cohen, A., Catlin, C., Sager, Z., Weiskittle, R., Woolverton, C., Connors, H., Sullivan, J. (2021). End of Life Care for Persons under Guardianship. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.

- Catlin, C., Connors, H., Teaster, P., Wood E., Sager Z., Moye J. (2021). Unrepresented Adults Face Adverse Healthcare Consequences: The Role of Guardians, Public Guardianship Reform, and Alternative Policy Solutions. Journal of Aging and Social Policy.

- Levine, E., Jett, C., Johnson, J., & Connors, H. (2019). Outcomes of a Care Coordination Guardianship Intervention for Adults with Severe Mental Illness: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 1-7.

- Sager Z, Catlin C, Connors H, Farrell T, Teaster P, Moye J. (2019). Making end-of-life care decisions for older adults subject to guardianship. Elder Law Journal. 27(1);1-33.

SELF-PUBLISHED REPORTS

Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute. (2025). A Guardianship Policy for the 21st Century. Andover: Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute.

Massachusetts Policy Institute (2020). Massachusetts Policy Institute Annual Report 2019-2020. Andover: Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute.

Massachusetts Policy Institute (2019). Massachusetts Policy Institute Annual Report 2018-2019. Andover: Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute.

Moye, J., Wood, E., Teaster, P., Catlin, C., & Kwak, J. (2016). Examining the need for a public guardian in Massachusetts: Phase 1. Andover: Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute.

CONFERENCE and COLLOQUIUM REPORTS

Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute (2020). Report: Colloquium on Guardianship Oversight. Andover: Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute.

Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute (2019). Decision Making Conference Recap. Andover: Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute.

Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute (2017). A National Perspective on Guardianship and Decisional Support Conference Recap. Andover: Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute.

Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute (2017). Fourth Colloquium Report. Andover: Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute.

Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute (2016). Third Colloquium Report. Andover: Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute.

Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute (2016). Second Colloquium Report. Andover: Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute.

Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute (2016). First Colloquium Report. Andover: Massachusetts Guardianship Policy Institute.

ONGOING RESEARCH PROJECTS

Defining Care-Coordinated Guardianship: A Survey of 151 Professional Guardians

Pathways to Guardianship: A Study of Public Guardianship Services’ Clients

Why do this Difficult Job: A Qualitative Study of Guardians

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