Adult Guardianship Act
Our work on adult abuse and neglect responses focuses on how laws, policies, and practices can ensure impacted adults get support that promotes their dignity and human rights.
A guide to Part 3 of the BC Adult Guardianship Act
In 2021 the BC government announced it is reviewing the adult abuse and neglect response framework under the Adult Guardianship Act.
Part 3 of the Adult Guardianship Act (“AGA, Part 3”) is designed to help adults who may be experiencing abuse or neglect and who are unable to seek support and assistance because of a disability or health condition. The review is an important opportunity to consider how AGA, Part 3 is working and how we can make improvements in this province. Health Justice was asked by many community-based organizations to help explain the law and how practices that take place under it have been impacting adults who experience investigations and responses. This guide is our response to those requests.
Unpacking Assumptions: What research tells us about our approach to BC’s Adult Guardianship Act, Part 3
Whenever a law has been in operation for a long time, policies and practices develop with embedded assumptions about how, when, and why the law is applied. The government’s review of AGA, Part 3 gives BC a chance to step back, unpack assumptions, and reflect on how the law has been applied.
This publication identifies some of the assumptions in BC’s adult abuse, neglect, and self-neglect response framework and considers what we can learn from research, evaluations, human rights principles, and approaches from other jurisdictions.
Health Justice is grateful for the support from our donors and funders. Funding for this project was provided by the Law Foundation of BC and the Notary Foundation of BC.
