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Gina Rossi, RG
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As Confidential Assistant to the Director of the Illinois Guardianship
and Advocacy Commission (IGAC), Ms. Rossi works with the planning,
development, and interpretation of agency wide procedures and policies.
On behalf of Director, she has served in a liaison capacity with the
Office of the Governor. She also is involved with areas such as State
and Federal Legislation, public relations with local government
officials, and special and ongoing projects.
She has assisted with the creation and implementation of a statewide
Volunteer Initiative, including a Volunteer Guardianship Program. The
initiative secured thousands of volunteer hours for various IGAC offices
in which screened and trained volunteers are enlisted to answer phones,
file offer pro bono legal assistance, and provide support and
companionship to wards. An average of 3500 hours is captured each year.
She has also helped coordinate and develop relationships with sister
agencies and human service providers to design programs that address the
unique needs of the Office of State Guardian ward populations. This has
resulted in redefining the agency’s position with respect to wards with
mental illness living in less restrictive placements and developing
systems to assist with the implementation of Olmstead.
A member of the committee that has planned the nation’s first Colloquium
on Guardianship for the National Guardianship Association, she has used
experience gained in arranging four training’s per year designed to
fulfill the Continuing Education requirement for Guardians in Illinois.
In addition, Ms. Rossi serves as secretary for the Illinois Guardianship
Association and works with Rod R. Blagojevich as a volunteer writer for
The Governor’s Office of Citizen Assistance.
Prior to joining the IGAC, Ms Rossi was a Qualified Mental Retardation
Professional with Misericordia Home North, Chicago, Illinois. She earned
certification as a Registered Guardian from the Center from Guardianship
Certification in 2003 and is pursuing a Masters degree from Columbia
University in Chicago, where she also received her undergraduate degree.
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