Central Oregon Guardian Assistance Progam

The Mission of the Central Oregon Guardianship Assistance Program (COGAP) is to provide pro bono guardianship services to central Oregonians with limited means who are incapacitated and as a result, unable to make medical, housing, and financial decisions for themselves. The overriding goals of the Central Oregon Guardian Assistance Program are to reduce unnecessary hospital stays, incarcerations and mental commitments in our community and assist incapacitated person that would be better served in care settings that meets their needs, help marginalized populations access services that will better their lives and provide protection for persons that are often taken advantage of because of a lack of mental capacity and legal advocacy.

The Central Oregon Guardian Assistance Program (COGAP) was established as a non-profit organization in August of 2023 in Bend, Oregon to provide guardianship services to indigent and low-income incapacitated individuals in the tri-county Central Oregon area. The formation of the non-profit was in response to the rapid increase of indigent and low-income incapacitated adults having no family or other legal decision-making support cycling through the hospital and jails or unhoused in our communities and without care and housing appropriate to their needs. Following input from the Central Oregon Council on Aging, DHS, adult behavior health agencies, Mental Health agencies, Elder Law Attorneys, Judges, Trial Court Administrators, Probate Commissioner, law enforcement, professional guardians and medical professionals, the Central Oregon Guardian Assistance Program was formed.

Since it's inception in August 2023, COGAP has helped over 25 incapacitated adults find appropriate, facility-based care. The goal for COGAP's first year was to help 25 people and they have already surpassed that in the first 6 months. All referring agencies are now contacting COGAP for help because they are seeing that COGAP is quick to respond in crisis situations and very resourceful.