Linda Kendall-Fields is the director of the Cares Program at UNC School of Social Work in Chapel Hill. She has dedicated over 35 years to building communities that are responsive to the needs and contributions of older adults, people with disabilities and families in Minnesota, Oregon, Ohio, Georgia, and North Carolina. During her career, Linda has used collective impact and other community engagement strategies to lead numerous health care, nonprofit and government initiatives. In her role at UNC-Chapel Hill, she leads a team that is dedicated to facilitating systems change with and for adults of all ages. Noteworthy projects include the Rethinking Guardianship initiative, the Supported Living Levels 2&3 Action Team, the Dementia Capable NC Coalition, and NC Money Follows the Person’s Building Home & Community-Based Services through Collective Impact initiative.
Contact
Degrees and Licenses
Bachelor of Arts, Luther College in Decorah, IAMaster of Education, University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN
Primary Program
Center for Aging and Adult Research and Educational Services (UNC Cares Program)Research and Professional Interests
Facilitating Systems Change to Enable Greater Self Determination for Vulnerable Adults of All AgesAdult Guardianship Reform and Less Restrictive Alternatives to Guardianship
Aging and Adult Services Workforce Training
Transitions from Licensed Facilities to Community Living
Creating Dementia Capable Communities
Other Projects
Rethinking Guardianship North Carolina, Project Director
NC Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS) Workforce Training Project, Program Coordinator
Dementia Capable North Carolina, Assisting NC DAAS Dementia Services Coordinator
Recent Publications
Kendall Fields, Linda. (2019). Spotlight on North Carolina: Rethinking guardianship. Bifocal, 40(5).
Kendall Fields, L., Climo, A., Salmon, M. A., & McMahon, J. (2020). Report on rethinking guardianship: A person-centered approach. N.C. Council on Developmental Disabilities. https://nccdd.org/images/article/initiatives/Rethinking_Guardianship_A_Person-Centered_Approach_Report_Final.pdf
Kendall Fields, L., Salmon, M. A.., Marsh, S., Climo, A., Norris, T., & Nelson, G. (2018). Rethinking guardianship: Building a case for less restrictive alternatives. N.C. Council on Developmental Disabilities. https://nccdd.org/images/article/initiatives/Rethinking_Guardianship_Year_3_And_Final_Report.pdf
Presentations, Workshops and Media
Speaker: "Rethinking Guardianship." North Carolina Bar Association, Elder Law and Special Needs Conference, February 21, 2019Subject Matter Expert: WRAL Investigative News Report on Adult Guardianship in North Carolina, November 2019.
