MY STORY

About Kris

KrisBHarmony, LLC

"KBH, LLC"

Kris is a nationally recognized keynote speaker with more than 32 years of experience in the healthcare industry, with a specialty in the Post-Acute Care Arena. She has an Occupational Therapist degree from Tufts University, followed by a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Salem State University coupled with a Nursing Home Administrator's License. Kris owned and operated Harmony Healthcare International, Inc. (HHI) for 22 years and then started KBH, LLC.

 

Kris currently owns and operates KBH, LLC. Kris is a mother of four beautiful daughters, is obsessed with the store Alice and Olivia, and lives by fresh juices from Pressed. She is committed to clean living, a healthy lifestyle, and supplements this by practicing yoga, walking daily, and pilates. 

 

Professional Keynote Speaker: "The Wow Factor"

 

Kris speaks on a range of topics from leadership, growing wealth, scaling a business, brain health, wellness, and navigating family matters while balancing CEO life. Kris's quick pace and high-energy stage presence are electrifying. She is the perfect speaker to open any event and "wake up" audiences. Just as well, Kris is the ideal speaker to powerfully close an event, leaving audiences with a lingering impression of "wow".

Speaking

 

"I speak to share knowledge, ignite thought, and inspire change." - ~Kris 

Motivational Team Building | Customer Service | Entrepreneurial Road Map | Predictable Success | Communication | Body Language | Healthy Relationships | Group Dynamics | Divorce and Family Impact | Mental Health (Loneliness, Depression, Narcissism, etc.) | Coping Mechanisms | PTSD Social Media | Abuse (Legal, Physical, Emotional, Financial) | Gender Bias | Equality | Happiness | Leadership Training

 

The Mission of KBH, LLC

 

The mission of KBH, LLC is empowering people who are systematically marginalized and seeing changes in our laws and society. Through professional keynote speaking and Social Media Platforms, Kris reaches, inspires, and empowers millions of viewers, so they too, can have a global impact with what really matters to them.

 

 Prior to KBH, LLC

 

Kris was the founder, owner, President, and CEO of Harmony Healthcare International, Inc (HHI) from 2001 – 2023, an internationally recognized, premier Healthcare Consulting firm. Kris started the company in 2001. Harmony Healthcare International, Inc. (HHI) was a recognized consulting firm that used a systematic approach in addressing the C.A.R.E.S. platform which is trademarked and created by HHI and stands for Compliance, Auditing, Analysis, Reimbursement, Regulatory, Education, Efficiency and Survey.

 

 

Contact Kris

Kris B. Harmony OTR/L, LNHA, MBA

 

Cell

617.595.6032

 

Email

Kris@KrisBHarmony.Com

 

Website

https://krisbharmony.com/

The issues observed in the Family Court Systems across the U.S. negatively impacts thousands of families and children affected every day. This is a system-wide issue.  It requires a culture change, education, and oversight. The results of the damaged system is child abuse.  

My 6-year experience in the probate court shed light on significant shortcomings in the state's probate court system. It highlights an urgent need for reforms to protect the rights and assets of vulnerable individuals and to ensure that judges, lawyers, clerks, GALS, guardians, and conservators act in the best interests of those they are appointed to represent. This is a catalyst for legal changes and increased accountability in the entire probate process to prevent future abuse.

Furthermore, the Family and Probate Court Systems are discriminating against individuals on a daily basis with their reckless disregard for ADAA Rights, i.e., Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008. This act made significant changes to the original Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, expanding the definition of disability and clarifying protections for individuals with disabilities to ensure broader coverage and protection under the law.

Discrimination in Family and Probate Court Systems Regarding ADAA Rights

The Family and Probate Court systems are crucial for resolving issues related to familial relationships, estates, and guardianships. However, there is growing concern that these courts frequently fail to adequately accommodate individuals with disabilities, thereby violating the rights guaranteed under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAA).

Reckless Disregard for ADAA Rights

The ADAA, which builds on the original Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, mandates that individuals with disabilities must have equal access to public services, programs, and activities, including those offered by the judicial system. Courts, as public entities, are required to provide reasonable accommodations to ensure that individuals with disabilities can fully participate in legal proceedings. However, the following issues highlight the systemic challenges and failures that persist:

Lack of Physical Accessibility: Many court buildings remain non-compliant with ADA standards for physical accessibility. This includes issues like inadequate wheelchair ramps, lack of accessible restrooms, and courtrooms that are difficult to navigate for individuals with mobility impairments.

Communication Barriers: Individuals with hearing or vision impairments often face significant challenges due to the lack of appropriate accommodations, such as sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, or documents in Braille or large print.

Cognitive and Mental Health Accommodations: Courts frequently neglect the needs of individuals with cognitive disabilities or mental health conditions. This might include failing to provide support for understanding complex legal language, ensuring a clear communication process, or allowing breaks during stressful proceedings.

Inadequate Training for Court Personnel: Judges, lawyers, and court staff often lack proper training on ADAA compliance and disability awareness. This can lead to insensitive or uninformed handling of cases involving individuals with disabilities, further exacerbating feelings of discrimination and marginalization.

Procedural Inequities: The legal process itself can be inherently discriminatory if it does not account for the needs of disabled individuals. This includes not providing reasonable adjustments to court procedures and timelines to accommodate the specific needs of a person with disabilities.

Rights Under the ADAA

The ADAA seeks to protect individuals with disabilities from discrimination and ensure their full participation in society. In the context of the Family and Probate Court systems, key rights include:

Reasonable Accommodations: Courts must provide modifications or adjustments to their processes to enable individuals with disabilities to participate fully in proceedings. This can range from physical adjustments to providing specialized support services.

Effective Communication: Courts are required to ensure that communication with individuals with disabilities is as effective as communication with others. This may involve providing interpreters, auxiliary aids, or alternative formats of information.

Equal Access: Individuals with disabilities must have equal access to all programs, services, and activities offered by the court. This encompasses not only physical access but also access to information and procedural fairness.

The Family and Probate Court systems' failure to uphold these ADAA rights constitutes a form of discrimination that can significantly impact the lives of individuals with disabilities. Addressing these issues requires systemic change, including better training for court personnel, improved physical and communicative accessibility, and a more profound commitment to the principles of equality and justice enshrined in the ADAA. By doing so, courts can better serve all individuals, ensuring that disability does not become a barrier to justice.

What are some of the other issues seen in the Family Court Systems?

1.    Financial Exploitation:

•    The length of the case correlates to the financial means of the parties involved. 
•    The May 2023 Annual Probate Court Legal Conference publicly mocked the system. Two attendees from MFAC obtained the conference recording.  One attendee contacted the conference orchestrator requesting permission to publicize excerpts from the conference.  I simultaneously ordered the recordings online.
•    First, the organizer denied publication.
•    Second, my purchase of the recorded conference came as a corrupted file.  The recordings were never made public.

2.    Lack of Oversight:

•    A significant lack of adequate oversight and monitoring of GALS (Guardian Ad Litems) and conservators by the probate courts.
•    Lack of oversight fosters abuse to persist for an extended period. Need inherent checks and balances.

•  GALs are not trained in the areas they address. 

3.    Impact on Vulnerable Individuals:

•    These issues have devastating consequences for vulnerable individuals who are supposed to be protected by the court system.
•    Many experienced financial hardship, neglect, and diminished quality of life as a result of the misconduct in the probate court system. 

4.    Legal Reforms and Investigations:

•    Investigations must be launched to identify wrongdoers and hold them accountable.

5.    Public Outcry:

•    The September 12, 2023, Massachusetts Legislative hearing took 7 hours.  This demonstrated a significant public outcry, by mothers, children, physicians, psychologists, therapists, lawyers, probate court employees, and advocacy groups demanding legal reform for the victims and survivors. 
•    This hearing is helping to raise broader awareness about the need for reform in the Massachusetts probate court system.



Reform by Other States:

1.    Guardianship and Conservatorship Reforms: Many states have implemented or considered reforms to improve oversight and accountability in guardianship and conservatorship proceedings. These reforms aim to protect the rights and assets of vulnerable individuals.

2.    Advance Directives and Healthcare Decision-Making: Some states have updated their laws related to advance directives, living wills, and healthcare power of attorney to ensure that individuals' preferences for medical care are respected and followed.

3.    Electronic Filing and Case Management: Several states have modernized their probate court systems by implementing electronic filing systems and digital case management tools to streamline processes and improve efficiency.

4.    Estate Administration Reforms: Reforms in the administration of estates, including the probate process, have aimed to simplify procedures, reduce costs, and expedite the distribution of assets to beneficiaries.

5.    Uniform Probate Code (UPC) Adoption: Some states have adopted the Uniform Probate Code, a model law developed to provide consistency in probate procedures across jurisdictions. Adoption of the UPC can lead to significant changes in probate processes.

6.    Increased Access to Legal Services: Efforts have been made to increase access to legal services for individuals involved in probate matters, especially those who may not have the financial means to hire an attorney.

7.    Elder Abuse Prevention: In response to concerns about elder abuse, some states have strengthened laws and regulations to protect older adults, including those involved in probate court cases.

8.    Family and Caregiver Support: Some reforms have focused on providing support and resources to family members and caregivers involved in probate cases, recognizing their important role in the care and decision-making process.