Adult
Guardianship Services (AGS) is a not-for-profit program that
provides Guardian of Person services to individuals
who are residents of Cuyahoga County who are deemed to be incompetent
by the Cuyahoga County Probate Court. We serve both elderly
individuals who have a significant problem with Dementia/Alzheimers
Disease as well as younger individuals who are severely mentally
disabled.
In the past 16 years AGS has served as Guardian of Person for
over 1000 individuals. In 2005 we acted as guardian for 502
people. |
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Adult Guardianship Services enhances the quality of life of indigent,
incompetent adults in Cuyahoga County by providing legal guardians
to serve as concerned, caring advocates and surrogate decision-makers.
Although
our primary mission is to provide guardianship services to indigent
individuals we also provide Guardian of Person services to those
who can pay for the service. As a result more indigent individuals
can be served.


We work guided by the following core values.
1.
ADVOCACY
By this we mean:
- We
believe that we must represent and defend the best interest of
our wards in accordance with guardianship law.
- We
believe that educating and influencing the community is our concern.
- We
believe that influencing public policy for the welfare of our
wards is our concern.
2.
VOLUNTEERISM
By this we mean:
- We
respect the dedication, contribution, and unique commitment of
our volunteers.
3.
JUSTICE
By this we mean:
- We
acknowledge and shape our work according to the fundamental human
rights and needs of the individual.
4.
INTEGRITY
By this we mean:
- We
are guided by and committed to the highest ethical standards.
5.
DIGNITY
By this we mean:
- We
recognize and uphold the dignity of each ward with sensitivity.
6.
COMPASSION
By this we mean:
- We
serve our wards in a spirit of empathy and selflessness.
- We
are dedicated to providing our wards with the highest quality
of care.
7.
COLLABORATION
By this we mean:
- We
value strong relationships with the individuals and organizations
with whom we work.
- We
interact with others in a spirit of inclusiveness, cooperation,
and trust.
8.
SHALOM
By this we mean:
- We
are committed to the well being of our wards and each other.
- We
value peace in the lives and the hearts of our wards.

The vision that guides Adult Guardianship Services is as
follows:
Adult
Guardianship Services will be the expert provider of comprehensive
guardianship services. We will have sufficient resources to meet
the diverse needs of those we serve, to educate the community about
guardianship, and to advocate for a just system of care. We will
protect and enhance the well being of those served through strong
leadership, an active and qualified board, efficient and well-trained
staff and volunteers, and positive collaborative relationships.

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www.lutheranmetro.org
Adult
Guardianship Services is a program of Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry.
Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry (LMM) is a social service agency
whose mission is to promote shalom (peace, well-being) and justice
(right relationships) through Christian ministry of service and
advocacy with those who are oppressed, forgotten, and hurting. LMM
has five specific pillars of service: at-risk teens,
men and women previously involved in the criminal justice system,
people needing long term care assistance, persons with disabilities,
and people who need housing. Since 1969, LMM has sought to live
in right relationships with its clients, staff, and the community.
LMM serves people primarily in Cuyahoga County. LMM has over 600
volunteers and receives funding from a multitude of sources. Adult
Guardianship Services (AGS) is a program of LMM and operates under
the LMM 501(c)(3) not-for-profit designation.
All
services provided by Adult Guardianship Services are provided without
regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national
origin, or disability.

NATIONAL
GUARDIANSHIP ASSOCIATION (NGA)
www.guardianship.org
AGS is a member of the National Guardianship Association, an organization
whose members include public and private, for-profit and not-for-profit
agencies and organizations, as well as concerned individuals. NGA
has members from 38 states as well as from Canada, Australia, Hong
Kong, and Singapore.
OHIO
GUARDIANSHIP ASSOCIATION (OGA)
www.guardianshipohio.org
AGS was a founding member (1989) of the Ohio Guardianship Association,
previously the Ohio Volunteer Guardianship Association. OGA
is a membership organization made up of individuals who provide
guardianship services throughout Ohio and other interested individuals.
Linda Proffitt, AGS Program Director, is the first and current
President of OGA.
OTHER
MEMBERSHIPS
The staff of AGS serves on various community organizations in Greater
Cleveland that affect the care of the elderly and the mentally ill,
including the Greater Cleveland Elder Abuse/Domestic Violence Task
Roundtable, the Consortium Against Adult Abuse, and others.

In each of the past 15 years Adult Guardianship Services has served
as guardian of person for a growing number of wards. The chart below
shows the growth in our service.
|
SERVICE
PROVIDED
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
| Consultations |
306
|
308
|
300
|
320
|
346
|
341
|
443
|
| Referrals |
167
|
206
|
238
|
218
|
224
|
187
|
224
|
| New
Guardianships Awarded |
73
|
92
|
111
|
98
|
118
|
115
|
131
|
| Total
Wards Served |
235
|
286
|
343
|
403
|
458
|
502
|
574
|

AGS receives funds from a variety of sources, including the following:
- Cuyahoga
County Probate Court--Indigent Guardianship Fund
- Cuyahoga
County Community Mental Health Board
- Cuyahoga
County Department of Senior & Adult Services
- Western
Reserve Area Agency on Aging
- United
Way Services
- Cleveland
Foundation
- Abington
Foundation
- Woodruff
Foundation
- St.
Lukes Foundation
- Mt.
Sinai Foundation
- A.M.
McGregor Foundation
- Lubrizol
Foundation
- Lutheran
Church Missouri Synod Board of World Relief and Human Care
- Hospitals
- Nursing
Homes/Assisted Living Facilities
- Community
Organizations
- Individual
Donations
- Private
Pay

Adult Guardianship Services is directed by a 15-member Board of
Trustees who serve three years terms. The 2005 trustees are listed
below.
Sarah Parran, LISW, President
Senior Care Connections, LLC
Diane
M. Stack, Vice President
North Point Portfolio Managers Corp.
Patricia
Ross, LSW, Secretary
University Hospitals of Cleveland
Hallie
Smith-Petee, Treasurer
PolyOne
Robin
Bachman, MPA
Sisters of Charity Health System
Barbara
J. Daly, Ph.D., RN
University Hospitals of Cleveland
Janice
Dzigiel, MPA
Cuyahoga Senior Rides
William
Garrison, MSW
Retired
Constance
Hill-Johnson, MPA
Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services
Kathryn
T. Joseph, Esq.
Aggers, Joseph & Cheverine
Rev.
Christian Just
Epiphany Lutheran Church
Elizabeth OToole, MD
MetroHealth Medical Center
Darlyne
R. Redd, LSW
University Memory & Aging Center
Kimberly
Walrod, MBA
National City Bank
Scott Weltman, Esq.
Weltman, Weinberg and Reis
Organizations listed for identification only.

Adult Guardianship Services has a paid staff of 18. AGS also has
144 volunteer guardians and 25 volunteer attorneys. The current
paid staff is listed below.
Linda J. Proffitt, MBA, MSSA
Program Director
Beth A. Reid, RG
Manager of Client Services
Greta Miller, RG
Client Assessor
Mary Ann Thomas, JD
Director of Development
Barbara Matlak, RG
Volunteer Coordinator
Louis
Bragg, RG
Guardian
Rita
Canute
Guardian
Beth Niksa, RG
Guardian
Kerry Formica
Guardian
Amy
Simon, LSW
Guardian
Michael
Garvey, RG
Guardian
John
T. Pallotta, LSW, RG
Guardian
Melanie Root, RG
Guardian
Karyn
Seeger, RG
Guardian
Jude Troha, LSW, RG
Guardian
Larry Nix
Guardian Assistant
David Castro
Office Manager
Joyce
Thomas
Office Assistant

At the request of numerous Cleveland-area social service agencies
serving primarily the elderly, Adult Guardianship Services (AGS)
was established in 1988 to provide legal guardians to serve as concerned,
caring advocates and surrogate decision-makers for indigent people
who were deemed incompetent by the Cuyahoga County Probate Court.
Judge John J. Donnelly endorsed the program and AGS is the sole
provider of indigent guardianship services in Cuyahoga County.
Originally
the program was staffed by volunteers but with the growing demand
for guardians it soon began to hire paid staff. We now serve over
550 Cuyahoga County residents annually with 18 paid staff and 144
volunteer guardians and 25 volunteer attorneys. Clients now include
not only the elderly (60+) but also the severely mentally disabled
(18+). As a program of Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry, AGS is a
not-for-profit 501(C)(3) organization.
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