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/Alzheimer’s Disease as well as younger individuals who are severely mentally disabled. In the past 21 years AGS has served as Guardian of Person for over 1500 individuals. In 2009 we acted as guardian for 667 people.

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.

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, former AGS Program Director was 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 21 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.

AGS receives funds from a variety of sources, including the following:

• Cuyahoga County Probate Court--Indigent Guardianship Fund
• Alchohol Drug Abuse and Mental Health Services Board (ADAMHS)
• Cuyahoga County Department of Senior & Adult Services
  
• Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging
• United Way Services
  
• Cleveland Foundation
  
• Abington Foundation
  
• Woodruff Foundation
  
• St. Luke’s 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 2009 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

Charles (Chic) Allen
SIFCO Applied Surface Concepts

Robin Bachman, MPA
Sisters of Charity Health System

Barbara J. Daly, Ph.D., RN
University Hospitals of Cleveland

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

Laura Longbrake
Cleveland Clinic

Elizabeth O’Toole, MD
MetroHealth Medical Center

Sarah Lukwinski-Shemo
Attorney

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 15. AGS also has 135 volunteer guardians and 25 volunteer attorneys. The current paid staff is listed below.

Beth A. Reid, NCG
Program Director

Greta Miller, NCG
Referral Specialist/Guardian

Barbara Matlak, NCG
Volunteer Manager

Rita Canute, NCG 
Guardian/Assessor

Beth Niksa, NCG
Guardian

Michael Garvey , NCG
Supervisor/Guardian

Melanie Root, NCG
Guardian

Karyn Seeger, NCG
Guardian

Jude Troha, LSW, NCG
Supervisor/Guardian

Clem Walker-Graham
Guardian

Kerry Zido, NCG
Guardian

Larry Nix
Guardian Assistant

Ana Montanez
Office Manager

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 13 paid staff and 135 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.

back to top