Member Profile: Johnson & Shelby County VASIA Director
The mission of the Johnson & Shelby County VASIA Program is to assist seniors and incapacitated adults through a public guardianship program. We are made up of a team of volunteer advocates who allow those seniors and incapacitated persons in need, the highest degree of independence, while assisting them in gaining the greatest degree of health, comfort and safety.
VASIA serves incapacitated adults over the age of 18 years old and seniors. Those served will be diagnosed by a licensed physician as being mentally or medically incapacitated. The protected person served by VASIA of Johnson & Shelby County will also be without a willing, able or suitable relative or significant person to serve as guardian. A county judge must then rule the person needs guardianship and assigns them to VASIA.
In conjunction with national standards, Indiana established guardianship standards as counties began addressing the needs of adult citizens much in the same way that CASA was addressing the needs of children. Under the leadership of Superior Court No.1 Judge Barton, Johnson County VASIA began in November 2016. The program is funded through a State VASIA Grant and Johnson County. Although the program is still young and growing, concerned people in Shelby County were interested in providing this same care to their citizens in need. Johnson County VASIA has now become Johnson & Shelby County VASIA and received support in 2020 from Shelbyville City Council, Blue River Community Foundation and judicial oversight from Judge Meltzer.
The population of those in need of a guardian may include but are not limited to, people with dementia, Alzheimer's, mental illness, substance abuse issues, traumatic brain injury, autism and any other incapacity that limits the person's ability to make decisions about their financial and personal medical care.
There are a number of ways you can support adults 18 and over who have guardianship needs. One is to refer potential protected persons by contacting the VASIA office. Referrals for Guardianship may be made by an interested person or organization in the community. Another is to consider becoming a volunteer advocate. You can also support VASIA by participating in community fundraisers. Please visit www.indianavasia.org for more information.