--- title: About Us l VASIA Johnson and Shelby Counties Indiana description: VASIA is a public guardianship program that advocates for seniors and incapacitated adults in court care. image: https://indianavasia.org/hubfs/VASIA-Meta-New.png --- [![VASIA LOGO](https://indianavasia.org/hubfs/VASIA%20LOGO.png) ![VASIA LOGO](https://indianavasia.org/hubfs/VASIA%20LOGO.png)](https://indianavasia.org?hsLang=en) [CONTACT US](https://indianavasia.org/contact?hsLang=en) Toggle navigation Toggle navigation - [Be a Volunteer Guardian](https://indianavasia.org/volunteer) - [Establish Guardianship](https://indianavasia.org/guardianship) - [About Us](https://indianavasia.org/about) - [Testimonials](https://indianavasia.org/testimonials) - [Resources](https://indianavasia.org/resources) - [Support Our Mission](https://indianavasia.org/support) - [Blogs](https://indianavasia.org/blogs) - [Contact Us](https://indianavasia.org/contact) - [Join Our Newsletter](https://indianavasia.org/newsletter) - [News](https://indianavasia.org/news) - [Case Management Portal](https://assist.eguardianship.com/Expansion/Login.aspx) - [Store](https://johnsoncountyvasiagear.itemorder.com/shop/home/) - [Search](https://indianavasia.org/search) --- # About Us ### Public Guardians and Advocates VASIA (Volunteer Guardian Advocates for Seniors and Vulnerable Adults) is a public guardianship program whose mission is to assist seniors and vulnerable adults through a public guardianship program. Our team of volunteer guardian advocates helps seniors and vulnerable adults in Johnson and Shelby counties achieve the highest degree of independence possible, while also assisting them with maintaining the greatest degree of health, comfort and safety. [DOWNLOAD OUR BROCHURE](https://indianavasia.org/hubfs/VASIA%20Brochure%208-25.pdf?hsLang=en) ![VASIA Johnson, Shelby and Hancock Counties Indiana](https://indianavasia.org/hs-fs/hubfs/About-Us-1.png?width=1000&height=672&name=About-Us-1.png) ## Our Story ### [What We Do Like Court Appointed Special Guardian Advocates, our volunteers are assigned the most difficult cases including people who are abused or neglected and without a trustworthy guardian to ensure they are receiving the support they need. Volunteers and staff members work together to ensure our protected adults are receiving all eligible means of support while ensuring a better quality of life.](https://indianavasia.org/volunteer?hsLang=en) ### [Who We Serve We serve those diagnosed by a licensed physician as being mentally or medically incapacitated. The people we serve will be without a willing, able or suitable relative or significant person to serve as guardian. A county judge must rule that the person needs guardianship and will then assign VASIA to the case.](https://indianavasia.org/guardianship?hsLang=en) ### [How We Do It We provide trained, vetted, court-sworn citizens who assume the responsibility of making decisions for their protected adult. We train our supervised volunteers who are assisted by our paid staff — which receives and investigates referrals, presents cases before the judge for guardianship ruling, applies for benefits, coordinates services with Adult Protective Services and promotes community awareness.](https://indianavasia.org/volunteer?hsLang=en) ### Leadership [National Certified Guardian](https://indianavasia.org/hubfs/National%20Certified%20Guardian.pdf?hsLang=en)   Lauren Rynerson, NCG Executive Director 317.346.4414 [EMAIL](mailto:%20rynerson@co.johnson.in.us) Rita Janis, NCG Assistant Director 317.346.4543 [EMAIL](mailto:%20rjanis@co.johnson.in.us) Andrew Woods, PC VASIA Attorney 317.738.4067 Judge Peter Nugent Johnson County Superior Court 2 317.346.4413 Judge Trent Meltzer Shelby County Circuit Court 317.392.6360 Judge Scott Sirk Hancock County Circuit Court 317.392.6360 #### Our Affiliations [![Aspire Johnson County](https://indianavasia.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Aspire.png?width=250&name=Aspire.png)](https://www.aspirejohnsoncounty.com/) [![Blue River Community Foundation](https://indianavasia.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Blue-River-Community-Foundation.png?width=250&name=Blue-River-Community-Foundation.png)](https://www.blueriverfoundation.com/) [![CICOA\_INconnect](https://indianavasia.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CICOA_INconnect.gif?width=250&name=CICOA_INconnect.gif)](https://cicoa.org/) [![Dementia Friends Indiana](https://indianavasia.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Dementia%20Friends%20Indiana.png?width=250&name=Dementia%20Friends%20Indiana.png)](https://www.dementiafriendsindiana.org/) [![Elevated logo](https://indianavasia.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Elevated%20logo.webp?width=250&name=Elevated%20logo.webp)](https://elevatedmarketing.solutions/) [![Franklin Chamber of Commerce](https://indianavasia.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Franklin-Chamber.png?width=250&name=Franklin-Chamber.png)](https://www.franklincoc.org/) ![Guardian Association of Indiana](https://indianavasia.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Guardianship%20Association%20of%20Indiana.png?width=250&name=Guardianship%20Association%20of%20Indiana.png) [![HoriztonalHLB\_NoFlowers](https://indianavasia.org/hs-fs/hubfs/HoriztonalHLB_NoFlowers.png?width=250&name=HoriztonalHLB_NoFlowers.png)](https://www.hattieloublooms.com/) [![Johnson County Community Foundation](https://indianavasia.org/hs-fs/hubfs/JCCF.png?width=250&name=JCCF.png)](https://www.jccf.org/) [![national\_adult\_protective\_services\_association\_logo](https://indianavasia.org/hs-fs/hubfs/national_adult_protective_services_association_logo.jpg?width=250&name=national_adult_protective_services_association_logo.jpg)](https://www.napsa-now.org/) [![National Guardianship Association](https://indianavasia.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NGA.png?width=250&name=NGA.png)](https://www.guardianship.org/) [![SHS logo](https://indianavasia.org/hs-fs/hubfs/SHS%20logo.png?width=250&name=SHS%20logo.png)](https://locations.seniorshelpingseniors.com/in/shelbyville/50.html) [![Shelby County Chamber](https://indianavasia.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Shelby-County-Chamber.png?width=250&name=Shelby-County-Chamber.png)](https://shelbychamber.net/) ### Advocate for Those Who Can't As a VASIA volunteer, you would help people who require assistance with decisions due to their health issues — such as dementia, mental illness or a traumatic brain injury. [VOLUNTEER](https://indianavasia.org/volunteer?hsLang=en) ![VASIA Johnson, Shelby and Hancock Counties Indiana](https://indianavasia.org/hubfs/Volunteer-2.png) - **VASIA District 17 Johnson and Shelby Counties in Indiana** 5 East Jefferson Street, Franklin, Indiana 46131 [JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER](https://indianavasia.org/newsletter?hsLang=en) © 2026 [VASIA District 17 Indiana](https://indianavasia.org?hsLang=en) l All Rights Reserved | 317.346.4414 - [Site by Clever Dogs Media](https://www.cleverdogsmedia.com/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "Organization", "contactPoint" : { "@type" : "ContactPoint", "availableLanguage" : "en", "contactType" : "", "telephone" : "317.346.4414" }, "logo" : "https://indianavasia.org/hubfs/VASIA%20LOGO.png", "name" : "VASIA District 17", "sameAs" : "https://www.facebook.com/indianavasia/", "url" : "https://indianavasia.org/" } ```