About Us

Public Guardians and Advocates

VASIA (Volunteer Advocates for Seniors and Incapacitated Adults) is a public guardianship program whose mission is to assist seniors and incapacitated adults through a public guardianship program.

Our team of volunteer advocates helps seniors and incapacitated 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.

About-Us-1

Our Story

What We Do

Like Court Appointed Special 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.

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.

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.

Leadership

 

Lauren Rynerson, NCG

Executive Director

317.346.4414

EMAIL

Rita Janis, NCG

Assistant Director

317.346.4543

EMAIL

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

Our Affiliations



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
VASIA of Johnson and Shelby Counties