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To be eligible for VASIA services, the adult must reside in Johnson or Shelby County and live in a residential facility.
Guardian Ad Litem Cases & end of life guardianships are not accepted

5 East Jefferson Street, Franklin, IN 46131

+1 (317) 346 4414

Mon - Fri:
8:00 - 4:30PM EST

About Us

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

VASIA consists of a team of volunteer advocates who help seniors and incapacitated adults in Johnson & Shelby County residential communities achieve the highest degree of independence possible, while also assisting them with maintaining the greatest degree of health, comfort and safety.

Our Team

Lauren Rynerson, NCG – Executive Director – lrynerson@co.johnson.in.us – (317) 346-4414

Rita Janis, NCG – VASIA Assistant Director – rjanis@co.johnson.in.us – (317) 346-4543

Judge Kevin Barton – Johnson County Superior Court 1

Judge Trent Meltzer – Shelby County Circuit Court

Attorney for Johnson & Shelby County VASIA

Andrew Woodshttp://woodskyle.com/

58 West Jefferson Street, Franklin, IN 46131

(317) 738-4067

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.

“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you”

John Bunyan

Our Story

Johnson & Shelby County Volunteer Advocates for Seniors and Incapacitated Adults (VASIA) provide guardianship services for individuals who are under the jurisdiction of the courts. VASIA is similar to CASA and serves adults over the age of 18 years old. Like Court Appointed Special Advocates, it is 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.

The people in need of a guardian may include, people with dementia, Alzheimer’s, mental illness, substance abuse issues, traumatic brain injury, developmental disabilities, autism, and any other incapacity that limits their ability to make decisions about their financial and medical care. 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.

VASIA provides trained, vetted, court-sworn citizens who assume the responsibility of making decisions for their protected adult. We train our supervised volunteers that are assisted by our paid staff. Our 2 full-time staff members receive and investigate referrals, present cases before the Judge for guardianship ruling, apply for benefits, coordinate services with Adult Protective Services and promote community awareness. To be eligible for VASIA services, the adult must reside in Johnson or Shelby County and live in a residential communities.

Not in Johnson or Shelby County?