In Summit County, the importance of guardianship cannot be overstated when it comes to ensuring the safety, well-being, and dignity of vulnerable individuals.
Summit County, like many other regions, has witnessed a rise in the number of indigent individuals in recent years. These are community members who lack the financial means and support systems necessary to effectively manage their own affairs. Unfortunately, this vulnerable population often faces significant challenges in accessing essential services, making decisions, and safeguarding their well-being.
The Summit County Court - Probate Division, the "Superior Guardian" led by Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer, began the Volunteer Guardian and Senior Visitor programs to make sure individuals who are alone and unable to care for themselves have someone to look out for them. Judge Stormer appointed
Mary Ann Freedman to lead the program in 2015. Volunteer guardians and visitors were recruited, trained, and assigned wards. By 2020, the Volunteer Guardian Program had more than 100 volunteers serving more than 300 wards.
Following the pandemic of 2020, a strong collaboration of community stakeholders led by Mary Ann Freedman and the Summit County Probate Court, and including Summit County Public Health, the Department of Job & Family Service, the City of Akron, the County of Summit ADM Board, and the Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board considered the possibility of the Volunteer Guardian Program expanding to serve agencies and institutions' wards. Thus, Adult Guardianship Services of Summit County was begun.
Adult Guardianship Services of Summit County or AGS was officially "born" on January 1, 2022 after months of collaboration, planning, and organization. Mary Ann Freedman transitioned the program of the probate court into a new 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Mary Ann recruited board members, filled out paperwork, and arranged for things like office space - free of charge. She did all of this while ensuring wards and guardians saw no disruption in care. After several years of managing the Court's Volunteer Guardian program and creating a new organization, Mary Ann Freedman decided it was time to hand over the reins to someone else. But that doesn't mean she stepped away?? No, Mary Ann remains a part-time, professional guardian with AGS to this day.
Under direction of an interim director for the first year, AGS was established in Summit County. After a leadership search, in 2023, Carla Bayonnet, RN, MSN was appointed Executive Director. Carla most recently was the director of Resource Center and Assessment Program for the region's area agency on aging. The strategic plan to take AGS to the next level of service includes:
- Expanding community partnerships with other non-profits and healthcare systems
- Building the program of legislative advocacy for indigent individuals
- Increasing AGS's capacity by increasing the number of qualified volunteer guardians
As the indigent population continues to grow, the demand for guardianship services in Summit County has reached a critical point. Our dedicated volunteer guardians work tirelessly to fulfill their obligations, but the increasing caseloads place strain on their capacity to serve adequately. It's imperative that AGS addresses this need by recruiting and training additional individuals who are willing to step forward and make a meaningful impact in the lives of those who need it most.
Probate Court remains the "Superior Guardian" for nearly 2,500 community members, many of whom are indigent and have no one able to advocate for them in the role of guardian. AGS serves many of these indigent community members by providing trained advocates, educators and surrogate decision makers.