IAGS Projects & Activities

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
~Margaret Meade

The IAGS Project staff provides support for the following project activities:

Support the continued development and implementation of two model Northwest Indiana adult guardianship services initiatives that incorporate the National Guardianship Association Standards and Ethics and use trained and supervised community volunteers as guardians. The two models are the Northwest Indiana Adult Guardianship Services, Inc. and the Volunteer Advocates for Seniors Program of the SSFHS Saint Margaret Mercy Hospital.

Organize and convene community-based key stakeholders groups to facilitate the strategic planning, development and implementation of adult guardianship services projects / programs at targeted county pilot project sites. The IAGS Project is currently working to establish pilot adult guardianship projects or programs in six (6) counties across the state. The project has convened groups of key stakeholders in each of the communities and is working with each group to develop a strategic plan to implement a local guardianship services project or program.

In four of the communities, the Project is working with the key stakeholders groups to expand already existing specialized guardianship services to meet the overall needs of the community or to develop a consortium of guardianship services providers to work together to meet the needs. Each IAGS Pilot Project has a Lead Agency that is acting as the contact point and fiscal agent for the community. For more information, email us. See the Pilot Projects and Lead Agencies below:

Indiana County	Lead Agency
Allen County	Easter Seals Arc of Northeast Indiana, Inc.
Elkhart County	ADEC, Inc.
Lawrence County	Stone Belt Arc, Inc.
St. Joseph County	Logan Community Resources, Inc.
Tippecanoe County	Wabash Center
Vanderburgh County	Evansville ARC

Conduct an academic research / review of national and Indiana guardianship demographics, data, statutes, funding sources and the recommended best practices for guardianship services, standards, regulation and certification. The IAGS Project has contracted with the Professor Michael Jenuwine at the University of Notre Dame – School of Law to conduct the academic research project. He is leading the project from his position at the Notre Dame Legal Aid Clinic. The project is being overseen by the Indiana Adult Guardianship Services Issues & Needs Task Force. Some of the preliminary findings from the project are available to view on the Helpful Resources page.

Convene a multidisciplinary Indiana Adult Guardianship Services Issues & Needs State Task Force to support the development and provision of adult guardianship services across the state.

The purpose of the Indiana State Guardianship Issues & Needs Task Force is to bring together an interdisciplinary group of key state level stakeholders to examine the issues and needs related to adult guardianship services in Indiana and to support the development and provision of adult guardianship services across the state. The Task Mother and Son Buying Ice Cream Force meets quarterly to:

Provide input and support for the IAGS Project
Examine the public policy and legal issues related to the provision of adult guardianship services in Indiana
Assess the need for services related to adult guardianship in Indiana
Review and approve the University of Notre Dame academic research project report and other guardianship related reports as presented
Serve as the Conveners and Program Planning Committee for the 2009 Indiana State Guardianship Services Issues & Needs Symposium

Other activities as may be determined by the Task Force

The Task Force membership is representative of the following organizations and state agencies:

AARP Indiana	Arc BRIDGES	The Arc of Indiana	The Arc of Indiana - Self Advocates Program	Elder Law Attorney
Family Service Council of Indiana	Indiana Association of Area Agencies on Aging	Indiana Association of Homes & Services for the Aging	Indiana Council of Community Mental Health Centers	Indiana FSSA Adult Protective Services
Indiana FSSA Division of Aging	Indiana FSSA Division of Disability & Rehabilitative Services	Indiana FSSA Division of Family Resources	Indiana FSSA Division of Mental Health & Addictions Services	Indiana FSSA Division of Aging-Long Term Care Ombudsman
Indiana Hospital & Health Association	Indiana Judges' Probate Committee	Indiana Legal Services - Senior Law Project	Indiana Minority Health Coalition	Indiana Pro Bono Commission
Indiana Professional Management Group	Indiana State Bar Association - Probate Section	Indiana State Department of Health	Indiana State Guardianship Association	Johnson Superior Court 1
Lake Superior Court 1	Logan Community Resources, Inc.	Mental Health America of Indiana	Riley Hospital - CYACC	SSFHS Saint Margaret Mercy Hospital

Provide educational opportunities (Northwest Indiana Guardianship Services Symposium and the Indiana State Symposium:Adult Guardianship Issues and Needs) on adult guardianship issues, needs and practices.
Increase national awareness of the IAGS Project and facilitate the participation of Indiana Judges, attorneys and guardianship professionals and volunteers at the national level. The IAGS Project has developed a presentation on the project that is available for national conferences and workshops and has been invited by several national organizations, including the National Association of Women Judges and the National Guardianship Association to make presentations to their members and conference participants.

The Project is also sponsoring attendance of Indiana judges, attorneys and guardianship services professionals and volunteers to national conferences such as the annual National Guardianship Association Conference and the annual Conference of the National College of Probate Judges. Along with offering to speak and to sponsor Indiana attendees to national conferences, the Project is also sponsoring Indiana guardianship services professionals and volunteers to take the National Certified Guardianship examination that is offered by the National Guardianship Association.