Crime Victim Services will be open by appointment only at this time.  Please call 419.222.8666 in Allen County and 419-523-1111 in Putnam County.  For immediate assistance or support call the 24/7 crisis line at 877.867.7273.
    CRIME VICTIM SERVICES
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    Crime Victim Services' Guardian Program provides qualified, trained, and committed court-appointed Volunteer Guardians for adult victims deemed unable to make important life decisions while ensuring their safety, dignity, and quality of life. 
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    ​WE SERVE...
    ​Adults who are found to be incompetent of making important life decisions, managing their own personal affairs and do not have an appropriate support person in their life to make such decisions. The person in need of guardianship may experience a variety of issues that determine such incompetence, including:
    • Issues related to Aging
    • Alzheimer’s Disease
    • Dementia (related to aging, injury or illness)
    • Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities
    •  Mental health diagnosis
    • Substance Dependency
    • Traumatic Brain Injury or Acquired Brain Injury

    BECOME A VOLUNTEER GUARDIAN...
    1. Attend a 1-hour information session to learn about how you can support someone in need. 
    2. Submit the Volunteer Guardian Application.
    3. Participate in 9 hours of guardianship training:
      1. 6 hour Fundamentals of Guardianship course through the Ohio Supreme Court  
      2. 3 hour orientation course through Crime Victim Services Guardian Program
      3.  5 hours continuing education courses annually​. 
    WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT...
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    ​Guardians spend an average of  2-3 hours per month with their protected person, helping to ensure they are taken care of and their needs are met. This can include helping to make important medical and legal decisions, advocating for the person's wishes in court, paying bills, and navigating interpersonal relationships. 

    Guardians receive support from Crime Victim Services with the following: 
    • documentation and reporting
    • monitoring court deadlines
    • continuing educations
    • counseling in day-to-day decision making. 
    ​Due to grant funding requirements, persons under guardianship that we serve must also be a victim of crime in which the victimization has caused or significantly increases their ongoing cognitive or physical vulnerability to be re-victimized.  Knowledge of and/or documentation of the victimization must be provided.

    FORMS TO DOWNLOAD:     
    Volunteer Guardian Application
    Monthly Report
    Guardian Brochure
    2019 Legal Options Toolbox
    Volunteer Timesheet

    LINKS:
    Resources during COVID-19 Pandemic COVID-19 Resources for Guardians 
    Allen County Probate Court  www.allenohioprobate.com
    NGA standards and principles  www.guardianship.org/standards/
    Ohio Guardianship Assoc. http://guardianshipohio.org/
    National Research Center for Supported Decision-Making   http://www.supporteddecisionmaking.org/
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    @cvsguardian
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    For more information, please contact: 

    Elysia Bush, LSW
    Guardian Program Director
    ebush@CrimeVictimServices.org
    ​419.222.8666

    Our Services

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    Greater Lima and 
    Putnam County
    partner agency.
    Thank you to donors and: Allen County Commissioners, Lima Law Director, Putnam County Commissioners, Putnam County Mental Health Board

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