Guardianship
Protecting The Health And Safety Of Vulnerable Adults
While Balancing Individual Rights and Independence
Our Mission
To provide professional, efficient and compassionate guardianship services while protecting the legal rights of every protected person under our care through the least restrictive means possible. GSB strives to balance protection with individual autonomy by securing the health and safety of these wards while safeguarding their individual rights and preserving their dignity and independence wherever possible.
Our Goals:
Public Guardianship
The GSB is appointed by the Probate Court to serve as the guardian of last resort when no other qualified person or entity is willing and able to serve as the guardian for an incapacitated adult.
Volunteer Visitors
Develop a team of trained volunteers who will visit wards on a regular basis to safeguard against abuse, neglect and exploitation and to ensure that the ward’s needs are being met.
Community Partners
Expand GSB collaboration with community partners, including social service agencies, healthcare providers and government entities to develop the resources necessary to support GSB’s mission and to achieve its goals.
Accountability
As a Public Guardian, the GSB is accountable to the ward, the Probate Court and the community to ensure the health and safety of all vulnerable adults under its care while balancing their individual rights and independence wherever possible.
OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Support for the Portage County Guardianship Service Board is made possible through the generous contributions of the following community partners:
News & Events
May 2 - 10am - PCGSB Board Meeting - Probate Court - 203 W. Main St., Ravenna, OH 44266
Contact Us:
(330) 839-3964
portagecounty gsb@gmail.com
Executive Director
Diana L. Clarke, J.D.
Prior to joining the Guardianship Service Board, Diana served as the Court Administrator and attorney for the Probate and Mental Health Department of the Ariziona Superior Court in Maricopa County. More recently, Diana was Director for a nonprofit organization that provided services, programs and activities for local seniors and persons with disabilities in Northern California. Her past work in these areas will help in developing new PCGSB community partnerships and in carrying out its Mission of providing trustworthy public guardianships that safeguard incapacitated, vulnerable adults whenever necessary.
The Board
Amy L. Papesh, Esq.
Amy was appointed to the PCGSB Board as the representative for the Portage County Probate Court. She has been practicing since 2000 and concentrates her practice in the areas of estate planning, estate administration and guardianships. She has been with the law firm of Elk & Elk since 2005 where she is the head of the firm's estate and probate division. She brings her expertise in these areas to her role as a PCGSB Board Member.
John Garrity, PhD.
John is the Executive Director for the Mental Health & Recovery Board of Protage County and represents MHRB on the PCGSB Board. MHRB funds a variety of services for Portage County residents that help families, adults, teens and children with mental illness, depression, addictions, in crisis and at risk for suicide. MHRB is a principal partner of the PCGSB and has contributed operational funding to support the PCGSB’s mission as the public guardian for incapacitated adults in Portage County.
Candie L. Burbick
Candie joins the PCGSB on behalf of the Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities, where she serves as DD’s Service & Support Administrator Supervisor. DD is a guardianship referral agency to the Probate Court and provides funding to support PCGSB’s mission of serving as the public guardian for adult wards when no other person or entity is qualified and able to serve. Currently, 31% of all public guardianship cases have resulted through referrals by the Board of Developmental Disabilities.
Contact Us
Support our efforts to safeguard and protect vulnerable adults by becoming a Volunteer Visitor:
Volunteer Visitors protect wards from exploitation and elder abuse by observing the ward’s living conditions and well-being.
Volunteer Visitors help to ensure that the ward’s needs are being met.
