LUCAS COUNTY, OH (WTOL) - Thursday night, Lucas County Probate Court Judge Jack R. Puffenberger offered a free three-hour course for the Ohio guardianship training program.
While this training is mandated by the Supreme Court for guardians taking in adults only, with the opioid crisis on the rise, Judge Puffenberger said guardians taking children in, specifically their own grandparents, is becoming more common.
Before becoming a guardian for an adult, the court requires an expert opinion from a doctor declaring the person being taken in is incompetent first.
Those who are interested in learning more about being a guardian or to register for the next training session on September 11 can learn more here or call 419-213-4775.
In some cases, guardians receive $150 a year, however most are not compensated, but instead do it out of the kindness of their hearts.
Judge Puffenberger said it's something Toledo is in dire need of, especially when it comes to taking in children during the growing opioid epidemic.
"Someone needs to take care of these individuals, so those areas of our court are really expanding," said Judge Jack R. Puffenberger of the Lucas County Probate Court.
Judge Puffenberger also said that up until a few years ago, the courts were up to 1,700 wards in Lucas County. As of this year-they're now up to 2,000.
