Legal Aid attorney joins Advocacy and Protective Services board

Tonya Whitsett, Managing Attorney of Legal Aid's Family Practice Group, was recently appointed to the board of trustees for Advocacy and Protective Services, Inc. (APSI).  APSI is a not-for-profit organization, which advocates for outcomes that promote dignity, respect, and enhanced quality of life for individual persons with developmental disabilities. APSI strives to provide guardianship services while promoting self-determination, self-advocacy, and principles of least restrictive services focused on person-centered planning.

Tonya uses her experience in family law to serve Legal Aid clients and others in the community. She is active on the Ohio Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Children and Families, the Family Law Reform Implementation Subcommittee, and the Subcommittee on Adult Guardianships. She is a member of a guardianship monitoring workgroup, she serves on the planning team for the statewide Legal Aid Family Law Task Force, and she is a member of the Lorain County Domestic Violence Task Force.

Tonya is a graduate of Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and received her B.A. from The College of Wooster. She is a member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and Ohio State Bar Association.

Founded in 1905, The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland is the fifth oldest legal aid organization in the United States. Serving residents of Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Lorain counties, The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland works to extend justice for those who are low income and vulnerable by providing high-quality legal services and working for systemic solutions.

Legal Aid uses the power of the law to increase safety and health; promote education and economic stability; support safe and stable housing; and ensure government and justice systems are accountable and accessible. In 2021, The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland handled more than 6,600 cases, impacting more than 17,300 people. Thanks to support from the philanthropic community, Legal Aid's services are provided at no cost to clients.