Sarah Atkins
mnjreporter@gmail.com
Volunteers are needed for the Guardian ad Litem (GAL) program, which advocates for children in the court system.
GAL has served and advocated for neglected and abused children for over 40 years. This state-mandated program operates in every county of North Carolina, ensuring the needs and wishes of children throughout the state are heard.
GAL volunteers try to serve as consistent adults in a foster child’s life, representing them in some of the most vulnerable times of their lives. Guardian ad Litem volunteer Jenn Goheen said that “as a GAL I’m having an impact, I’m effecting change” and that “all you need [to be a GAL] is a heart to help our community’s most vulnerable.”
In North Carolina, GAL operates with a three-pronged system. There is a GAL attorney advocate, volunteer, and supervisor who work together to support every kid in need of their services in the child welfare system.
Before the establishment of GAL, juvenile court centered around a judge and attorneys sitting down and deciding the fate of children. Now, juvenile court is much more family-centered, with both the children and parents being represented.
Guardian ad Litem volunteers are critical to ensuring the program is effective and able to continue operating. Overall, North Carolina GAL volunteers devote more than half a million hours of service and save the state over $14 million.
The process of becoming a volunteer includes a criminal background check, a screening interview, and 30 hours of training over a period of six weeks. These measures ensure that each volunteer is prepared on how to get started working on cases and serve each child well.
Volunteers typically cover one to two cases and follow them until the child reaches permanence. The minimum amount of time they may dedicate to any one case is eight hours a month, but many volunteers who are committed to serving the children to the best of their ability may devote up to 15-20 hours per month.
Over the many years that GAL has operated in North Carolina, the state has made changes to ensure there are as few deterrents for volunteering as possible. In the case of writing a court report to the judge, GAL has created templates that guide volunteers through the process to make it less confusing. Additionally, if people are intimidated by the courtroom and the prospect of talking directly to a judge, the three-pronged approach makes it so that there are fewer instances where that might happen.
Of the 40 kids currently in the Mitchell County foster care system, only 15 have a GAL volunteer. The GAL in Mitchell currently operates with only six volunteers, but program supervisor Jada Ellis notes that at least 20 volunteers are needed to ensure each child is receiving adequate care and the best service possible from GAL.
There is no prior experience needed to become a GAL, just a passion for helping children in need.
Information on how to become a Guardian ad Litem can be found on their website or by contacting Jada Ellis at 828.208.1801 or jada.n.ellis@nccourts.org.