What is the Children’s Guardian Fund?
What is the Mission of the Children’s Guardian Fund?
Where does my financial support go?
What is a Guardian ad Litem?
Do I have the qualifications needed to advocate for a child?
Do I need to be an attorney to be a Volunteer Guardian ad Litem?
How much time must I commit as a volunteer Guardian ad Litem?
What is the role of the Guardian ad Litem?
What are specific Volunteer Guardian ad Litem responsibilities?
What is "best interest"?
What types of cases require a Guardian ad Litem?
What is the Children’s Guardian Fund?
Since the Guardian ad Litem (GAL) program is a government organization and, as such, is not allowed to raise funds, each of Florida’s 20 judicial circuits has created a nonprofit organization to support its GAL program. In 1995, the Children’s Guardian Fund (CGF) was established in Sarasota as a private 501(c)(3) organization to raise funds to assist children in foster care and to strengthen the GAL program and volunteers in the 12th Judicial District.
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What is the Mission of the Children’s Guardian Fund?
The purposes of the Children’s Guardian Fund (CGF) are exclusively charitable and educational:
- To help abused and neglected children through support of the Florida 12th Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem (GAL) program
- To develop and manage resources that will help fill the special needs of, and provide developmental enrichment for, abused, abandoned and neglected children in the GAL program or former GAL children transitioning to independent living
- To assist with recruiting, training, and retention of GAL program volunteers
- To promote public awareness and encourage community support for the needs of abused, abandoned and neglected children in the GAL program
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Where does my financial support go?
I. Normalcy and enrichment
The Children’s Guardian Fund (CGF) provides for the unmet and special needs of abused and neglected children who become dependents of the state. Sometimes the children are removed from their homes in the middle of the night with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Many of them have never had their own birthday cake, book or stuffed animal.
Upon request from the volunteer Guardians ad Litem (GALs), CGF provides hundreds of children with specific items or experiences like summer camp or music/art/sports lessons that enhance a child’s self-esteem, build self-confidence and provide time spent in a constructive, healthy environment. The need may be seemingly small and simple, like a prom dress or soccer cleats, or as significant as required materials for vocational school. What matters is that each response is to a particular child's physical and emotional well-being.
The amount budgeted by CGF for these expenses for 2009-2010 is $70,000--an average of $65 per child per year. We hope eventually to do much more for these children than our current funding allows.
II. Provide a voice for every child
Even more important than the allocation of funds to help with “normalcy,” the Children’s Guardian Fund (CGF) is committed to the goal that no child go to court or through the child welfare system without a personal advocate. The Guardian ad Litem (GAL) program provides professional legal representation for each case and on-the-job supervision and support for the guardians, and recruits, trains and provides continuing education for volunteers. Currently more than 100 children in the 12th Judicial Circuit have no GAL – no one to hear their stories, to investigate their needs, to help break their downward spirals as they struggle to grow up.
CGF must raise an additional $105,000 in 2008-2009 toward our continuing effort to provide a voice for every child.
III. Bridge to the Future/Next Step
The newest programs of the CGF advocate for youths in need of extra support as they find themselves aging out of care and transitioning to self-sufficient adults. Children ‘graduating’ from foster homes have a far higher rate of homelessness, incarceration and unemployment than the population as a whole. Funds raised for this at-risk group might go toward housing and utility deposits; bus passes, gas cards or bikes; and clothing specific to a first job: uniforms, dress clothes, etc.
In addition, Next Step was founded as a trio-team mentoring organization, which has now also developed a peer tutoring program.
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What is a Guardian ad Litem?
A Guardian ad Litem is a volunteer appointed by the court to protect the rights and advocate the best interests of a child involved in a court proceeding primarily as a result of alleged abuse or neglect.
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Do I have the qualifications needed to advocate for a child?
If you are concerned for the well-being of children and have a continuing commitment to advocate for a child until a safe and permanent home is obtained – you will be an effective Guardian ad Litem (GAL).
If you are objective and nonjudgmental and are able to interact with people of various educational, economic and ethnic backgrounds – you will be an effective GAL.
Any person 19 years or older with a clear background check is qualified.
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Do I need to be an attorney to be a Volunteer Guardian ad Litem?
No. Anyone with common sense, compassion and dedication to children can be a Guardian ad Litem.
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How much time must I commit as a volunteer Guardian ad Litem?
A Guardian ad Litem must successfully complete 30 hours of certification training and six hours annually of recertification training, and spend a minimum of eight to ten hours per month working on the case.
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What is the role of the Guardian ad Litem?
The Guardian ad Litem (GAL) carries out the following activities:
- Investigation: Carries out an objective, systematic examination of the situation, including relevant history, environment, relationships and needs of the child. The GAL interviews family, friends, neighbors and members of the child's school
- Facilitation: Identifies resources and services for the child and facilitates a collaborative relationship between all parties involved in the case, helping to create a situation in which the child's needs are met
- Advocacy: Conveys the best interests of the child to the court and relevant agencies
- Monitoring: Keeps track of whether the orders of the court, as well as the plans of the Department of Children and Families, are carried out
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What are specific Volunteer Guardian ad Litem responsibilities?
- Visit the child and keep the child informed about the court proceedings
- Gather and assess independent information on a consistent basis about the child in order to recommend a resolution that is in the child's best interest
- Review records
- Interview appropriate parties involved in the case, including the child
- Determine whether a permanent plan has been created for the child in accordance with federal and state laws and whether appropriate services are being provided to the child and family
- Submit a signed written report with recommendations to the court on what placement, visitation plan, services and permanent plan are in the best interest of the child
- Attend and participate in court hearings and other related meetings to advocate for a permanent plan which serves the child's best interest
- Maintain complete records about the case, including appointments scheduled, interviews held and information gathered about the child and the child's life circumstances
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What is "best interest"?
Juvenile court judges use the "best interest of the child” standard when making their decisions in child abuse and neglect cases. Child welfare and juvenile court practitioners and scholars have debated the meaning of "best interest of the child" for years. Books have been written on the subject, yet there is still no concise legal definition for this standard. However, physical safety, emotional well-being and permanent placement in a stable and nurturing home environment that fosters the child's healthy growth and development are all factors to be considered by the Guardian ad Litem.
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What types of cases require a Guardian ad Litem?
Children who are under the supervision of the Department of Children and Family and involved in court proceedings require a Guardian ad Litem.
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