What happens when a child is reported as abused, neglected, or abandoned? A phone call has been made and the Department of Children and Families is directed to remove that child from an unsafe situation. The parent may have become abusive, or perhaps, due to drugs, has become negligent. The child could also have been abandoned by his/her parents. The reasons for abuse, abandonment or neglect are many.
But what happens to this child?
The law states that a shelter hearing must be held within 24 hours. Most likely this child will be later "adjudicated dependent"...put in the care of the judicial system until a final outcome of reunification with a parent or termination of parental rights has occurred. This process takes months. How scary this must be for someone so young and vulnerable!
Here is where we in the community can help. The Guardian ad Litem Program was established by the State of Florida to help assist the courts in determining the best interests of a child. The guardian ad litem is a volunteer who has been certified by the Florida Supreme Court to represent the best interests of children in abuse, neglect, or abandonment cases.
BE A GUARDIAN!Each day in Northwest Florida there are thousands of abused, abandoned and neglected children who need volunteers to speak for them. They need you! If you can give just a few hours each month, you can be a child's only voice. Find out more by reading the Volunteer Description!
Ready to apply to be a Guardian ad Litem Volunteer? Complete the GAL Volunteer Application!
DONATE!If you don't have the time to speak for a child, your donation can go directly to meet special needs that these children have which most children would take for granted such as music lessons, travel to visit supportive blood relatives, a tuxedo rental to attend their first school dance... To donate, click DONATE.
If you would like to speak to a real person about the Guardian Ad Litem Program of Northwest Florida, please contact the Circuit Director, Rose Ash at 850-595-3726 or Email Rose
OUR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION!Child Guardians, Inc. is the nonprofit organization, 501(C)(3), available to assist the volunteers who serve in the GAL Program. The Guardian ad Litem Program (GAL) evolved as a state-based program which provides volunteers to advocate for abused, neglected and abandoned children in the court system.
It is the mission of Child Guardians, Inc. to help abused, neglected or abandoned children through support of the Florida First Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program Volunteers and the goal of achieving guardian representation for 100% of the children whose interests are being adjudicated by the courts. We pursue our mission by assisting with the recruitment, training, and retention of the GAL volunteers, and by promoting community awareness. Our efforts are funded through private resources.
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