District 22 A & B- Iredell, Alexander, Davie, and Davidson Counties
What you give of yourself is priceless...
Oprah Winfrey
What is a Guardian ad Litem? •A GAL is a trained volunteer who is appointed by a district court judge, and is paired with an Attorney Advocate to ensure that the child's rights & best interests are before the court. •The GAL is the only person whose sole task is to focus on the best interest of the child. What are the qualifications? • A sincere concern for the well-being of children. •You must pass a criminal background check. •You should be able to commit about 8-15 hours a month to working on your assigned case. For more information about the role of a GAL, read “Duties of the Volunteer”.
•Ad Litem means "this litigation" or "for this case". The GAL is appointed to represent the child only for the duration of the Court's involvement and does not serve as the child's legal guardian.
•The GAL serves as the child’s voice in Court. Duties include exploring all facts relevant to the case, making recommendations to the Court, and monitoring the case so that it will move through the Court and Social Services systems without unnecessary delays.
For more more information about the role of a GAL, read FAQ's
•You must be objective and non-judgmental and be able to interact with people of various educational, economic and ethnic backgrounds.
•You must complete 30 hours of training to ensure that you are ready to carry out your role as an informed and knowledgeable child advocate.
•There is no special education or experience required to be a Guardian ad Litem.
What does a GAL do?
•A Guardian ad Litem investigates, writes reports, speaks to the judge, and testifies in court. This requires about 8-10 hours per month.
•The GAL has a great responsibility to protect a child from further victimization by placing the child in perhaps multiple, unfamiliar and temporary placements.
•The child needs someone to advocate quickly for a safe and permanent home. In the end, a Guardian ad Litem enjoys the undeniable personal fulfillment of ensuring that a child is not forgotten.
BE THE VOICE OF A CHILD...
We need more caring volunteers to ensure that all abused & neglected children have a court appointed GAL to advocate for their best interests.
Call our office at (704) 878-4208 for more information.
Each year, thousands of children in
Often these children become re-victimized by an overburdened child welfare system... a complex legal network of lawyers, social workers, and Judges who frequently do not have the time to give thorough, detailed attention to each child who comes before them.
The North Carolina GAL Program was created in 1983 under the Administrative Office of the Courts to make sure that the abuse and neglect these children originally suffered is not compounded by the system created to serve them.
For more than 20 years, the Guardian as Litem program has made a difference in the lives of children who need protection, encouragement, and hope that their voices will be heard.
How to become a Guardian ad Litem:
•Call The Guardian ad Litem office at 704-878-4208
•We will send you an application & return it to the GAL office.
•Our office will schedule an interview with you, review your application and references, conduct a background check.
•Potential volunteers complete a fun and flexible 30 hours of training and are then sworn in by a judge.
•Upon accepting your first case, you will be assigned a mentor to assist you in your first few cases, and will ensure you are fully capable of handling a case on your own. Our Program Supervisors are a constant help to you there after.
•You may also download an Information Packet as well as an application and mail it to our office at:
Statesville, NC 28677
