Guardian ad Litem
The State of Florida mandates that the interests of every abused and neglected child be represented by a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) in court. These volunteer child advocates play a crucial role in fulfilling society's fundamental obligation to protect children. GAL volunteers serve as the voice of the child in court, with the child's best interests as their sole priority. They assist children both inside and outside the courtroom, ensuring that their needs are met by the system, often becoming the only consistent adult in a child’s life.
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In our society, and in all societies worldwide, the responsibility of safeguarding a child’s rights primarily rests with the family—a vital group of individuals who comprise a child’s support system. A family is expected to nurture and provide for its children, guiding them through their customs, beliefs, culture, values, and traditions. However, when a family is unable to fulfill these obligations for any reason, a child often finds themselves in a system that, while filled with caring individuals, is ultimately ill-equipped to manage the volume and complexity of the cases it encounters. On a national scale, a child enters the “child welfare system” every two minutes.
Children in the Guardian ad Litem Program have been removed from their families and homes through no fault of their own. This program is dedicated to ensuring that a qualified and caring adult is present to uphold and protect the rights of children during one of the most vulnerable periods in their lives. GAL volunteers act as their voice in court and exclusively advocate for the best interests of the child.
The Guardian ad Litem Program is essential to fulfilling the most fundamental societal obligation: ensuring that a compassionate adult will fight for and protect a child’s right to safety, dignity, respect, and the opportunity to learn and grow within the loving embrace of a family.
Vision
The Florida Guardian ad Litem Program will represent abused, abandoned, and neglected children in accordance with Florida Statutes, providing proactive, child-centered, trauma-informed advocacy for their best interests, including their legal interests. This will be accomplished through a partnership of community advocates and professional staff.
Core Values
The Program is dedicated to the following Core Values, which should guide the daily advocacy efforts of both volunteers and staff:
Commitment to Children
The children we advocate for are our top priority.
Communication Built on Trust
We foster a culture of open communication, active listening, teamwork, and respect for diverse perspectives. This includes being honest and straightforward with our stakeholders and the children we represent.
Collective Empowerment
Each circuit has the authority and responsibility to make and implement the best decisions and strategies that protect and promote the child's best interests. This empowerment extends to volunteers, staff, and attorneys.
Collaboration
The Program actively seeks to build relationships that enhance the well-being of the whole child, including parents, caregivers, community partners, and others who have a significant relationship with the child.
Courtesy
The Program values every individual involved in this challenging work, treating them with respect and dignity.
Become a Guardian ad Litem
In our community, the number of foster children facing court proceedings is staggering - over 3,200 children each year. At any given time, more than 1,000 kids are waiting for a volunteer advocate to be assigned to them. We are working diligently to help these children navigate the Juvenile Court system and find a permanent home as quickly as possible.