TALLAHASSEE — The Guardian ad Litem Program has exceeded its goal of more than 10,000 volunteers.
In Okaloosa County, the Guardian ad Litem Program's dedicated Child Advocacy teams, which include members of a dedicated and diverse group of Volunteer Child Advocates, provide a critical voice for more than 340 of Northwest Florida's most vulnerable citizens.
Bryan Carter, director for the First Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program, credits the program's success to the partnership of community advocates and professional staff coming together to make a difference for abused, abandoned and neglected children.
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Carter said, "It's about coming together as that proverbial village to create a better future for our children. With 56 newly certified Volunteer Child Advocates joining the First Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program since January, we are working diligently towards a time when every abused, abandoned or neglected child can realize a brighter day and a safe and permanent home – all because someone cared enough to make it happen."
Florida GAL Executive Director Alan Abramowitz, recently revealed that the state's GAL program has exceeded its goal of 10,000 volunteers who advocate for abused, neglected and abandoned children in courts throughout the state. Abramowitz made the announcement in recapping the agency's success during the recently adjourned Florida Legislative Session. Although most states have a GAL Program of some kind, Florida's success in recruiting volunteers sets the record for the nation.
Abramowitz reported that a count of total volunteers at the end of February 2016 reveals that 10,056 Florida GAL citizen volunteers are trained and certified to work with children who are removed from their parents due to safety concerns. Most volunteers represent two or more abused children, visiting them at least once a month, and advising child welfare judges on options for assuring the child's best interests.
"Our dedicated volunteers are the heart and soul of the GAL Program," Abramowitz said. "They speak for vulnerable, innocent children and hold government and private sector agencies accountable for their safety, security and best interests. Our volunteers receive nothing in return but the knowledge that they are making a difference in the lives of children."
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Florida leads nation with Guardian ad Litem volunteers