CRESTVIEW — "My passion is to give children a voice,” Carita Smith, Guardian Ad Litem in Okaloosa and Walton Counties’ volunteer recruitment coordinator, said.
The Guardian Ad Litem Program, which represents victims of child abuse, neglect and abandonment in the court system, held its annual "Forgotten Child" Ceremony April 30 at Twin Hills Park. The event raises awareness of the need for this program’s volunteers. Attorneys, coordinators and Crestview area residents, including Guardian volunteers, threw flowers into the water to reflect on children still waiting for help.
“This event is very important to me," said Smith, the event coordinator, who has been with the program for six years and coordinates the Forgotten Child ceremony.
Many local students participated in the ceremony. Crestview High’s JROTC Color Guard presented the flags. Young students gave the welcome and invocation; they also sang and played the National Anthem.
Bob Sikes Elementary School students created the banner for the ceremony. Toni Taylor, who has been teaching in the Okaloosa County Head Start program for 25 years, performed a solo. Smith and student Mahari Bass presented a special song and dance.
One of the guest speakers at the ceremony was Dr. Anna May, a volunteer child advocate with Guardian Ad Litem. She spoke of the need for more volunteers for the program.
Also speaking at the ceremony was Bryan H. Carter, the Guardian Ad Litem circuit director for the First Judicial District. The district covers Okaloosa, Escambia, Santa Rosa and Walton counties. Carter works with all of the staff and volunteers to advocate for children in court.
"Our primary focus is on the child. A volunteer stays with the child throughout the court case. We work closely with the Department of Child and Families. There are currently 505 children in Okaloosa County under court supervision. Guardian Ad Litem currently works with 420 of those children," Carter said.
The ceremony concluded with attendees throwing flowers into the water. This symbolized children who do not have a volunteer from the Guardian Ad Litem program in the court system.
The Guardian Ad Litem Volunteer program provides training and certification by judges. Contact Carita Smith, 689-5060 or Carita.Smith@gal.fl.gov, to volunteer.
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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 'Our primary focus is on the child'