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often unheard and their best interests overlooked in the overburdened system. These abused children need adults to speak up on their behalf. That adult could be you, a volunteer Guardian Ad Litem. The Guardian Ad Litem volunteer (GAL) speaks out for the best interests of the child in the following ways:

Interviewer:The GAL interviews people currently involved with the child as well as those involved with the child at the time of the alleged abuse. For example the GAL may speak to counselors, physical and mental health care professionals, school personnel, day care providers, caretakers, law enforcement officers, church personnel and relatives of the child. Information gathered from these various sources is presented to the court in the form of a written report.

Monitor:The GAL monitors agencies and persons who provide services to the child by assuring that Court Orders are carried out and that children in need receive the help they deserve.

Protector The GAL acts to protect the child from insensitive questioning and the possible harmful effects of being caught up in the court process.

Spokesperson The GAL presents the child’s wishes to the Court from any one of the five Counties in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit.

Qualifications: A Guardian has common sense, good judgment, is at least 19 years old, makes application, passes two screening interviews, completes training and has a clear criminal history background. Guardian Ad Litem do not have to be lawyers, counselors, or parents because those are not roles the GAL performs for the child.

The following article from the Naples Daily News provides some in site into some of what the average Guardian Ad Litem does for these abused children.

By JUITH LESTER jdlester@naplesnews.com
Naples Daily News 5/12/2000

After nearly a dozen years, a small group of volunteers has grown into a collection of people who are educated to give a voice to those in Collier County who cannot speak for themselves.
Volunteers in the Guardian Ad Litem program represent children in judicial proceedings who feel traumatized, rejected, isolated or separated after being removed from their families because of abuse or neglect.
“I wanted to give back some of what I have enjoyed,” said Earl McCoun, a retired Naples businessman who volunteers for the Guardian Ad Litem program.
Guardians must be at least 19 and have undergone screenings and background checks, show common sense and judgment and have no criminal history. These adults monitor anyone who has access to the children, keeping them safe from insensitive questioning and harmful actions.
They are information gatherers, interviewing anyone involved in the children’s lives including but not limited to counselors, teachers, physicians, day-care providers, law enforcement officials and relatives.
Courts listen carefully to guardians when they present their written reports.