Guardian ad Litem volunteers advocate for children in the court system through no fault of their own. These are youth that have been alleged by the Department of Social Services to have been abused and/or neglected. To help these children move through the court system toward safe, permanent homes, the Guardian ad Litem Program (GAL) trains individual citizens to investigate and determine the needs of these youth. The GAL volunteer is provided support and supervision as they work to advocate for the child’s best interest in court alongside an attorney.
The Guardian ad Litem Program recently had a swearing-in for volunteer child advocates in Johnston County. The volunteers completed the required advocate training and the Honorable District Court Judge Resson O. Faircloth administered the GAL Volunteer Oath. Pictured from left to right: Loretta McNeil (Laurie), SueEllen Smith, Susan Culver, Judge Faircloth, Cheryl Jackson, Nicole Jones and Marie Mobley, Attorney Advocate.
District 11 serves Harnett, Johnston, and Lee Counties and currently there are 367 children in the District 11 GAL Program and 115 children that are waiting for an advocate to help them through this difficult time in their life. If you’d like to be a voice for these children, please contact the Guardian ad Litem program at 910-814-4690 or 919-934-3348. For more information about the program visit www.volunteerforgal.org.
