Recently the Guardian ad Litem Program had a swearing-in for volunteer child advocates in Johnston County. The volunteers completed the required advocate training and the Honorable District Court Judge Paul A. Holcombe III, administered the GAL Volunteer Oath. Pictured from left to right: Judge Holcombe, volunteers Ogletha Justice, Melanie Klem, Krystal Clark, Tina Curran, Jeffra Patton, Cynthia Stockley and Marie Mobley, Attorney Advocate for Johnston County.
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.
District 11 serves Harnett, Johnston, and Lee Counties. Currently there are 392 children in the District 11 GAL Program and 113 children that are in need of an advocate to help them through this difficult time in their life. They need a voice to speak up for them. If this is something you’d like to do, contact the Guardian ad Litem Program at 910-814-4690 or 919-934-3348.
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