The Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Program held a swearing-in ceremony recently for volunteer child advocates that will volunteer in Harnett, Lee and Johnston Counties. The volunteers completed the required advocate training and the Honorable Chief District Court Judge Jacquelyn Lee administered the GAL Volunteer Oath.
Pictured from left to right: GAL Attorney Advocate Marie Mobley, Emily McPherson, Hannah Allison, Kelly Aiello, Parker Watson, William Yates, Bridgette Beeson and Judge Lee. Each of the volunteers are students in a variety of different programs at Campbell College.
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 and there are children in need of an advocate to help them through this difficult time in their life. They need a voice to speak up for them. The program will be offering a training class starting January 24th. If you think this is something you’d like to do, please go to www.volunteerforgal.org to complete the application as soon as possible.
Please contact the Guardian ad Litem program at 910-814-4690 or 919-209-5550 if you have questions.
