Volunteer to be a voice for children

Video: https://cbs12.com/features/forever-family/forever-family-getting-involved-in-the-guardian-ad-litem-program

Thanks to CBS12 & Liz Quirantes for showing the many ways to help Palm Beach County Foster Children.

Each week CBS12 highlights a child who is looking for a Forever Family, an adoptive family. Beyond those children needing forever families, Liz and CBS12 raise awareness about the need for foster families, volunteer child advocates, and mentors.  

You can volunteer as an advocate to help children navigate the foster system being their voice is a very entangled court system. Imagine being a 9-year old who attends a court hearing about the decisions made for his/her placement and general well-being; how scary would that be!

As a Guardian ad Litem Volunteer Child Advocate, you'll visit your assigned child(ren) at least once every 30 days, you'll have access to court documents, educational, medical, and therapeutic records. You'll get to know the various parties in the case and then make a best interest recommendation regarding the child, addressing all of their needs.

It sounds like a lot but it's easily doable in 10-15 hours a month. Much of the volunteer work can be done in the evenings or weekends, and it's often phone work, so even busy people can find time to help.

To take the next step, call the GAL office at 561-355-6224 or visit www.GALPBC.org.  You'll complete an interview, attend training, go through a thorough background check, and once certified, you'll be on your way to helping a child succeed.