Page 32 - Robeson Living Summer 2020
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Be a Voice in Robeson County
“Volunteerism is the voice of the people put into action. These actions shape and mold the present into
a future of which we can all be proud.” – Helen Dyer, American Biochemist and Researcher
The pride of any community is its children. The Guardian ad 7B-601, when a petition alleging abuse or neglect of a juvenile
Litem (GAL) program provides a special kind of service-mind- is filed in district court, the judge appoints a volunteer GAL
ed citizen with the opportunity to be a Volunteer Advocate who advocate and an attorney advocate to provide team representa-
shapes and molds our community’s present and future by being tion to the child, who has full party status in trial and appellate
a voice for the best interest of abused and neglected children. proceedings. All GAL advocates are trained, supervised, and
Robeson County’s GAL Volunteer Advocates help children supported by program staff in each county of the state includ-
achieve a safe, stable, and loving home-life which not only ing Robeson. The collaborative model of GAL attorney advo-
benefits the child but, ultimately, improves Robeson County cates, volunteers, and staff ensures all children alleged by the
one family at a time. But what does it mean to ‘be a voice’ as Robeson County Department of Social Services to be abused
a GAL Volunteer Advocate? or neglected receive GAL legal advocacy services. The role of
Guardian ad Litem advocates is to:
In 1983, the North Carolina General Assembly established the
Office of Guardian ad Litem Services as a division of the North • Fulfill state and federal statutory mandates to protect and pro-
Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts. Pursuant to G.S. mote the best interests of juveniles in abuse and neglect court
Page 32 Robeson Living ~ Summer 2020
