Established by statute in 1983, the North Carolina Guardian ad Litem Program has been serving abused and neglected children for more than 30 years. When a petition alleging abuse or neglect of a juvenile is filed in district court, the judge appoints a volunteer Guardian ad Litem advocate and an attorney advocate to provide team representation to the child—and this team has full party status in trial and appellate proceedings. All Guardian ad Litem advocates are trained, supervised, and supported by program staff in each county of the state. The collaborative model of GAL attorney advocates, volunteers, and staff ensures that all North Carolina children who are alleged by the Division of Social Services to have been abused or neglected receive GAL legal advocacy services.
Though each case is unique, GALs donate approximately eight hours each month to perform their statutorily mandated duties. They visit child-clients, conduct interviews, read reports, monitor court orders, collaborate with service providers, formulate fact-based child-focused court reports with recommendations, and may testify in court hearings.
Volunteer Responsibilities:
- Digging for details in the case
- Collaborating with other participants in the case
- Recommending what’s best for a child by writing court reports
- Empowering the child’s voice
- Staying vigilant by constantly monitoring the case
- Keeping all information confidential
Requirements:
The main qualification for becoming a GAL is to have a sincere concern for the well-being of children. There are no education or experience requirements. There are a few things we do request prior to volunteers beginning with us:
- Completion of online application
- Informal interview
- Background checks
- Completion of 30-hour GAL training
Skills Required:
- Good written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills
- Ability to engage with children in an age-appropriate manner about difficult topics
- Time management skills
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Professional demeanor
Attire:
- Attire for this volunteer position is typically casual unless in court.
Location:
- Guardian ad Litem District 28 Office, 43 College Place Suite 204, Asheville NC 28801
Health and Safety:
- Masks are optional in our office and hand sanitizer is available onsite.
To express interest in this volunteer opportunity, simply
- Click the blue "respond" button above to secure your spot and receive next step instructions from our organization
- Please DO NOT SHOW UP IF YOU DID NOT RESPOND!
Hands On Asheville-Buncombe is not responsible for opportunities managed by partner agencies. If you are onsite at a volunteer opportunity and don't feel safety guidelines are being followed, please connect with onsite project organizers and if not addressed, please let us know by emailing info@handsonasheville.org.
