Guardian Ad Litem Program
Thank you for your interest in the Guardian ad Litem Program and advocacy for abused, abandoned, and neglected children.
What is a Guardian ad Litem?
A Guardian ad Litem is an advocate for a child whose welfare is a matter of concern for the court. In legal terms, it means "guardian for the lawsuit". When the court is making decisions that will affect a child's future, the child needs and deserves a spokesperson - an objective adult to provide independent information about the best interests of the child. While other parties in the case are concerned about the child, the Guardian ad Litem is the only person in the case whose sole concern is the best interests of the child, and he or she is assigned as an advocate for the child for the duration of the court process.
Different from a legal guardian, the Guardian ad Litem has no control over the person or property of the child and does not provide a home for the child. The Guardian ad Litem does not function as the child's attorney and does not provide direct services to the child.
State Agency Initiative
The State Agency Initiative is a collaboration between 18 state agencies and 3 community partners that have come together in an effort to share resources and educate both state agency employees and the community at large about the need for Guardian ad Litem Volunteers. Each of the partners has committed to working with the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office to support the goal of 100% representation for abused and abandoned children who are involved in the child welfare system through no fault of their own.
We are trying to get more agencies and communities partners in your local area.
Office of the Child Advocate
The main objective of the Office is to connect our communities and empower families so we can strengthen children and prevent them from ever entering into foster care as a result of child abuse and neglect. If we fail to accomplish this, then our primary focus is to make certain that a child’s time in our foster care system is as temporary as possible.
The Guardian ad Litem Foundation
The Florida Guardian ad Litem Foundation works to support the Guardian ad Litem Program through private fund raising. Currently, the Guardian ad Litem Program represents abused and neglected children, but are still in need of the voice in court. A guardian ad litem can provide that voice. Through financial support, the Guardian ad Litem Foundation is helping to create a new reality – where every abused, abandoned and neglected child has a voice in court through their guardian ad litem.
Become a Pro-Bono Attorney and Give a Voice to a Child
Fostering Independence matches a teen in foster care with a guardian ad litem team, consisting of a pro bono attorney, a case coordinator and a program attorney. As a pro bono attorney, you will represent the teen’s best interests as the guardian ad litem after completing an eight-hour training by viewing DVD's that can be checked out and taken home or viewed on the GAL website.
Other pro bono opportunities with the GAL Program include representing the child in a regular attorney-client relationship as the attorney ad litem and assisting the GAL Program using your area of expertise, including special education, probate, guardianship, appeals, or immigration
 Volunteer:
Guardian ad Litem: Great Challenges Can Bring Great Reward
Requirements:
- Be at least 19 years old.
- Complete and submit an application and photo identification to the program in your area. Click the E-Mail button at the top of the page to send your application directly to the Program. You can also fill out the application on-line and print or save to your computer.
- Sign a release for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Florida Criminal History Check, which is required by statute. (Individuals with a criminal record of a felony, a judicial finding of guilt for a crime against a person, or history of abuse or neglect of a child or adult are ineligible for the program).
- Provide two written character references.
- Interview with local program director.
- Successfully complete 30 hours of training, including classroom lecture and courtroom observation.
- Sign the Code of Conduct.
- Successfully complete 6 hours of training annually.
- Sign the Code of Conduct.
- In-service training form.
- Be a member in good standing with the Florida Bar Association.
- Complete and submit application and photo identification to the program in your area.
- Recertification:
- Successfully complete 6 hours of court-approved training every three years.
Download the application. Click the E-Mail button at the top of the page to send your application directly to the Program. You can also fill out the application on-line and print or save to your computer.
Local Programs — Circuit Offices
Federal, state and local government agencies, non-profit and faith-based organizations, private foundations and corporations are working together to support the efforts of the Guardian ad Litem program.
The Guardian ad Litem Program is a network of professional staff and community advocates, partnering to provide a strong voice in court and positive systemic change on behalf of abused and neglected children.
Locate your local program office by selecting your county on the map or from the list below.
Click the E-Mail button at the top of the page to send your application directly to the Program.You can also fill out the application on-line and print or save to your computer and send the completed application to your local program.
The Guardian ad Litem Program is able to represent thousands of children with the help of volunteers. Program volunteers donate countless hours to the children they represent. The unique perspective of volunteers, and their often creative solutions, are highly valued by dependency court judges.
Application Process
The Program will use the information on this form to assess your qualifications to serve as a volunteer guardian ad litem and conduct a security background investigation, including a criminal records check. Please read the directions carefully and complete all sections of this form as thoroughly as possible. When you complete the application, please return it along with a copy of your driver’s license or photo I.D. and two completed reference forms. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office.
Volunteering Your Time to Change Children's Lives
Volunteers are everyday citizens judges appoint to advocate for the safety and well-being of children who are victims of parental abuse and neglect. They stand up for these children and change their lives.
What do CASA volunteers do?
CASA volunteers listen first. Then they act.
Volunteers get to know the child and talk with everyone in that child's life—parents and relatives, foster parents, teachers, medical professionals, attorneys, social workers and others. They use the information they gather to inform judges and others of what the child needs and what will be the best permanent home for them.
What does it take to be a CASA volunteer?
Being a CASA volunteer does not require any special education or background. You must pass a background check, participate in a 30-hour pre-service training course and agree to stay with a case until it is closed (a year and a half on average). Read more about the requirements and role of being a CASA volunteer.
Interested in helping children but not ready to commit to becoming a volunteer advocate? Learn about other volunteer opportunities.
Are you ready to stand up for a child who needs you?
Find a CASA program near you and inquire about becoming a volunteer.
Ways to Give
 Most young people have at least one adult they can rely on, someone who’s always there to listen to them, to watch them, to help them successfully navigate the world. For most kids, parents do that. For others, it’s a grandparent, a special aunt, a favorite uncle. A reliable adult who looks out for their best interest–that’s something every child deserves.
For many kids living in foster care, this is the very thing that’s missing.
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers are adults from every walk of life who step up to fill this role. Appointed by a judge to be the independent eyes and ears of the court, a CASA volunteer watches over and advocates for a child until the child is placed in a safe, permanent home.
CASA volunteers watch. They listen. They have a full picture of a child’s needs, hopes and best interests. CASA volunteers show up consistently and speak out powerfully on behalf of our young people living in foster care.
You help make it possible by supporting National CASA.
It is safe and secure. The money you give will strengthen our network and help provide strong advocacy for every child who needs it.
You may also donate by mail (24KB PDF).
National CASA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your gifts are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.
Questions? Please call donor relations at (800) 628-3233, ext. 263, or email donate@nationalcasa.org.
Other Ways to Give
Corporate Support
Learn about making a donation from your company, becoming a corporate sponsor and other support opportunities for businesses.
Shop to Advocate
Explore special offers from corporate partners and retail supporters in which a portion of product sales benefit the CASA mission.
Champions for Children
Join a group of special National CASA donors creating hope for abused and neglected children.
Bequests and Planned Gifts
Leave a legacy of better futures for children by making a planned gift to National CASA.
Workplace Giving & Matching Gifts
Double the impact of your donation to National CASA through your company's matching gift program.
Stocks & Securities
Find out how to donate stocks and other securities to support National CASA's work.
Become a Member
Show your commitment by joining National CASA with an annual membership.
Donate Now
You can make a difference by using this form to make a secure, tax-deductible donation that will fund our work advocating for abused and neglected children. The median cost to provide a CASA volunteer to one child is $1,070 per year. That's just $89 per month.
$50, $100, $250, $500, $1,070 or any amount you can give will help give a child a voice.
If you prefer to donate by mail, please download this form (PDF, 24KB). For more information about what your gift can help us achieve, please contact us at (800) 628-3233, ext. 263, or email donate@nationalcasa.org.
Individual Membership
Becoming a member of National CASA allows you to support the organization's work even if you don't have the time to volunteer (more about volunteering). With your minimum gift of $45, you join others who are changing children’s lives. National CASA members receive:
- A one-year subscription to Connection magazine and Powerful Voice newsletter, official publications of National CASA that keep you in the loop on the successes, challenges and key issues facing our volunteer advocates and the children they represent
- The opportunity to help shape the future of the National CASA Association by helping elect members of the board of directors
- A substantial member discount on registration fees to the annual National CASA conference
You can use this online form to become a member of National CASA, supporting our advocacy for abused children nationwide. If you prefer, you may
print a form
(PDF, 641KB) to send your membership information by mail. For questions, email
donate@nationalcasa.org
or call Resource Development at 800-628-3233.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Guardian ad Litem is a volunteer appointed by the court to protect the rights and advocate the best interests of a child involved in a court proceeding. The volunteer Guardian ad Litem makes independent recommendations to the court by focusing on the needs of each child. The Guardian ad Litem advocates for the best interests of the child they represent.
A Volunteer Guardian ad Litem is an individual who is appointed by the court to advocate for children who come into the court system primarily as a result of alleged abuse or neglect. Volunteer Guardians ad Litem are:
- Individuals who respects a child's inherent right to grow up with dignity in a safe environment that meets that child's best interests.
- Individuals who assures that the child's best interests are represented in the court at every stage of the case.
If you are concerned for the well being of children and a have continuing commitment to advocate for a child until a safe and permanent home is obtained — you will be an effective Guardian ad Litem.
If you are objective and non judgmental and are able to interact with people of various educational, economic and ethnic backgrounds — you will be an effective Guardian ad Litem.
No. Anyone with common sense, compassion and dedication to children can be a Guardian ad Litem.
A Guardian ad Litem must successfully complete 30 hours of certification training and 6 hours annually of re certification training, and spend an average of 10 hours per month working on the case (as with any average, some cases will involve more time, and some less time).
The Guardian ad Litem carries out the following activities:
- : Carries out an objective, systematic examination of the situation, including relevant history, environment, relationships, and needs of the child. The GAL interviews family, friends, neighbors and members of the child's school.
- Facilitation: Identifies resources and services for the child and facilitates a collaborative relationship between all parties involved in the case, helping to create a situation in which the child's needs are met.
- Advocacy: Conveys the best interests of the child to the court and relevant agencies.
- Monitoring: Keeps track of whether the orders of the court, as well as the plans of the Department of Children and Families, are carried out.
- Visits the child and keeps the child informed about the court proceedings;
- Gathers and assesses independent information on a consistent basis about the child in order to recommend a resolution that is in the child's best interest;
- Reviews records;
- Interviews appropriate parties involved in the case, including the child;
- Determines whether a permanent plan has been created for the child in accordance with federal and state laws and whether appropriate services are being provided to the child and family;
- Submits a signed written report with recommendations to the court on what placement, visitation plan, services, and permanent plan are in the best interest of the child;
- Attends and participates in court hearings and other related meetings to advocate for a permanent plan, which serves the child's best interest;
- Maintains complete records about the case, including appointments scheduled, interviews held, and information gathered about the child and the child's life circumstances.
Juvenile court judges use the "best interest of the child” standard when making their decisions in child abuse and neglect cases. Child welfare and juvenile court practitioners and scholars have debated the meaning of "best interest of the child" for years. Books have been written on the subject; however, there is still no concise legal definition for this standard. However, physical safety, emotional well-being, permanent placement in a stable and nurturing home environment that fosters the child's healthy growth and development are all factors to be considered by the Guardian ad Litem.
Fill out the application, click the e-mail button to send directly to the Program, or send to your local office.
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