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Governor proclaims Guardian ad Litem Day |
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At the hospital a newborn baby girl is withdrawing from cocaine. Her homeless mother has given birth to two other cocaine-addicted babies. Both were removed from the mother's care because they became severely malnourished.
An 8-year-old deaf child was found unclothed by a relative in the back room of his home. Two known sex offenders were touching him; one was his stepfather. A 10-year-old girl came home from school with a note requesting that she be treated for lice. The child's mother brutally cut the shoulder length hair to the scalp, gashing the girl's head. The girl returned to school in tears with bruises all over her body. Last year 60,687 cases involving 102,168 children in North Carolina were reported to the state's Department of Social Services. Of these cases, 19,512 were substantiated. These included 33,133 children who were physically abused, severely neglected or required dependency. Guardians ad Litem represented 15,627 of these children, promoting their best interest in court proceedings. The hard work of the Guardian ad Litem staff and volunteers is being recognized today (April 6) as the state observes Guardian ad Litem Child Advocate Day. Gov. Jim Hunt proclaimed today as Guardian ad Litem Child Advocate Day to acknowledge the program's work to enhance the quality of life for children by having volunteers act as advocates for abused and neglected children in the complicated and often unfamiliar court and child welfare systems. "Each and every day, volunteers, attorneys and Guardian ad Litem staff face very difficult situations, yet still manage to find the strength to tackle them and do it with competence,² said Ilene Nelson, administrator of the Guardian ad Litem program. "Sometimes this work is done without much thanks or credit, but those involved with the program deserve much of both." Established by the North Carolina Legislature in 1983, the Guardian ad Litem Program provides trained independent volunteer advocates to represent and promote the best interest of abused, neglected or dependent children involved in the court system and works toward a service system that ensures these children are safe. After an initial training program, Guardian ad Litem volunteers are sworn in by the Juvenile Court and work as a team with an attorney advocate. Their recommendations on the child's needs assist the judge in making the best possible decision on the child's future. There are currently 3,660 volunteers across the state representing more than 12,000 children. However, there are still more than 3,000 children who have no volunteer advocate. From the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts Editorial policyThe opinions expressed on this page are those of the Sylva Herald Editorial Committee. Opinions are derived independently and owe no allegiance to any group, organization or political party. We welcome opposing views. |
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