★ ★★
GUARDIAN AD LITEM (GAL) PROGRAM
IMPORTANT STATISTICS
FISCAL YEAR 2019-20
Volunteers
5,443 volunteer advocates
522,528 hours of service
$14.2 million saved due to volunteer efforts
Volunteers donate , on average, 8 hours of service monthly.
Independent Sector valued volunteer time during 2019 at
$27.20/
hour
Attorneys
70 paid attorney contractors
125 pro bono attorneys
12 staff attorney advocate positions
33 paid conflict attorneys
Staff
4 regional administrator positions
139 field staff working in 69 offices
8 administrative, training, legal staff positions
28 grant-funded volunteer supervisor
positions
6 grant-funded training, volunteer
recruitment, and support positions
Program Statistics
64,070 child abuse and neglect hearings
17,923 abused and neglected children
received legal representation
185 juvenile appellate cases filed
PARTNERS
National CASA Association
N.C. Bar Association -Juvenile Justice and
Childrens' Rights Section
N.C. Child Fatality Prevention Team
N.C. Child Fatality Task Force
N.C. Collaborative for Children, Youth,
and Families
N.C. Department of Health and Human Services
N.C. Department of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention
N.C. Department of Public Instruction
N.C. Governor's Crime Commission
N.C. Youth Advocacy and Involvement Office
N.C. Office of Indigent Defense Services
Strong Able Youth Speaking Out Inc. (SaySo)
Our Mission
The North Carolina Guardian ad Litem (GAL) program equips community volunteers to serve
abused and neglected children by advocating for their best interests in court.
In 1983, the North Carolina General Assembly established the Office of Guardian ad Litem
Services as a division of the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts. Pursuant to
G.S. 7B-601, when a petition alleging abuse or neglect of a juvenile is filed in district court,
the judge appoints a volunteer GAL advocate and an attorney advocate to provide team
representation to the child, who has full party status in trial and appellate proceedings. All
GAL 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 Department of Social Services to
have been abused or neglected receive GAL legal advocacy services.
The role of Guardian ad Litem advocates is to:
• Fulfill state and federal statutory mandates to protect and promote the best
interests of juveniles in abuse and neglect court proceedings
• Help the courts work efficiently toward safety and permanence for children
• Conduct independent investigations to determine the facts, needs of the child,
and the resources appropriate to meet those needs
• Determine the wishes or expressed preferences of the child and report those
to the court
• Provide a voice for abused and neglected children in every county of the state
PARTNER QUOTE
National Court Appointed Special Advocates
(CASA) Association Tara Perry, CEO —
"We envision a world where every abused or
neglected child has the opportunity to thrive
in a safe and loving home. Our volunteer
advocates champion the child's best interest
in the courtroom and community."
Why Use Volunteers?
When speaking about child victim advocacy in court, the question sometimes arises,
"Why use volunteers?" The short answer is that volunteers are effective. Guardian ad
Litem volunteers provide an independent, unbiased voice for abused and neglected
children. Because they are unpaid, but focus on the child's best interests, their position
in court is unique. The model of co-appointing volunteers and attorneys to speak for
abused and neglected children in court provides strong, competent advocacy for the
children who need it.
in
North Carolina
GUARDIAN AD LITEM
A CHILD’S ADVOCATE IN COURT
Providing trained, independent advocates to represent and promote the best
interests of abused and neglected children in the state court system
