Empower Child's : Volunteer Guardian ad Litem Advocate Waterbury Region

Overview

Children in Placement is a 501(c)3 non-profit that has been helping the children of Connecticut since 1979. We strive to be Connecticut’s recognized leader and, in this role, bring awareness, partnerships, resources and systemic policy changes supporting children and youth in accessing the supports they need to develop and eventually become successful adults.

Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Volunteer Opportunity

Thousands of abused, neglected, and abandoned children become the subject of judicial proceedings each year in Connecticut. Their voices are often unheard, and their best interests overlooked in the court process.

• Serve as a friend of the court, acting on behalf of children in protective state custody, with the goal of reducing the time these children await permanent placement.
• When assigned a case, provide a thorough investigation to determine what is best for the child(ren) by interviewing the child, parents and other family members, social workers, therapists, doctors, and educators.
• Make appropriate recommendations to the court based on a complete understanding of the situation.

• All GAL advocates are extensively trained, supervised and supported by the Children in Placement team to provide the best tools to support these children in state welfare.
• They are required to complete 40 hours of intensive training, with a 12-hour follow-up annually.
• Volunteers are assigned one case and remain with the case until it is closed and final placement is found for the child(ren).

GALs are essential in ensuring that a child’s best interests are heard by the court and provide a support system and a trusting adult figure for children who may not have such advocacy.

Our GAL volunteers are dedicated to reducing the time Connecticut's abused and neglected children spend in the welfare system and to helping them find a safe, stable and permanent home where they can flourish.

This depends on the complexity of the assigned case. On average, volunteers spend approximately 2-5 hours per month working on a case.