S.C. Needs Guardian Ad Litem Volunteers in Upstate
Observer Reports
A child enters Family Court because something essential has failed. A home has become unsafe, neglect has accumulated, abuse has been reported, or the people charged with protection have been unable to provide it. The resulting case can involve judges, lawyers, social workers, foster families, schools, doctors and relatives and can also involve a child who has little control over the adults deciding what happens next.
The South Carolina Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem Program is looking for volunteers willing to stand beside those children.
Its next free virtual training class begins Sept. 15, and applications are due Sept. 1. The program is seeking adults from the Upstate and across South Carolina to serve as Guardians ad Litem — court-appointed advocates for children navigating Family Court after allegations of abuse or neglect.
The work is not glamorous, and it does not require a law degree. It requires the more difficult qualities of attention, patience and follow-through.
A volunteer Guardian ad Litem investigates a child’s circumstances, learns what is happening in the child’s life, tracks progress as a case unfolds and provides an independent recommendation to the court about what will best serve that child. The central question is both ordinary and enormous: What will give this child a safe, permanent and stable home?
“Children who have experienced abuse or neglect need caring adults to stand beside them and ensure their voices are heard,” said Erin Riddle Petrella, the program’s regional recruiter and trainer for the Upstate in a news release. “Our volunteers play a vital role in helping judges make informed decisions that are in the best interests of the children we serve.”
Family Court cases often move through a landscape that can be confusing even to adults. A child may be removed from home, placed with relatives or foster parents, reunited with family, or wait while courts and agencies determine what should happen next. Each case contains reports, hearings, deadlines and competing accounts of what is best.
The Guardian ad Litem’s role is to remain focused on the child.
Volunteers are appointed by Family Court and stay with a case from the time a child enters the system until that child reaches permanency — whether through reunification, adoption, guardianship or another stable arrangement. They receive specialized initial training, ongoing support and continuing education from the program.
The commitment can matter because children in crisis often encounter a procession of professionals whose roles are necessary but temporary. A Guardian ad Litem may become one of the few adults consistently following the child’s story from one court date to the next, asking questions, observing circumstances and ensuring that the child is not reduced to a file number or a paragraph in a report.
“An ordinary person has the power to make an extraordinary difference in the life of a child,” Riddle Petrella said.
The program does not require legal training, professional social-work experience or a background in child welfare. It is looking for adults willing to learn the system and carry the responsibility seriously.
Applicants must:
• Be at least 21 years old.
• Pass a comprehensive criminal-background check.
• Have no prior history with the South Carolina Department of Social Services.
The September training is free and will be conducted virtually, with both morning and evening sessions intended to accommodate volunteers who work during conventional business hours.
The request is for volunteers who will be prepared to pay close attention when a child’s safety, stability and future are being decided by institutions that can sometimes feel distant from the life of the person at the center of the case.
Interested volunteers can apply or find more information at gal.sc.gov. Upstate residents may also contact Riddle Petrella at 864-381-3725 or Erin.Petrella@childadvocate.sc.gov.
