GAL Mission & Governance
Be a voice for the children in our community
What is our Mission Statement?
The GAL Program must do this to have qualified volunteers to represent the child-clients assigned to the Program.
What is recruitment?
Our Attorney Advocates must demonstrate knowledge and expertise in this area.
What is juvenile law, including a working knowledge of NC Juvenile Code, relevant case law, rules of evidence, family law, criminal law, and federal child welfare law.
We must offer sufficient number of these to ensure that trained guardian ad litem are available to represent each child-client.
What is offer sufficient pre-service trainings?
Supervisors formally do this on an annual basis.
What is evaluate the performance of their employees?
Appointment and duties of guardian ad litem
What is N.C.G.S. 7B-601?
A candidate must have three positive ones of these, but no relatives please.
What are references?
The attorney advocate must do this to facilitate effective paired representation of the child-client.
What is collaborate with the guardian ad litem?
As program staff we should do this to offer our guardian ad litems support and guidance.
What is contacting them on a regular basis (typically monthly)?
The supervisor completes this in the NCVIP system at the end of six months of each year.
What is the mid-year performance review?
The GAL Services Divisions is headed by this person who manages the NC GAL Program as defined by N.C.G.S. 7B-1200 and 7B-1201
Who is the program administrator?
When this happens the GAL DA and Chief District Court Judge must both agree to accept an applicant as appropriate to become a GAL Volunteer.
What is a candidate that is found to have committed a misdemeanor not listed in the exclusions list?
The attorney advocate reviews the guardian ad litem's recommendations to ensure this.
What is legally appropriate and child-focused?
We can ensure continued participation from our guardian ad litem by offering them this.
What is training, support, guidance, and encouragement?
Staff have this duty concerning any personal allegations of abuse or neglect or any criminal charges.
What is a duty to inform their immediate supervisor?
This person provides resources, support, supervision, and direction to local programs.
What is a Regional Administrator? Thanks Carolyn!!
A candidate not selected may request this for up to a year after the decision has been made, but it should never be destroyed.
What is the volunteers file?
They can be provided the application and public documents obtained but not the interview notes or references.
Our attorney advocates can do this to Review a case when necessary if it is in the best interest of the child-client.
What is file a motion?
To adhere to the highest standards of ethical conduct we must focus on the best interest of the child-client and set these aside.
What is personal issues and biases?
All secondary employment must be disclosed and this by the immediate supervisor and the program administrator.
What is approved?
The GAL advocate and this person are jointly appointed to fulfill the duties outlined in N.C.G.S. 7B-601
Who is our attorney advocate?
A volunteer who left the program in good standing a year or longer could be reinstated after these two things are completed.
What is an application and an abbreviated screening interview.
GAL DA may also require them to also complete training in part or in entirety.
At the close of a case or when permanence has been achieved our attorney advocates request this from the court.
What is requesting the guardian ad litem, program staff, and attorney advocate to be released?
When a child-client reaches the age of 18 years old this automatically happens.
What is the GAL appointment ends?
If a complaint is lodged against a guardian ad litem the program staff receiving the complaint must do this immediately.
What is notify the guardian ad litem's immediate supervisor?