Guardian ad Litem volunteers serve as advocates for abused, neglected children

Bianca Moorman, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·3 min read

Dec. 31—When Courtney Freeman moved to Aiken in 2019, she wanted to do something in which she could work with children.

A Christmas special on TV about kids needing adoption is what sparked her interest to become a Guardian ad Litem volunteer.

"I didn't feel like our family was being called to adoption or even fostering children, but I knew I was being called to do something," Freeman said.

Freeman is one of many volunteers with the Guardian ad Litem program and serves as an advocate for abused and neglected children in Aiken and other counties in South Carolina.

Founded in 1984 by Cass Elias McCarter, the program was established in South Carolina as a way to protect children through advocacy. The program is made up of volunteers and falls under the South Carolina Department of Children's Advocacy.

The first Guardian ad Litem program was established in Marlboro County in 2010. Any child in South Carolina who has been abused and neglected is appointed a Guardian ad Litem volunteer.

In total there are 1,300 volunteers in South Carolina and 40 in Aiken County. Volunteers serve in each role in a child's life, including school, home and other daily activities.

Volunteers serve as a child's permanent guardian until they are placed in a stable or permanent home environment. The long-term goal is reuniting a child with their family.

"Putting them in a safe, permanent home is always the goal," Guardian ad Litem program coordinator II Iseral Johnson said.

Freeman said she joined the program after doing some research and realized it was something she could do for families in Aiken County.

In order to be a volunteer applicants must pass two background checks: one with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SELD) and South Carolina Division of Social Services (DDS). Volunteers also have to complete 30 hours of training, make time to be with the child(ren) and be able to attend court sessions.

A Guardian ad Litem volunteer is not a typical volunteer experience because each day or week is different. Freeman said a typical week would involve her communicating with a family via text going to court every three to six months.

"It's not an overly time-consuming role," she said.

Johnson said volunteers are appointed to serve the best interest of a child and make recommendations to a judge.

Based on a volunteer's recommendations, a child will either be reunited with the family or continue to be placed with a Guardian ad Litem volunteer.

Johnson said with an increase in child advocacy cases, there has been an increased need for Guardian ad Litem volunteers. In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic and people leaving because of illness and other issues, Aiken County went from having 98 volunteers to 40, Johnson said.

Johnson said the program has hired recruitment specialists, but some people are still unaware of what a Guardian ad Litem is.

"The difficult part is making the community aware that we are here," she said.

Johnson said volunteers can take more than one case or several multiple children in one family. She said even with the low numbers, the program makes sure each child has a volunteer.

Freeman said she continues to volunteer because of the children in DSS who need care every week and are waiting for permanency.

"I get to watch kids be reunited with parents, watch them find refuge in the safety of aunts/uncles/grandparents, and sometimes even find a forever home with foster parents that have loved them for a long time,"she said. "Watching families be reunited or created is a joy!"

Those interested in becoming a volunteer can contact Aiken County regional recruiter/trainer at 803-206-0640 or Lindsey.Loparo@childadvocate.sc.gov. Also people can visit https://gal.sc.gov/volunteer.html.