March 16, 2010

Guardian Ad Litem volunteers speak up for children

The program seeks volunteers to cover a critical shortage of guardians throughout the state, particularly in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.

ANNE DIBERNARDO | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Posted: 09.11.09

MIAMI | Looking for a great return on an investment? If you can spare 10 hours per month, the Florida Guardian Ad Litem Program might be just the thing for you.

Ask Gerry Murphy. He retired from a career in sales in 1997 but it wasn’t until five years ago, after a series of near-death experiences or what he calls “medical events,” that he discovered his true calling – helping people who can’t give anything in return.

Murphy, a parishioner at St. Maximilian Kolbe in Pembroke Pines, is one of about 7,000 people who work throughout the state of Florida as a volunteer for Guardian Ad Litem, a state- and county-funded program which advocates in court proceedings for the best interests of children who are alleged to be abused, neglected or abandoned.

Murphy works as a “guardian” for Broward County Guardian Ad Litem, and is chairman of the recruiting committee for the program.

“Catholics have been gifted by God with many blessings and have an obligation to share their gifts with others. Both the archdiocese and the guardian program have a very similar objective – to nourish and protect our kids,” said Murphy.

“Working as an advocate for these kids fulfills me in ways that no other job did,” he added.

The Guardian Ad Litem Program seeks volunteers to cover a critical shortage of guardians throughout the state, particularly in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. There are more than 33,000 dependent kids in foster care programs and roughly 7,000 guardians statewide. In Broward County alone, there is a shortage of about 300 guardians.

“The Broward County shortage of volunteers is a microcosm of what we see throughout the state,” said Drew Korenvaes, director of recruiting and training for the Broward program.

“There’s a tremendous need for bilingual people,” he added, as about 23 percent of the children they serve are Hispanic. Volunteers must be 19 or older and pass screening and background checks.

“Skills are helpful but not necessary. We recruit and train folks from the community, providing 30 hours of training as well as ongoing training throughout the year,” he said.

“In healthy households, parents know what is going on in a child’s life, but for our children, who work in dependency systems and have been removed from their home, they are going to have more issues than the average child. When kids don’t receive what they need to keep life going in a positive direction, the guardians step in,” said Korenvaes.

He emphasized that under Florida law, every child who is dependent on the state is required to have a guardian ad litem.

“In court, a guardian ad litem is a legal party and is on equal footing with parents. It is important to have that footing because when we give recommendations, it is based on equal weight. Guardians act as the eyes and ears for the court,” Korenvaes said, noting that guardians communicate observations, recommendations and the child’s wishes. However, it is the judge who ultimately makes the decision.

Because judges have hundreds of children on their dockets, guardians make sure they are aware of what is happening in the child’s life. “We then make recommendations to the court with regard to what is in the best interest of the child, which is uniquely and distinctly our role,” said Korenvaes.

He noted that most volunteers are employed full time so communication with the court is conducted largely via phone and e-mail.

“As guardians, we have a minimum requirement to visit with children wherever they live and make sure they are being fed and clothed,” said Murphy, who stumbled upon the program through someone else who was receiving help from the court system six years ago.

At the time, he was running a small business with his children, conducting home inspections, but he was looking for something else to do to give back to the community. Murphy said he is a fighter and believes it is the power of the Eucharist that sustains him in this work.

“That’s part of who I am. I’ve been married 42 years. Attitude permeates my thinking. I never give up on my work and I never give up on these families. When somebody asks me if I like what I do as a guardian, I say, ‘No, I don’t like it. I love it.’”

“It is incumbent upon us to make sure the children have the love and support and nurturance that they need to grow into successful adults,” said Korenvaes. “We can invest 10 hours a month now or $40,000 per year per child, jailing these kids when they become adults. It’s a question of how we care to make our investments.

“At any given time in Broward County the Guardian Ad Litem program will be appointed to 2,050 children, but we can only actively serve about 1,300 of those children, so there is a tremendous need for folks from the community to step up to find the 10 hours a month to give back to these kids. At the end of the day, I need people who care.”

 

Archdiocese of Miami Front Page

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