Volunteers continue to be a large need for the Guardian ad Litem Office as the number of children who have been abused, abandoned and neglected remains in the thousands.

Florida Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office Director of Communications Melissa Bujeda said through the collaboration of a multidisciplinary team they use a Guardian ad Litem Attorney, a child welfare professional and a trained volunteer.

“The team provides quality independent representation while we assist the child in expressing their needs and wishes,” she said.

In 2022, the office represented more than 36,000 children throughout the state of Florida. As of April 30 there were 713 children appointed to the Statewide Office in Lee County. Bujeda said 446 volunteers were assigned to those children, which left 267 children without a volunteer.

A volunteer plays an essential role as the third person in the multidisciplinary team.

“We only have so many volunteers. Not every child gets the volunteer component to their team,” which she said is crucial.

The volunteer builds that relationship with the child by spending time with them and understanding their wants and needs; therefore having a more in depth understanding than an attorney.

“Most volunteers only work with one or two children at a time. Many of the volunteers have lifelong relationships with the children,” Bujeda said. “It’s something very special. Our volunteers become that caring adult in their life who provides a positive presence in the child’s life.”

The Guardian ad Litem Office

“We are appointed to the child through the courts. When the child ends up, for reasons of not their fault, due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment, it goes to the dependency court. The judge appoints us to represent the child. Every child is assigned a Guardian ad Litem Attorney to represent their interest,” Bujeda said.

Throughout Florida, they have a little under 200 attorneys on the payroll. Bujeda said they are so fortunate to have hundreds of attorneys throughout the state doing Pro Bono work for the office.

“Attorneys have their own way to give back that can truly help a child through Pro Bono service,” she said.

Bujeda said they are appointed for everything from newborns who are drug dependent that might not be in the best situation, to children who end up in a foster care center at the age of 17.

“The judge stands in the parent’s shoes. The decision, the judge can only do that with information (they) receive about the child. It’s necessary to fulfill the role, so the judge gets all of the information about the child to make the best decision possible,” Bujeda said. “A lot of these children have nobody in their corner. A lot of them have never had that one person that is consistently in their life. Someone they can depend on. Someone they can get advice from. That role is so important to that young adult.”

Those who volunteer for the Guardian ad Litem Office come from all walks of life from stay-at-home moms to military professionals. Volunteers will have background screening done, as well as an interview before they have to finish 30 hours of training. The training can be done online at their own pace.

“They will go through a small training process with another volunteer to learn how to write the report for the court. After the training period they will be assigned their own child,” Bujeda said.

The requirement is to meet with the child at least once a month, although many meet with them once a week, or every other week.

“It’s good for the child. It’s another set of eyes to make sure the child is safe and getting his, or her needs met. If we are not doing it for them, who is going to do it?” she said.

Those interested can visit guardianadlitem.org and fill out a volunteer inquiry form. Someone from the Lee County office will contact the individual.