Marion County needs more guardian ad litem volunteers

Florida’s Fifth Judicial Circuit Court Guardian ad Litem (GAL) program represents the interests of abused and neglected children involved in dependency court proceedings throughout Lake, Sumter, Hernando, Citrus and Marion counties.

According to Diana Gisonni, director of recruitment and training for the Fifth Circuit’s GAL program, the program is currently having a tough time finding volunteers and community partners. 

A lot of that, she admitted, has been caused by the pandemic.

“Before the Delta variant came down, we were starting to see an increase of volunteers. That stopped,” said Gisonni. “Then Omicron hit and made it worse. I think there are a lot of people that just are not willing to venture out yet.”

With its main office located in Ocala, GAL provides court-appointed volunteers to watch over and advocate for displaced children, as well as make sure they don’t get lost in an overburdened legal and social service system or languish in inappropriate group or foster homes.

From 2019 to 2021, GAL experienced a 20% reduction in the number of volunteers coming into the program. On top of that, over the same length of time, the program saw a 15% increase of volunteers leaving—all due in large part to the ongoing pandemic, said Gisonni.

“That’s a significant reduction in newbies and a significant reduction of our veterans too,” she added. 

As of the last report dated December 31, 2021, Marion County has 1,032 children currently in need of advocacy, according to Gisonni. Due to shortages in available volunteers, GAL is only able to represent 532 (51%) of that number. 

“We just haven’t been able to increase our volunteer rank,” said Gisonni. “That’s our real issue—and trying to get the word out about the program.” 

The Honorable Judge Robert Hodges, an Administrative Judge for Marion County, said that the role of a guardian ad litem is to be a voice for the child in the case, which, in most instances, is a child well under the age of 5. 

“Oftentimes, you have an attorney who is looking out for the best interests of the parents,” explained Judge Hodges; “the Department of Children and Families is looking out for the best interests of Florida—and the child; but no one is simply, wholly looking out for the best interests of the child.”

“So that’s what missing: someone who is looking to make a difference in a child’s life, to help a child in need,” Hodges added. 

GAL volunteers stay with each case until it is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. Per GAL standards of operation, volunteers are required to see their cases, at minimum, once a month. But most volunteers see their children more than that. It depends on the needs of the child.

Studies show that children and youth with a Guardian ad Litem are more likely to be adopted, half as likely to re-enter foster care, less likely to spend time in long-term foster care, more likely to have a plan for permanency and more likely to perform well in school.

Besides volunteers, Gisonni also mentioned that GAL is looking for community partners.

“We did have several businesses that have agreed to let us put our brochures or flyers in their businesses. And we reciprocate by putting them in our newsletters,” she said, adding that any business that supports GAL also gets a shout-out on its Facebook page.

“That’s what we’re really looking for,” she continued, “partnership with businesses or entities in Marion County that can help us get the word out about our need…and more volunteers. We need a lot more volunteers.”

For more information about the program or if interested in volunteering, contact Amarillys Ortega at (352) 817-1546 or by email at Amarilys.ortega@gal.fl.gov. For any businesses interested in partnering with GAL, contact Diana Gisonni at (352) 812-6971 or by email at diana.gisonni@gal.fl.gov.