Join the Guardian Ad Litem Program, its volunteers, and community in remembering

those children who have been abused,

abandonded, and neglected.

When: Tuesday April 17, 2012

Where: Pavilion at South Riverwalk

Willing Street

Milton, FL 32570

Time: 4:30 pm

Guardian Ad Litem: “A Powerful Voice [...]]]> Let us not forget….the children

Join the Guardian Ad Litem Program, its volunteers, and community in remembering

those children who have been abused,

abandonded, and neglected.

When: Tuesday April 17, 2012

Where: Pavilion at South Riverwalk

Willing Street

Milton, FL 32570

Time: 4:30 pm

Guardian Ad Litem: “A Powerful Voice For Florida Children”

Overview of 2012 Legislative Results for
Guardian ad Litem
Thanks so much to all the GAL volunteers who support the Guardian ad Litem Program. You have created a situation which makes our Legislative Session so much more successful and meaningful. I have been meeting with [...]]]> Statewide Guardian ad Litem Program Announces

Overview of 2012 Legislative Results for
Guardian ad Litem
Thanks so much to all the GAL volunteers who support the Guardian ad Litem Program. You have created a situation which makes our Legislative Session so much more successful and meaningful. I have been meeting with the Governor’s staff, legislative staff, and legislators; the work has already been done by all of you showing the importance of the GAL Program to children through word of mouth in the community about how you have made a difference in the lives of children.

The legislative session comes to a close with many cuts taken in Education, Healthcare, and Civil and Criminal Justice. The criminal justice portion of our budget has been especially hard hit, with the Florida Legislature being forced to weigh which prisons to keep open and what prevention programs could be funded. Despite these monumental challenges, the GAL Program has received a substantial increase and has not been cut for several sessions. This is remarkable considering the economic downturn the State has been facing.

Our Program is really appreciative of the Governor, the First Lady and the Governor’s staff. They have kept me up to date on issues impacting Guardian ad Litem and child welfare. As I have stated often, we have a friend in the Governor’s Office when it comes to supporting the GAL, including the Governor setting up a televised swearing in of our GAL volunteers during the legislative session and offering technical assistance from his staff, including the Office of Policy and Budget.
The House and Senate have also been very supportive across the board. The GAL Program was brought up in legislative budget meetings throughout session trying to come up with more dollars so children can have a voice and have a better outcome by having a volunteer child advocate. Throughout session, legislators would encourage me, our Program and our volunteers to keep advocating for children. A special thanks goes out to Speaker Dean Cannon, Speaker Designee Will Weatherford, Representative Dennis Baxley, Representative Denise Grimsley, Senate President Mike Haridopolos, Senator J.D. Alexander, Senator Ronda Storms, Senator Nan Rich, and Senator Joe Negron to name a few.

The Program was not targeted for cuts during the budget process and at the end of the process; the GAL Program received an extra $1.5 million. The State has only awarded extra funds to programs with extraordinary records of success and this is a testament to what the Guardian ad Litem Program has done for Florida’s children year after year.
The Orange County Bar Association also received a $300,000 nonrecurring allocation to expand child representation in that area. In total we received an increase of $1.8 million dollars.

The Program also achieved a key victory with the passage of SB 1960. SB 1960 was passed 115-0 by the House and 40-0 by the Senate, one of the few substantive bills to receive bipartisan and unanimous support in both chambers. Among other provisions of this bill, it changes Florida law to permit guardian ad litem volunteers to transport children served by the Program. The bill prohibits Judges from court ordering volunteers to transport; this ensures the decision is exclusively the volunteers’ with approval from the Program.

Allowing volunteers to transport youth will enhance the bonding relationship between the two and will encourage improved communication. Also, allowing volunteers to transport youth to everyday events, such as a school dance, will promote a sense of normalcy for the youth.

Further, the bill creates a structure in which individual counties can fund positions for Guardian ad Litem. This will allow more children to be served and counties to participate in aiding their residents in a new manner.

While most institutions in Florida were fortunate to break even in 2012, Guardian ad Litem was of the very few to come out ahead, both fiscally and legislatively. This year was a landmark year for GAL as it continues to serve more of Florida’s vulnerable children.

GAL Funding:

FROM GENERAL REVENUE FUND………….$31,656,928
FROM TRUST FUND……………………………………$320,249
TOTAL POSITIONS…………………………………………539.00

TOTAL ALL FUNDS………………………………$31,977,177

I want to recognize the GAL Foundation’s lobbyist, Monica Rodriguez, she was instrumental in achieving a successful legislative session and preparing the above report. Most importantly, I thank each of you for your dedication to children and inspiration you give to all our staff at the Guardian ad Litem Program.

Alan F. Abramowitz
Executive Director