How to Volunteer

I am a rising senior, majoring in Political Science at Winston-Salem State University, and I have had the pleasure of working for the Guardian office this summer. I would like to thank everyone for the opportunity to conduct these interviews, especially the four wonderful interviewees. Without your willingness and thoughtful answers none of this would have been possible.

Thank you!!

John Taggart has been with the Guardian ad Litem Program for 10 years. He first heard about the program from a friend, and decided that it fit his interests quite nicely. For years John diligently investigated environmental issues, but he began to realize that in order for him to feel fulfilled personally he needed to volunteer in society and help people in need.

John's duties as an advocate for children are similar to every other Guardian ad Litem volunteer; he assesses the situation, meets with the relevant people in the case such as the parents, teachers, and therapists, and identifies the necessary additional services necessary and obtains funding through the help of the Cape Fear Guardian ad Litem Association (CFGALA).

John feels honored to have the opportunity to make a difference in a child's life, and he finds that one of the most rewarding experiences is his role in making a child's life better whether the child is adopted or reunified with the parent. At the conclusion of a case, John knows that the child is better off than they were when he first met them.

Being a Guardian ad Litem volunteer has made a significant impact on John's life as well. John is now more aware of the challenges that face children and families in our community and overall society. He is passionate about making a difference.

In addition to volunteering with the Guardian ad Litem Program, John is the current President of the Cape Fear Guardian ad Litem Associaiton. He is a full time professor at UNCW. John's role as a committed volunteer who gives his all for the program coupled with having a very demanding career makes him a busy man. We feel honored to have a hardworking volunteer like John in our community and in our program.

The New Hanover County Guardian ad Litem office has had the privilege of working with Aggie Chamberlin for 15 years. Aggie lost count of the number of cases she has been involved in after 10 years. Aggie estimates it is well over thirty.

Aggie first decided she wanted to help children when she was living in the northern part of the United States. When attending court for various reasons, Aggie would observe lawyers walking and talking to children before their cases were heard. She learned that these people talking to the children were not lawyers at all, they were the child's Guardian ad Litem volunteer.

Upon moving to Wilmington, Aggie watched a clip on the television about the Guardian ad Litem Program and the need for volunteers. She had worked with children for many years as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, and central office administrator; and wanted to keep doing so in Wilmington. Although she has been with the program for 15 years, Aggie continues to feel the urge to help children. One of the most rewarding experiences for Aggie has been watching her hard work make a difference. She finds joy in gradually observing parents who realize the value in their children, enough value to make a change for the better. Even if the parent is unable to change, Aggie is happy to see the child go to a safe, loving home where they have worth.

Being a guardian has also given Aggie worth. She is a firm believer that God gives everyone gifts and talents. She was able to use her gifts and talents in her chosen career, and she knew that retirement was not the time to cut her God-given abilities off. Aggie has put her skills to work in many community organizations; including mediating and facilitating responsibilities at Stephen Ministries and as Secretary of the Adult Scholars Leadership Alumni (ASLA). She is also recognized as one of founding members of the Cape Fear Guardian ad Litem Association (CFGALA). It is hard to find volunteers as dedicated as Aggie, and we do not know what we would do without her.

We look forward to the next 15 years!

Alyssa Fritz has been a volunteer with the New Hanover County Guardian ad Litem Program for two years and has closed two cases. Some of the duties she undertook included: visiting the children every other week, requesting funds to pay for SAT courses from the Cape Fear Guardian ad Litem Association and assisting the social worker in locating the parents.

She cares deeply about children and strives to help them in any way she can. Alyssa indicated that the most rewarding experience for her as a guardian has been the opportunity to testify in court. Alyssa feels the judge listens, and her testimony helps to make sure a child ends up in a safe home.

When reflecting on the difference the Guardian ad Litem Program has made in the lives of the families it serves, Alyssa stated ""I don't even know what these kids would do without guardians. They provide a constant presence during a very tumultuous time in the child's life. People change because of guardians.""

In addition to the Guardian ad Litem Program, Alyssa is currently working on her Masters at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington with a long term goal of obtaining her PHD. Alyssa has remained very active in the community despite her busy school schedule. She has been working with children in various programs for 12 years. Alyssa has made a great impact in our community.

The New Hanover County Guardian ad Litem Program feels very blessed to have Alyssa as a member of our family.

The Guardian Ad Litem Program of the Fifth Judicial District has been fortunate to have volunteer, Marion Ingram for 5 wonderful years. Marion decided to volunteer because of the great love and concern she holds for children. Marion successfully balances a strenuous full time job at the Children's Developmental Services Agency along with her duties as a Guardian ad Litem.

Marion's duties are the same as any other guardian; she gathers information, meets the families involved, attends court, and advocates for the child. Yet, Marion has decided to go the extra step to make sure she fulfills her role as an advocate for the child. Once she is assigned a child, she carefully composes an introductory letter for the foster parents to let them know about the program and the role she has in the court process. Even as the case is nearing closure, she remains dedicated to the development of the child. She stresses to the child's guardian their responsibility in advocating for the child's needs.

She finds her most rewarding experience as a guardian to be when the family begins to truly change and starts to understand what the child's needs are and how to meet them. At this point, she feels the Guardian ad Litem Program has made a lasting difference not only in the life of the child but in the life of the family. With every case she is given, Marion sets out to ensure that a difference is made.

Although she is very busy with a full-time job, acting as a notary, and various obligations at church; she is one of the most caring and hardworking guardians in our district, and we are very happy to have her on our team.

Denny Smith Offers a Life Guide

In recognition of his work with Life Guide, Denny Smith won a New Hanover County Volunteer of the Year Award and the North Carolina Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service in 2007.

Denny Smith moved to Wilmington from Indiana in part because he loves fishing.  But over the past ten years, in addition to flounder, grouper and snapper, Denny captured another passion:  his work as a Guardian ad Litem volunteer.  “The most rewarding and challenging thing I’ve ever done,” he says.

His work as a GAL volunteer brought him face-to-face with a big problem that no one in New Hanover County was addressing: the needs of children who have aged out of the system.  These are kids who have been in foster care but at age 18 find themselves alone in the world without a support system, a back-up plan, a family fall-back position.  Most of these kids are unprepared for the challenges of independence.

Four to five percent of children in DSS custody in New Hanover and Pender Counties age out each year – that’s 25-30 kids a year.  Nationally, 20,000 kids a year find themselves suddenly independent at age 18 and most are at a loss for what to do next.   In 2004, North Carolina discovered that one out of eight of these kids became homeless within 1 ½ years of their 18th birthday.

Two years ago, Denny started looking around the country to see what other communities were doing to help these young people.  In Miami he found a program with a $16 million budget that offers kids housing and psychological counseling.  Even with these services in place, the program soon recognized that the most important thing to these kids’ future was a mentor.

So, With a budget of zero, the cooperation of DSS (who funded a new position to address the needs of kids between 18 and 21 years old), the Links Program, and the YWCA, Denny founded LIFE GUIDE.  Life Guide is an informal group of volunteers who serve as mentors to aged-out youth in New Hanover and Pender Counties.  There are currently six mentors at work and an additional six who have completed training and are about to meet their kids.  “We’re not an agency,” Denny explains, “We’re just people trying to help and the kids really appreciate it.”

“What these 18-year-olds lack is confidence,” says Denny. “I am helping one kid find an apartment.  I helped another get some driving experience so he could get a drivers’ license.  We try to guide them on a path to college or vocational school or into the job corps. We can get funding for any child who wants to go to college. We try to offer these kids the basic help we all as parents provide to our own children.”

If any of you are interested in volunteering as a mentor with Life Guide, please contact Denny Smith at 793.3472 for more information.