The Guardian ad Litem program in Bladen County is now under new supervision, and Randy Ellis says he is ready to get going and raise awareness of the need for fresh volunteers.

“I am the Guardian ad Litem Supervisor of the North Carolina Judicial Branch District 13,” he said in a telephone interview this week.

Ellis has extensive experience in working with the departments that work hand in hand with his program.

“I was an adoptive parent,” he said. “I also worked with the Department of Social Services from 1995 to 2006 in Bladen County.

“This work was all that I have know the last 28 years.”

Guardian ad Litems are volunteer advocates that focus only on the child, and they initially go through 30 hours of extensive training in addition to being screened and interviewed.

“These people are not family, or DSS, or an attorney,” he said. “Their only focus is on that child and their needs.”

Volunteer advocates also complete at least six hours of in-service training each year “to maintain the knowledge and skills needed to advocate for the best interests of child clients.”

Ellis stressed that it is important to realize that their testimony is just as important as anyone else’s in the case.

“Those that are in DSS are overworked and stressed,” he said. “There are things they will not be able to catch.”

Some of these kids need someone who is on their side, because they might not have any family or anyone else to support them when they are in situations in the courts.

“This program is paramount to the children’s success,” he said.

Volunteer advocates are people of all kinds of backgrounds, and the adults do everything from visiting with the clients, perusing paperwork like reports and help monitor court orders. Other times they might be working with providers to work on reports that focus on the client and their needs.

“This is for the children,” Ellis said.

The state reports that on average the advocates spend about eight hours each month on their duties.

Ellis said that there is a need for more help, and the program is in serious need of more volunteers to continue providing the services for children in Bladen County.

For more information to volunteer, contact Ellis at 910-641-4423.

Contributed photo
Bladen County is in dire need of more volunteers for the Guardian ad Litem program so that more children will have an advocate.
https://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_IMG_5919.jpgContributed photo
Bladen County is in dire need of more volunteers for the Guardian ad Litem program so that more children will have an advocate.

Emily M. Williams

Bladen Journal

Emily M. Williams can be reached at 910-247-9133 or ewilliams@bladenjournal.com.