Five Guardian ad Litem Child Advocates were sworn-in Aug. 19 by The Honorable Brenda G. Branch, Chief District Court Judge, Judicial District Six in Halifax County.

The new volunteer advocates are Dorothy Whitaker of Rich Square, Tremaine Palmer of Ahoskie, Embria Jones of Enfield, and Lomar Osbourne and Timeka Pittman of Roanoke Rapids.

The new advocates will be assigned to cover cases for Bertie, Halifax, Hertford and Northampton counties. A Guardian ad Litem enjoys the personal satisfaction of making sure that a child is not forgotten and has a voice in court as they advocate for the best interest of that child.

The North Carolina Guardian ad Litem Program was created by the state legislature in 1983 to provide abused and neglected children with an independent advocate’s voice in court proceedings. The Guardian ad Litem, along with an attorney advocate, work as a team to protect the child’s legal rights and to promote the best interest of the child in abuse/neglect court.

While Guardian Ad Litem volunteers make up a diverse group of people from various educational, economic and ethnic backgrounds, they all seek to ensure that these vulnerable children find safety and permanency. Join nearly 5,000 of these volunteers across the state and become a Guardian ad Litem today. The next local training session will begin the last week of September 2016.

If you are interested in becoming a Guardian ad Litem Child Advocate contact Judith Jones, Program Assistant, at 252-574-3121 or 1-800-982-4041. You may also visit www.volunteerforgal.org, facebook.com/ncguardianadlitem

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