Community Profile of the Month

Capitol Broadcasting Company believes one of our greatest responsibilities is supporting our community. CBC’s Community Profile is a new monthly feature on the Web – a way to inform our employees and the public about the work of area non-profits, and their volunteer opportunities and needs.

The month of April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. So, for April 2006, take closer look at Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina & the Wake County Guardian ad Litem Program.

Visit the CBC Community Profile Archives.

Prevent Child Abuse NC
www.preventchildabusenc.org

Location:
3725 National Drive
Suite 101
Raleigh, NC 27612

Phone:
(919) 829-8009
1-800-CHILDREN
1-800-244-5373

Child Abuse Reports:
You can make a report of child abuse by calling, writing, or visiting your county Department of Social Services, Child Protective Services Division. The address and phone number can be found in the front of your local phone book in the county government section, or by calling 1-800-CHILDREN or
1-919-733-2580.

About Prevent Child Abuse NC:
PCA North Carolina acts as:

CATALYSTS - advocating for important programs and policies for children and families;
COALITION BUILDERS - organizing concerned individuals and groups to focus on children’s issues;
TRAINERS - providing regional workshops and statewide conferences to a broad range of professionals; and
EDUCATORS - working to heighten public awareness of child abuse and neglect, and what each of us can do to prevent them.

The Mission of Prevent Child Abuse NC:
Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina is a statewide organization with a commitment to prevent child abuse and neglect in all its forms.

Picture This, PCA North Carolina's signature fundraiser will be held April 22, 2006 at Exploris in Raleigh. The event will be a culmination of a weeklong exhibition of images by talented NC photographers and artists. Guests will enjoy dancing, delicious hors d’oeuvres, and a wonderful silent auction. Both FOX 50 & CBC are sponsors.

For more information contact Lauren Hood, Director of Development & Marketing, via email or call 1-800-CHILDREN.

How To Help Prevent Child Abuse NC:
MAKE A DONATION
PCA North Carolina’s success depends on the generous support of its donors. Prevent Child Abuse is a private, nonprofit charity, and donations to PCA North Carolina are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

PCA North Carolina prides itself on spending its donors’ money wisely and effectively. Administrative and fundraising costs are only 16% of their spending.

HOST A PARTY
Host private parties to celebrate child abuse prevention. Parties can be formal sit-down dinners, barbecues, tailgate parties, or other informal gatherings. Guests who attend the parties are asked to make a generous contribution. A minimum donation can be required.

Gal Pal Parties ( PDF), a division of Parties for Prevention, are an easy way for a group of women to come together for a night of fun, food, and laughter while raising awareness and funds. These parties include a great auction of fabulous items.

Proceeds will be used in PCA North Carolina’s statewide effort to prevent child abuse and neglect for:

critical education and support for new parents,
specialized training for teachers and child care professionals, and
public awareness programs that are really making a difference.

Click here for more information on hosting a Party for Prevention or a Gal Pal Party
( PDF). You can also call 1-800-CHILDREN or email Lauren Hood, Director of Development & Marketing.

Wake County Guardian ad Litem Program
www.wakecountygal.org
www.nccourts.org/citizens/GAL/default.asp

Location:
Wake County Courthouse
316 S. Salisbury Street
Suite 737
Raleigh, NC 27602

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1107
Raleigh, NC 27602

Phone: (919) 835-3272

About the Wake County Guardian ad Litem Program:
Volunteer Guardians ad Litem are the voice of the child in court. The program, located in the Wake County Courthouse in downtown Raleigh, NC, operates under the leadership of Ms.Naeime Livingston, District Administrator.

Wake County GAL is a part of the Administrative Office of the Courts and, like its counterparts in other NC counties, recruits and trains court-appointed advocates for children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned and are involved in the court system.

In 1983, the North Carolina Legislature created a statewide program to provide children with an independent voice and to be an advocate for abused and neglected children who are involved in court proceedings. A Volunteer Guardian ad Litem and an Attorney Advocate are jointly appointed by a judge. Their duty is to ensure protection of the child's legal rights and to promote the best interests of the child. The volunteers who serve as Guardians ad Litem are a diverse group of citizens from various educational, economic and ethnic backgrounds. After training, Guardians ad Litem are sworn in by a judge.

A Guardian ad Litem investigates, writes reports, speaks to the judge, and testifies in court. This requires about 8-10 hours a month. The Guardian ad Litem has a great responsibility to protect a child from further victimization by having to spend his or her childhood in multiple, unfamiliar and temporary placements. The child needs someone to advocate quickly for a safe and permanent home. In the end, a Guardian ad Litem enjoys the undeniable personal fulfillment of making sure that a child is not forgotten.

(In other states, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) perform the same roles as GALs in NC.)

Mission of the Wake County Guardian ad Litem Program:
The Wake County Guardian ad Litem Program provides trained independent advocates to represent and promote the best interests of abused, neglected, and dependent children in the state court system and to work towards a plan that ensures that these children are in safe and permanent homes.

How To Help Wake County Guardian Ad Litem Program:
VOLUNTEER
Become a Guardian ad Litem Volunteer. If you meet the qualifications listed below, please contact Beverly Parks, Volunteer Recruiter, at 919-835-3277 or visit the Wake County GAL web site for additional information and applications.

Volunteer Qualifications

A sincere concern for the well-being of children.

You must be objective. non-judgmental and be able to interact with people of various educational, economic and ethnic backgrounds.

You must be able to complete 30 hours of training to ensure that you are ready to carry out your role as an informed and knowledgeable child advocate.

You must be able to pass a criminal background check.

You should be able to commit about 8-10 hours a month to working on your assigned case.

There is no special education or training required to be a Guardian ad Litem.

GIVE
Financial support and in-kind donations may be made through Friends of Wake County Guardian ad Litem, a 501(c)(3) organization that provides assistance to the Wake County GAL program and to the children for whom we advocate. Visit the Wake County GAL web site and view the Friends of GAL pages for additional information.

Governor Mike Easley has declared April 3, 2006 as Guardian Ad Litem day in North Carolina. All 100 N.C. counties have GAL programs. To find the program in another county besides Wake, visit the NC Courts website at www.nccourts.org/Citizens/GAL/Default.asp.

POSTED: April 1, 2006