Sumter County Guardian ad Litem Program Swears in five new GALs

Five guardian ad litem volunteers in Sumter County were sworn in as part of the Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem Program, a division of the South Carolina Department of Children's Advocacy.

During the swearing-in ceremony, Jaavon Collier, Arswanette Myers, Myra Cook, Thomas Montgomery and Karin Hill took an oath to provide a voice for abused and neglected children involved in family court legal proceedings through the Department of Social Services. The ceremony took place on Thursday, June 29, at Sumter County Family Court and was presided over by the Honorable Thomas Bultman.

These newly sworn-in volunteers join other dedicated Sumter County community members who have been trained and are advocating for foster children in the family court system. The primary purpose of each GAL is to represent the best interests of the child during court proceedings. This requires each GAL to visit the child monthly to learn about the child's wishes. GALs must also assess the child's immediate safety and conduct interviews with others involved in the child's life, including caseworkers, teachers, foster parents and family members. The GAL then reports this information to the family court judge at scheduled hearings, along with a recommendation on the best course of action for the child.

"We're always looking for dedicated individuals who are passionate about advocating for children," said Sarah Schultz, regional recruiter and trainer for the GAL program. "If you are interested in learning how you can change a child's story, we encourage you to visit gal.sc.gov to learn more."

Volunteers should be at least 21 years old, have a clean criminal record, no previous DSS case history, and be able to contribute four to five hours a month of their time for a child. Free training is provided to all volunteers. The next training class begins Aug. 21.

For more information on becoming a volunteer Guardian ad Litem, contact Sarah Schultz at (803) 365-3379 or Sarah.Schultz@childadvocate.sc.gov or visit gal.sc.gov.