March 2015 issue of the "12 Points"

12 Points from the 12th Circuit
Guardian ad Litem
March
2015, Edition 3
Happy Anniversary!!!
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L
Point 1
A Message from the Circuit
Director
You asked, and I am answering. Below are some of
the questions I have been asked by volunteers in our
Circuit.
Why are we short on volunteers in Manatee County?
Great question! We certainly need volunteers in Manatee
County, but this is because of the high number of incoming
cases and not due to volunteer loss. At this time, our
Manatee County office is serving nearly 200 more children
than our Sarasota office.
Are you discharging off new cases being assigned
to the GAL Program in Manatee County?
Yes, but only after careful review of all case-related
information, a home visit assessment and a discussion
This month, we are excited to
celebrate the anniversaries of the
following GAL advocates:
0-5
years:
Nancy
Albrecht,
Linda
Mazzaferro, Timothy Tedesco, Cheryl Lingis,
Laura Arterburn, Nicholas Chipurnoi, Kathleen
Dominguez, Millie Finkel, Joy Holloway,
Svetlana Kaminsky, Jaqueline Kinnie, Peter
Norden, Nancy Richardson, Laura Burrows,
Charles Davenport, Claudia George, Leona
Kouogh, Richard Martin, Mike Michalson,
Rebecca Proctor, Marilyn Rhein-Kollar,
Thomas Schultz, Ian Sharp, Stephen Walker,
Jerry Woelfel
5-10 years: Tawana Dixon, Don Coucke,
Robert Duffany, Manny Hernandez, Dennis
Kolarik, Alison Thompson, Cynthia Armstrong,
Timothy Clarke, Cassie Friedman, Carroll Leis,
Carla Sullivan, Joan Frankel
10-15 years: Dick Hunt, Rose Ryan, Virginia
Hitchcock
between the Assistant Director, Supervising Attorney and
Circuit Director. Some cases are far too egregious to
consider discharging, and some have a goal of adoption,
which requires our Program to remain assigned.
http://www.12gal.org/
Can volunteers in other counties help in Manatee?
Point 2
Absolutely! We couldn’t be more proud of the way our volunteers
GAL Reports
12th Circuit Policy
and staff have come together to support our children. If you are
interested in serving in Manatee, but cannot accept a full case,
please contact our Assistant Director/Operations Manager,
Ashlie Klopper ([email protected]) for more information
on how you can help by conducting shelter visits as a “first
responder” GAL.
How many children need a volunteer in Manatee County?
At this time, we have over 80 children in need of a volunteer. The
cases keep steadily coming; we’ve had over 150 children sheltered
1. The GAL Volunteer shall submit
their report to their assigned Child
Advocate Manager (CAM), three
(3) weeks prior to the date of the
hearing. This will facilitate the
timely review of the report by the
CAM and Child’s Best Interest
Attorney (CBIA), and allow for
timely filing of the report.
in Manatee since December 1, 2014. Our Child Advocate
Managers are doing an incredible job assigning cases to
volunteers in need of a case; however, the demand far exceeds our
limited volunteer resources.
What is being done to recruit volunteers in Manatee
County?
Each month GAL Volunteer, Dick Hunt, attends two jury
selection sessions. We had 6 volunteers recruited in March from
jury selection (awesome job, Dick Hunt!). Our flyers and
brochures are plastered in local restaurants and coffee
shops in Bradenton (thanks to the efforts of our Recruitment
.
Committee!). Presentations at local churches and other civic
groups are scheduled (we need your help scheduling more). A
huge newspaper ad donated, which ran in Manatee and
Sarasota. We have several events for Children’s Week planned to
2. If the report is due prior to the
Advocacy Review Staffing, the
report should be completed and
submitted to the CAM three weeks
prior to the date of the hearing. If
the Advocacy Review is after this
date, the CAM will bring the report
to the staffing for review and/or
discussion.
3. If changes are made to the report,
the CAM must contact the GAL
volunteer immediately to discuss
the changes. If the GAL Volunteer
does not agree with the changes,
defer to the Procedure for Conflict
Resolution in the GALP Standards
(Standard 1.C.)
put our name out there and help share more about our program
need. We are scheduled to attend the SCC conference in May,
Superhero 5k event…and much, much more.
4. The GAL Volunteer must “approve”
the report before it is filed with the
Court.
Please contact me anytime to discuss your questions.
If you have any questions, please reach
Respectfully,
out to your assigned CAM or Ashlie
Kathy Elliott [email protected]
Manager.
Klopper, Assistant Director/Operations
http://www.12gal.org/
Point33Recruitment
Recruitment
Point
The recruitment team continues to work
hard to secure new VCAs for all counties!
We have had over 30 new recruits graduate
since November 2014, which means over
60 kids have a voice!
Our
recruitment goal
for Manatee is
to certify 40 new volunteers, and our goal in
DeSoto is to certify 10 new volunteers.
Point 4 Resource Center
The ALL NEW online GAL Resource Center
is going "live"
Find information such as:
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Case Flow and Terminology
Child & Parent Resources
Current News Bulletins
Questions and Answers
In-Service Information & Handouts
Know Your Case Tips
We need your help!
Our Recruit
team has ongoing events and speaking
engagements scheduled throughout March
and April at Woodland Community Church,
Women in Government Luncheon, Universal
Unitarian “focus group” and of course all of
the Children’s Week festivities! If you
are part of a club, group or organization and
could help us share our program message,
please call Monica Moore to discuss your
ideas!
Ongoing
kudos
should be given to GAL
The GAL RC committee NEEDS YOUR HELP with
gathering local resources and information to add to the
RC, so we all can be the best Guardian ad Litem for ur
children!
So, if you have other resources or information not listed
Cathy Backlund
at [email protected]. You can
in the Resource Center, please email
also access the GAL RC through the GAL website
(w.12gal.org.
Please let us know how the GAL RC works for you!
Volunteer, Dick Hunt, for his continued
dedication to presenting each week at Jury
Selection in Manatee County—he does
such an awesome job! And Kudos to the
GAL Volunteer interviewers who put forth a
ton of effort organizing meetings to screen
prospective volunteers!
monthly Recruitment
Committee meetings held at Dan
We
have
McClure. Please join us at the next meeting
th
scheduled for March 26 at 9:00am. Just
email
Monica
Moore
at
[email protected] for details!!
http://www.12gal.org/
Point 5 Legal Forum
Once the GAL advocacy team decides reunification is not the appropriate permanency goal, the next
decision is which of the permanency goals discussed in last month’s article is the most appropriate.
Sometimes even when adoption is an appropriate goal, it may be in the child’s best interest to close the
case to permanent guardianship. This article will discuss some of the major differences between the two
goals which may assist the advocacy team in its determination of the best possible goal for the child.
Adoption
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
The court terminates supervision and jurisdiction when the child is adopted
The bio-parents legal rights are terminated
The bio-parents have no legal right to regain custody or visitation (adoptive parents may allow)
The adoptive parents may provide for who will care for the child should the parents die prior to the
child’s 18th birthday. The court and the Department are not involved
The adoptive family is free to move anywhere
The adoptive parents may change the child’s name
The adoptive parents may be eligible for an adoption subsidy, but if they were receiving relative/nonrelative caregiver funds they will no longer receive these
The adoptive parents can claim the child as a dependent on federal income tax and may be eligible for
an adoption tax credit in the year they adopt
The adopted child is eligible for tuition waivers and grants for other expenses (valid until the age of 28)
Permanent Guardianship
1. The court terminates supervision, but retains jurisdiction until the child turns 18
2. The bio-parents legal rights are not terminated
3. The bio-parents may petition the court at anytime before the child reaches 18 to regain custody or to
modify visitation
4. The permanent guardians do not have the legal right to provide for the next guardian of the child should
they die prior to the child’s 18th birthday. The court will re-open the case and the Department will make
the placement determination
5. If the permanent guardians move, they must provide the court with their new address, in writing every
time they relocate
6. The permanent guardians may not change the child’s name without the bio-parents’ permission
7. The permanent guardians will continue to receive relative caregiver funds
8. The permanent guardians may claim the child as a dependent for federal tax purposes if the child is in
their home for 6 months or more of the given tax year.
9. The child in a relative placement is eligible for tuition waiver (valid until age 28), but a child in nonrelative care is not
In both circumstances the child remains eligible for Medicaid and may be eligible for post-18 independent
living services (if certain conditions are present)
When a relative or non-relative caregiver is trying to decide the best option for the family, sharing these
differences may help make a potentially hard decision a little easier.
http://www.12gal.org/
Point 6 Children’s Week
Saturday April 11th 2:30pm-4:30pm
“Story time with a GAL” book reading at Books A Million in Bradenton
4225 14th Street West, Bradenton, FL 34205
8 GAL Volunteers will be reading to a group of children 4 pre-selected books each hour (lasting
for 2 hours). The children who are receiving services through our agency and SCC will be given a
free book and a Chic-Fil-A free meal card when they leave. This is open to ALL children and we
have specifically invited all caregivers, case managers, foster parents and biological parents and
GALs to come.
Monday April 13th 10:00am-11:30am:
GAL “spirit shirt” gathering Manatee County – Sutton Park in Palmetto FL under the pavilion
6th St W, Palmetto, FL 34221
Join us and have a little fun decorating your GAL shirt. Please bring an old white t-shirt to
decorate! We plan to wear our decorated shirts to the event on Friday at Benderson Park.
Tuesday April 14th 11:30am-1:00pm:
GAL “hotdog social”– Garden area of Manatee County Courthouse
1051 Manatee Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205
This is a special event offering a hotdog, chips and water to families we serve, case managers,
GAL Volunteers and the community in general. We will be in front of the courthouse serving for
over an hour and spreading positive vibes to all!!
http://www.12gal.org/
Wednesday April 15th 10:00am-11:30am
GAL “spirit shirt” gathering Sarasota – Café in the Park restaurant in Sarasota, FL
2010 Adams Ln, Sarasota, FL 34236
Join us and have a little fun decorating your GAL shirt. Please bring an old white t-shirt to
decorate! We plan to wear our decorated shirts to the event on Friday at Benderson Park.
Thursday April 16th 2:30-4:30pm
GAL book night at Barnes and Noble in Sarasota
4010 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34231
8 GAL Volunteers will be reading to a group of children 4 pre-selected books each hour (lasting
for 2 hours). The children who are receiving services through our agency and SCC will be given a
free book and a Chic-Fil-A free meal card when they leave. This is open to ALL children and we
have specifically invited all caregivers, case managers, foster parents and biological parents and
GALs to come.
Friday April 17th 11:00am-1:00pm
Final gathering/stroll for permanency
Nathan Benderson Park (county line of Sarasota and Manatee)
751 Cattleman Rd, Sarasota, FL 34243
WEAR YOUR SPIRIT SHIRTS! This is our Children’s Week finale event! We will enjoy hotdogs, chips
and water at one end of the park and then stroll for “permanency” to the other end of the park
for desserts, raffle prizes and our finale party! Every single person we work with is invited including
children of all ages, case managers, foster parents and caregivers. We are also hoping to have
press there with SCC’s assistance!
Please come to all of the events and support the program you love!
This is a great way to create a positive working environment for all involved in advocating for our
children! If you have any questions, please call Monica Moore at 941/716-7152.
http://www.12gal.org/
Point #7
You Are Invited
Friday, April 10, 2015
Please join us for the Children's Guardian Fund's
Guardian ad Litem
Appreciation Luncheon
The Children's Guardian Fund Board donates this luncheon to our invited guests
Special thanks to our event sponsors: Boar's Head, Publix Super Markets, & Regions
Bank
Friday, April 10, 2015
11:30 am open for seating
Keynote Speaker
Captain Todd Shear
12:00 - 1:30 pm luncheon
Child Protective Investigations Division
RSVP
[email protected]
Address
Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club
941.504.9515
7650 Legacy Boulevard
NOTE: denim attire is not permitted
Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202
http://www.12gal.org/
Point #8 Community Partner Spotlight
Angela J. Murray, MA
is a dreamer and visionary, striving to make the world a better
place. She was born in Hackensack, NJ and relocated to Florida at age 3. Angela lives in Sarasota with
her husband and two rescue babies; a beautiful Rag Doll Kitty named Salvador Dali and a Domestic Grey
and White named Renoir. Devoting her life to serving children and families within the Florida Child
Welfare System for over 26 years; Angela has over twelve years of service with Florida's Department of
Children and Families (DCF/ formerly HRS), 4 years of which were supervisory. She also has sixteen
years experience in Community Based Care after leaving DCF. Angela’s educational background
includes a Masters of Arts Degree is in Rehabilitation Counseling and Bachelors of Arts in Psychology
with a Minor in Fine Arts/Sculpting.
Angela’s LinkedIn:
The Sarasota Y – Safe Children Coalition is where Angela is
currently employed as a Child Welfare Specialist. This position
has multiple job functions including but not limited to Operations,
Compliance, Quality Improvement, Systems and Policy
Development, Curriculum Development and Training. Multiple
certifications in many aspects of Child Welfare are
maintained. In addition to tenure with the Y, Angela facilitates
college courses in Human Services, Psychology and Ethics for University of Phoenix at night for adult
learners. Strengthening partnerships with the Guardian ad Litem Program and Circuit Twelve Community
Providers is a core focus of hers. She is an active Board Member for Healthy Families and HIPPY
Manatee, as well as for GRIP Sarasota (a faith based parenting provider).
Angela enjoys creating, riding her motorcycle, being outdoors and volunteering for community
strengthening events/services. There are many intrinsic rewards when helping others that drive Angela
in her ‘service’ career journey. While helping others is an important aspect her life, bringing joy and
evoking emotions in others through photography and art is equally important. Angela loves nature,
music, people and animals and it is transparent in chosen subject matter. She is drawn toward emotions,
strong movements, powerful imagery and geometric balance. Much of Angela’s artwork involves play, life
happening, dancing and performances. Staying in tune with ‘positive’ expression of emotions is a lifelong
quest for her and helps provide balance in her life. Angela strives to improve our world through acts of
service, mentoring and artistic creation.
http://www.12gal.org/
Point 9 GAL Staff Spotlight
Child Advocate Manager, Cate Thorp
I have been with the GAL Program since 2009,
starting as a GAL volunteer in Sarasota County. I
started as a CAM in Manatee in July 2011. I have a
background in child education having been one of
the directors of a RISING 5 VPK program in Norfolk
UK for 5 years. I have 3 grown children and a
grandchild. I read, bike, beach and enjoy outdoor
activities. I have a brother nearby, but the rest of my family lives in Michigan.
Here, Cate tells us about a case that is very dear to her…
A child was taken into care in April 2011, I took the case in July 2011 (now 46 months opened) and
have been the CAM and then the GAL on the case since. The child had a baby sibling also taken into
care at the same time, who was adopted after TPR by family members out of state; they did not want to
adopt my child.
Child has bounced from foster home, relative care, therapeutic care, group homes, a SIPP program in
Broward County –17 different moves, in all.
Child completed a SIPP program in 2014 – 9 months worth, and I did not feel that she benefitted from
it. In fact, I reported she was worse off when she came out.
The placement she is currently in wanted to give a 30-day notice. A suitability assessment was done
that recommended she be put back into SIPP in order to keep her safe (this coming after 4 Baker Acts
in a few months time).
On the weekend prior to our hearing, I made several key phone calls and had several discussions with
the placement director, the therapist, the house parents and the family of my child. The placement
agreed they would give my child another chance – this coming on the morning of the hearing. Jeff and
I met and discussed our position….and from there we made history! It is extremely hard to overcome
both the State’s and a psychiatrist’s recommendation, but we prevailed. On the bright side, I have been
out with the child since the hearing, and she seems to have a better attitude now that she knows Judge
Brownell didn’t just commit her but gave her another chance to prove herself.
Child’s case goal is adoption; we have a long way to go to get there, and there is much to do, but
thanks to Jeff and the Program support, I intend to stand next to this young woman all they way to her
permanent home.
http://www.12gal.org/
Point 10 Volunteer Child Advocate Spotlight
Meet GAL Volunteer, Don McIlwain!
He is a long-time GAL Volunteer having served in our Program for 14 years. Over the years, he has
done some incredible advocacy for many children! This month, we celebrate his amazing years of
service and support to our Program and Children! Here he is with his wife & grandchildren:
“I never
questioned his
dedication to
obtaining the
very best for
each child he
represented.
His tenacity is
second to
none. I will
miss working
with him.” Supervising
Attorney,
Jennifer Layton
“Don is always
there for me.
Even when I
run, I know
he’s still
working hard to
make sure I’m
okay. I’m not a
number to
him.” – Child,
age 14
“Don has made me a better CAM. He’s pushed me to be a better manager and certainly kept me on my
toes. Don wanted to make sure this wasn’t just a job to me; that I was in this field to make a difference. I’ve
found over the last several months that I’ve wanted to be a better CAM to show my team, Don included,
that I care and that these children are important to me.” – CAM, Susan Parra
“Don is a very conscientious advocate and he takes care of his cases well. He is very mindful and respectful
of the feelings of the children and he speaks highly of the children he is advocating for!” - Administrative
Assistant, Ken Fletcher
We are saddened by the passing of GAL Volunteer Shirley Ledford, a wonderful advocate who
served 33 children during her 2.5 years of service in our Program.
http://www.12gal.org/
Point 11 OPTIMA Pilot
It’s finally here….The 12th and 19th Circuits were selected to take part in the Optima pilot. We are thrilled
to be part of this exciting opportunity to test a database that may replace the existing system, Tracker. Optima
offers many easy-to-use features that will benefit GAL staff, volunteers and ultimately our children through
improved communication and accessible case data at your fingertips--anywhere you have an internet
connection! Each county has a “super-user” who is working in Optima during this pilot period (April 1 st-July
1st). Volunteers who are assigned to our “super-users” (Susan Parra, Sandee Woods and Ashley Husbands) will
have the opportunity to experience the new system firsthand. The super-users are offering training sessions for
their volunteers who wish to use this exciting, new tool!
If you are interested in an Optima training, please contact a super-user directly for dates and times. We
welcome you to take a look at Optima 
Point 12 12th Circuit Staff Updates
Senior Secretary (and GAL Volunteer), Kathy Dominguez,
joined our team in March. She will be assisting Optima superuser, Ashley Husbands, in the Sarasota office. Welcome, Kathy!
Senior Secretary, Jeanne Sheppard, joined our team in March.
She will assist Optima super-users, Susan Parra and Ken Fletcher,
In the Manatee office. Welcome, Jeanne!
Linda Steier, Child Advocate Manager in Sarasota, left the
GAL Program at the end of February. Linda plans to enjoy
time off before deciding to start a new chapter.
Lynne Higgins, Child Advocate Manager in Sarasota, left the
GAL Program at end of March to start a new job with Harvest
House. Lynne will remain a GAL Volunteer with our Program.
http://www.12gal.org/