PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE CITIZEN From left to right, Rhonda Neal, Charlene Gardner, Michele Silva and Connie Prevatt were recently certified as Lehigh Guardian ad Litem child advocates.

There is a tremendous need in Lehigh Acres for families who can offer assistance to foster children who need help. Adults are needed to represent alleged abused, neglected and abandoned children needing a voice in their own future.

According to Mary Ann Brownstein, a recruiter and public relations liaison in the 20th Judicial Circuit, Lehigh is home to about 145 such children living in foster homes, relatives’ homes, or their own home, under dependency court supervision.

She said that in the adjacent area, there are more than 200 children who need the help of adults who can be their advocates.

Rhonda Neal, Charlene Gardner, Michele Silva, and Connie Prevatt, recently were certified as Lehigh Guardian ad Litem child advocates, bringing Lehigh’s resident child advocate numbers up to only 18.

“Many more volunteers are needed to represent every Lehigh child’s best interests and give them a voice in their future,” Brownstein said

Raelyn Means

Circuit Guardian ad Litem Director Raelyn Means said that when Guardian ad Litem volunteers live in the same area as the children they represent, they have a vested interest in ensuring the child’s needs are met.

“They want to see their own community’s children grow up to be contributing members of society. That’s why we want to find more Lehigh residents to an effective voice for children living here. Speaking for a Lehigh child ultimately translates to speaking for your community.”

To learn more about the program and to become certified, there is a one-hour orientation on Wednesday, April 18 from 5 to 6 p.m. at United Way House at Lehigh Community Services, 201 Plaza Drive, Suite 23 in Lehigh.

Brownstein said it is one hour that could mean a lifetime of success to a child.

You can call Brownstein at 995-3737 for more information about volunteering and to reserve you spot at the orientation.

Guardian ad Litem volunteers are ordinary people who are court appointed through the program and supported by staff.

Volunteers provide a voice for the child and advocate for the child’s best interests in court, the child welfare system and the community about 8 to 10 hours on their own schedule.

Brownstein said every volunteer must be a Florida resident, at least 21 yes old, pass a background check and participate in free training. No legal background is required because a program attorney is assigned to every child’s case, she said.

The Lehigh Kiwanis Club recently saw the need to help local children and donated funds to help identify and train Lehigh residents to be Guardians ad Litem through Voices for Kids of Southwest Florida.

That group is the 20th Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program’s non-profit partner which provides additional funding needed to find and train volunteers and to help give children what they need individually, not provided by any other source aimed at kids being kids, Brownstein said.

Voices for Kids of Southwest Florida is a United Way partner agency.

For more information and to see how you can help children needing advocates now in Lehigh, go online at: www.voicesforkids.org and www.guardianadlitem.org for more information.