LUMBERTON — Guardian ad Litem volunteer advocates are needed to serve Robeson County children and act as their voice in cases of child abuse and neglect.

Advocates are trained volunteers who become involved only if petitions “alleging child abuse, neglect, or dependency” are filed in court by the Department of Social Services, according to information from the North Carolina Judicial Branch. Volunteers can join the program after filing an application and undergoing a screening interview and criminal background check, and completing 30 hours of training.

“Currently, our need is dire as there are over 300 children in our county in need of a GAL Volunteer Advocate,” said Patricia Lewis, GAL Program specialist for Robeson County.

There are fewer than 40 volunteers at a time when they are most needed, she said.

She noticed an increase in the case load beginning in 2019, and what was once an average case load of 20 to 30 per month has become about 40 per month, the program specialist said. Factors like Hurricane Florence and economic stresses like job loss affected numbers in 2019, she said.

The partnership between the Robeson County Department of Social Services and the GAL program is very important in protecting children, said Velvet Nixon, Robeson County DSS director.

“The Guardian ad Litem partnership with the Department of Social Services is critical when it comes to ensuring the best interests of children are advocated before the court,” Nixon said.

Their collaboration helps ensure that new perspectives are brought to the table and that children receive the best outcome, she said.

Responsibilities of GAL advocates include “advocating for special services, investigating community resources, and being the child’s voice in court,” according to the N.C. Judicial Branch.

“Their primary focus is that child, as it should be,” Nixon said.

Work can be completed on the weekends and volunteers have the option of taking only as many cases as they can complete, according to the NCJB. Full-time employees can be advocates but will need the permission of employers to attend court dates, which can be “every three to six months” on a case-by-case basis.

“The main qualification for becoming a GAL is to have a sincere concern for the well-being of children. There are no education or experience requirements. GAL volunteer advocates commit to serving on a child’s case until permanence is achieved, and cases usually take at least a year to be resolved,” according to N.C. Guardian ad Litem’s website.

Two N.C. Guardian ad Litem information sessions, titled “Invite More Voices,” will be offered Monday and Tuesday online. The sessions will take place on WebEx on Monday at noon and Tuesday at 3 p.m. Registration is free and can be completed at https://bit.ly/3rQuMx5.

The work of GAL advocates is especially important during Child Abuse Prevention Month, which promotes taking a stand against abuse as both individuals and as a community.

“I think it’s rewarding work that they do,” Nixon said of GALs. “You’re making an impact on a child’s life at this time, but it also carries into the future.”

Children who are abused carry with them their experiences, which can affect their behaviors, Nixon said.

“For example, exposure to violence in childhood increases the risks of injury, future violence victimization and perpetration, substance abuse, sexually transmitted infections, delayed brain development, lower educational attainment, and limited employment opportunities,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“At least one in seven children have experienced child abuse and/or neglect in the past year, and this is likely an underestimate. In 2019, 1,840 children died of abuse and neglect in the United States,” according to the CDC.

For more information about GALs or how to become an advocate, visit https://volunteerforgal.org.