NC Guardian Ad Litem Program in need of volunteers

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The North Carolina Guardian Ad Litem Program held an open house at their Wilmington office on Friday. 

The Ad Litem Program recruits, trains, and facilitates volunteers that can advocate for children who are in the hands of Social Services. 

District Administrator Linda Bialaszewski underscored the critical need for more volunteers, given the program’s heavy caseload and limited staff resources. 

“We need to have volunteers,” Bialaszewski said. “We can’t do the work that we do without them. As I mentioned, we have about 350 children that we’re working with, and we have a small staff.” 

Bialaszewski explained that children who are brought into the program are often victims of abuse or neglect, and need someone that they know has their best interests at heart. 

“The idea is that the same volunteer stays with the child from the beginning of the case until permanency is established,” Bialaszewski explained. “And that way they are the one constant person for that child. Their focus is what’s best for the child.” 

To volunteer with the North Carolina Guardian Ad Litem Program, you can start by visiting their website.