Purpose

The purpose of the Guardian ad Litem Program is to give abused and neglected children a voice in family court and a comforting presence throughout a traumatic time. The GAL Program supports volunteers whose focus is the child’s best interests rather than the interests of any other person or group. The Program is charged with providing the family court, through its court-appointed volunteers, recommendations, based on the guardian ad litem’s independent investigation of the case.

Mission Statement

The mission of the South Carolina Guardian ad Litem Program is to recruit, train and supervise volunteers who are court-appointed to represent and advocate for the best interests of children in the child welfare system and in family court proceedings involving allegations of abuse and neglect.

Vision

The vision of the Guardian ad Litem Program is to provide a well-trained, competent, appropriately motivated volunteer child advocate for every child in South Carolina involved in a DSS family court case of abuse or neglect. Further, the vision is to have an effective staff to support the volunteers in their efforts by providing supervision, on-going training and assistance in each case. The GAL Program envisions being an integral part of the child welfare system’s improvement.

Values

Every child deserves a safe, permanent home that provides adequately for his or her physical needs and emotional well-being. The Guardian ad Litem Program is committed to helping children find safe, permanent, nurturing homes. The Program values reuniting families when it is safe for the child to return home and moving a child to adoption when the biological home cannot be made safe and stable. We value treating children of every race, ethnicity, ability and religion with equal care and concern.

Guardian ad Litem Oath

I solemnly swear that I will vigorously advocate for the best interests of the child(ren) for whom I have been appointed the Guardian ad Litem, that I will faithfully and responsibly carry out all duties incumbent upon me as a court appointed Guardian ad Litem. I further swear that I will abide by the policy and procedures of the Guardian ad Litem Program which include independently investigating the facts of the child(ren)’s case, submitting written reports to the Family Court, monitoring the child(ren)’s situation monthly, protecting the child(ren)’s best interests, and hold all information confidential.

The purpose of the Guardian ad Litem Program is to give abused and neglected children a voice in family court and a comforting presence throughout a traumatic time. The GAL Program supports volunteers whose focus is the child’s best interests rather than the interests of any other person or group. The Program is charged with providing the family court, through its court-appointed volunteers, recommendations, based on the guardian ad litem’s independent investigation of the case.