ADDISON COUNTY — Guardians ad litem are volunteers who are appointed by judges in juvenile court cases to advocate for the best interest of children involved in those cases.

They meet with parties to the case, spend time getting to know the child, attend court hearings, and give their opinion about what would be in the best interest of the child given the available options. Volunteers receive considerable training and mentoring before taking on their first case. Addison County has a dedicated team of volunteer GALs, and they are always looking for new candidates.

Right now, thousands of Vermont’s children and youth are part of proceedings in Family Courts. Many of them are victims of abuse or neglect, accused of delinquent acts, or simply lost. They may be in foster care while they wait for safe, permanent homes. They may need someone to help them understand what’s happening, to advocate for their best interests, and to make sure that their voices are heard.

To children, the entire court experience may be confusing and scary. As part of the process, they may have their most private secrets revealed to strangers. When the case is over, these strangers disappear and leave the children to live with the decisions made about their lives.

The Vermont Guardian ad Litem Program ensures that every court has trained volunteers to serve as caring and independent child advocates. A guardian ad litem can make certain that at least one child is not alone.

WHAT A GUARDIAN DOES

Typically, a GAL:

• Meets with the child at least once a month.

• Gathers information from parents, foster parents and other people close to the child.

• Communicates regularly with the state Department for Children and Families (DCF) and the child’s lawyer.

• Promotes cooperation between the parties.

• Ensures that the court has all relevant information about the child.

Some of the active guardians ad litem in Addison County have shared their experience helping kids involved with the courts.

Ron Monroe

RON MONROE

As a recently retired high school teacher, I was first drawn to becoming a Guardian ad Litem by the purpose of the position of helping children, and I have found that to certainly be the case.

While my training covered much helpful ground, I still find that there is so much to learn about being a GAL, as each case I take on has its unique challenges. So, as I make my way through my second year, my learning curve continues to be a high one as I become better acquainted not only with the Vermont family court system but also with myself.

In some ways I feel privileged to be allowed, if not welcomed, into a family at a moment of stress when possibly the last thing they would want is a complete stranger stepping in. And even in their oftentimes difficult situations, I have found that kids will still be kids and discovering that firsthand has been both familiar and comforting to me.

So, I look forward to the future possibilities being a GAL will bring me, despite and maybe because of I won’t know exactly what each case will bring and what skills it will call upon, all the while doing my best to find a balance between what size case load I feel comfortable carrying and what the state’s needs are at any given moment.

MIKE GREENWOOD

My GAL journey actually began with a poem, Mary Oliver’s “A Summer Day,” where she asks, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” Having just retired with 35-plus years in education, wondering what’s next and where I might make a positive difference.

MIKE GREENWOOD

Then I read in the Addy Indy’s “By the Way” column the need for Guardian Ad Litems. I thought why not?

The description of being a GAL and being a teacher was not all that disparate as the focus of both was being an advocate for what is best for kids. To be an effective advocate, the description of a GAL said requires building connections and developing trust, something I had experience with. It is for these reasons that I continue to be a GAL.

I attended 32 hours of pre-service training, which I found difficult as it occurred during COVID and was online. I remember feeling overwhelmed with court jargon and procedures, and I questioned if I had made the right choice.

When I completed the training and was assigned a mentor, all my anxieties of being unable to be an effective GAL were washed away. The mentor component of the training was the application of what I learned in the online course and quickly solidified that I had made the right decision. I was lucky as Linda, my mentor, was patient and wise in many ways. I did home visits with her, court appearances, and school visits.

As a guardian ad litem I am granted the privilege to get to work with kids. Independently I review the facts, work with a variety of stakeholders, from the child’s lawyer, the Department for Children staff, to family members. In Family Court, your opinion and recommendations are sought as you help the court determine what is in the child’s best interest.

However, direct interaction with children is at the core of why I am a GAL. You demonstrate respect and interest in their lives and work to build a level of trust with each child and your relationship with the child begins to have meaning and importance to them. You know when a child is waiting to meet with you, week after week, that making that positive difference is occurring. And that is at the core of my satisfaction of being a guardian ad litem.

DEBORAH DICKERSON

DEBORAH DICKERSON

I have been volunteering as a guardian ad litem since late 2017. The seed was planted about 15 years prior when an attorney who represented children shared that there was always a need for more GALs. We were in the locker room after our swim and I thought, “Whatever that is!”

Years later, when my youngest son reached high school, I began prayerfully considering how to reinvest my “mom time.” I had just read attorney Bryan Stevenson’s book “Just Mercy” and realized the importance of having individuals who walk beside a court-involved individual or family in a compassionate and non-judgmental fashion.

It is satisfying to see parents work to improve their lives in order to strengthen their relationships with their children.

Anyone who would like more information on being a guardian ad litem, or who would like to volunteer for the job, should contact Joe Jiloty, Guardian ad Litem Regional Coordinator for Addison, Rutland and Bennington counties by email at [email protected]. More information is also available on the Vermont courts website at www.vermontjudiciary.org/GAL.

Current or Recent Volunteer Guardians ad Litem in Addison County

Deborah Dickerson

Christopher Dayton

Betty Farr

Peter Ryersbach

Cathy Vincent

Brenda Hamm

Tim Vincent

Valerie Szymkowicz

Ron Monroe

Kathleen Samler

Eileen Bradford

Christie Crowe

Linda Horn

Nita Wade

Mike Greenwood

Jennifer Thompson

Claudia Cooper

Susan Sears

Kathleen Mackey

Kathleen Pratt