A cruel cut to volunteerism

The Guardian ad Litem program protects endangered children, provides critical assistance to Florida's courts and, thanks to its largely volunteer workforce, saves taxpayers millions of dollars.

At present, 6,800 volunteers serve as advocates for 23,000 children. There is only one paid staffer for every 14 volunteers.

Yet this bare-bones efficiency may be the agency's undoing. State officials plan a 10 percent cut to a Guardian ad Litem program that already has had its budget cut from $35 million to $30 million since 2007.

These cuts resulted in the loss of 71 positions. Since the agency's staffing is so thin, the cuts directly affect service to children in need.

Already there are nearly 7,000 children in Florida's court system without an independent advocate. A 10 percent cut will eliminate another 25 full-time positions and result in more than 750 additional children going without representation.

Florida lawmakers should see that the costs of neglecting these vulnerable kids would be far greater than investing in their welfare now.

Guardian ad Litem volunteers are appointed by the court to represent the interests of children who have been abused, abandoned or neglected. The participants meet with the children and represent each child's specific interests to the court during dependency hearings.

A participant must undergo 30 hours of training. During a case, the volunteer visits the child at least monthly to monitor his or her safety and stability. The guardian will conduct interviews and review records to determine the best course of action for the child. The volunteer may also arrange doctor appointments and deal with other necessities.

An experienced volunteer supervisor advises the guardian and helps ensure the case is handled properly. An attorney is assigned to work with the volunteer on the child's behalf. The lawyer files motions and attends mediations and court hearings to represent the child.

Judges involved in dependency cases rave about the program's effectiveness.

An analysis by an independent agency found the value of the volunteers in just one month - October 2009 - was more than $700,000.

Those kind of savings are the reason Gov. Jeb Bush's 2003 Blue Ribbon Task Force concluded "... if there is any program that costs the least and benefits the most, this one is it."

The agency illustrates volunteerism at its best. But even the most enthusiastic volunteers need oversight, training and guidance. If the state does not provide adequate support, citizens will be less inclined to take on this difficult challenge. The backlog of costly needs in the judicial system will surely increase.

That is no way to save tax dollars.

The Guardian ad Litem program is not for the faint-hearted. Volunteers encounter children with heartbreaking stories. The reward comes in knowing they've helped give a mistreated child the best chance for a safe and happy life.

Rather than placing the Guardian ad Litem program on the chopping block, Tallahassee leaders should hold it out as a sterling example of good government and good citizenship.