Guardian ad Litem Program Announces 11 new Advocates


Newest Guardian ad Litem advocates.  Pictured with Judge J. Henry Banks are (Left – right) Dennis Peay, Michelle Scott, Marie Watkins, Mary Marrow, Gail Birdsong, Theresa Cook, BrieAnna Hester, Stephanie Black, Pam Hester, Erris Dunston, and Michael Ranes.

Newest Guardian ad Litem advocates. Pictured with Judge J. Henry Banks are (Left – right) Dennis Peay, Michelle Scott, Marie Watkins, Mary Marrow, Gail Birdsong, Theresa Cook, BrieAnna Hester, Stephanie Black, Pam Hester, Erris Dunston, and Michael Ranes.

As the district administrator for the Guardian ad Litem Program of Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin Counties, I am pleased to announce that 11 citizens have completed training and taken their oaths to be Guardian ad Litem advocates.  Along with a GAL attorney, these individuals will serve children who are victims of abuse or neglect to assure that their best interest interests are protected in court and that they are in safe, permanent homes as soon as possible.  New classes are forming. For more information, please call (919)497-3010 or (252)430-5121 or visit www.ncgal.org

The role of Guardian ad Litem advocates is to:

  • Fulfill state and federal statutory mandates to protect and promote the best interests of juveniles in abuse and neglect court proceedings
  • Help the courts work efficiently toward safety and permanence for children
  • Conduct independent investigations to determine the facts, needs of the child, and the resources appropriate to meet those needs
  • Determine the wishes or expressed preferences of the child and report those to the court
  • Provide a voice for abused and neglected children in every county of the state

Mary Jo Van Horne, LCSW
District Administrator
Guardian ad Litem Program