Guardian Ad Litem

Guardian Ad Litem Circuit Director Alexsa Leto accepts a proclamation from the Board of County Commissioners on behalf of her staff and volunteers.

www.monroecounty-fl.gov/gal

Guardian ad Litem, established into Florida law in 1980, mandates that every abused, neglected, or abandoned child who enters the dependency court system be providedwith an advocate, known as a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL), to protect the child’s best interest. The Guardian ad Litem program ensures that Monroe County provides the highest quality of representation to children involved in dependency and criminal (witness or victim) court proceedings. The program identifies the necessary resources and constructs a comprehensive plan to achieve permanency for all children and their families. The Guardian ad Litem Program advocates exclusively for the best interests of children. The Guardian ad Litem takes a team approach that includes a volunteer, attorney, and a child advocate manager working together to achieve the highest standard of advocacy. Guardian Ad Litem’s guiding mission is “For Children.”

2020 has been a challenging year due to COVID -19 restrictions and social -distancing. However, the Guardian ad Litem Team, aided by our public-private partnerships, found permanent homes for 123 children through family reunifications, adoptions, permanent guardianships, and age-out transitions. You can make a difference in the Florida Keys by becoming a Guardian ad Litem. Being a volunteer is a rewarding opportunity. If you are interested, call 305.292.3485. Also in 2020, 178 children in the Monroe County Dependency System were served by 89 volunteers, who selflessly gave their time. This volunteer work includes investigation, report writing, and testimony about a child’s current situation. Research shows that children who are represented by a volunteer advocate are 50 percent less likely to return to foster care or have fewer placement changes. Historically these children also do better in school.

To close out 2020, Voices for Florida Keys Children, Inc., a notfor-profit organization that benefits the Guardian ad Litem program, delivered presents to 200+ children and distributed 40 gift cards for food and sundries to local families. Voices for Florida Keys Children is guided by an allvolunteer board dedicated to help children who are served by the Guardian ad Litem.

Circuit Director: Alexsa Leto 305.292.3485 Leto-Alexsa@ monroecounty-fl.gov Budget: $210,000 Employees: 11 (2 County, 9 State)

CORE VALUES OF OUR PROGRAM

Commitment to Children:

the children for whom we advocate are our most important priority.

Communication Built on

Trust: we have a culture of open communication, active listening, teamwork, and regard for the views of others. This includes being honest and straightforward with the children we represent in keeping with their level of age and maturity.

Collective Empowerment:

the program has the authority and responsibility to make and implement the best decisions to meet the children’s needs. This empowerment must extend and passed on to volunteers, attorneys, and staff.

Collaboration: we proactively seek to develop relationships that promote the well-being of the whole child.

Courtesy: the program values all who engage in this challenging work and ensures they are treated with respect and dignity.