I have spent the better half of the past 5 years working or volunteering for the Guardian ad Litem Office. That came to an end, last week on September 12th as I left my position as a Child Advocate Manager “CAM” , having held that position for nearly three years time. As a CAM, I held a steady caseload of 30 cases and 54 kids, that I was responsible to meet with monthly, write court reports for, attend court proceedings in the dependency court system weekly, and advocate for the children involved. While I loved every minute of it and being very rewarding work, it also came at a price, sacrificing long days, nights and weekends that I missed out on family time. Working in a field of child welfare of an overburdened system with little supports or access to much needed trauma services and other service needs of the children. I made the decision that it was time to move on to another position, working with the Child Protection Teams doing forensic interviews with UF health. While my schedule will now be at an office, my schedule will be more predictable, 9-5 work. No caseloads, no additional expectations, maybe some on call hours at the most scheduled throughout the month.
As I reflect on my experiences with Guardian ad Litem, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity it has afforded me—the personal growth and the people I have had the pleasure to serve alongside. There are many memories and people I have crossed paths with that I am honored to know and continue to support. One such special individual is a 14 yr old teen who currently lives in a group home, we will call him Spike. Spike is a sweet young man, who is entirely misunderstood, has a plethora of intellectual disabilities and mental health conditions, and ultimately like any kid in the dependency system, seeks out stability and someone to care for him, to love him unconditionally. Spike I went to visit some time ago at his group home out near the panhandle. We spent time at a little town nearby in Madison FL , going to brunch, an antique store and a bookshop. Spike doesn’t require much, loves his electronics and video game time, and has a quick tongue and biting humor. He calls me daily from the home, still now after I have left GAL still keeps in touch by phone.
My last week, my coworkers gave me a thoughtful card that read inside, “this sucks” and many messages of well-wishes. One parent brought me a rose and a gift card to my office. My co-workers also got me a delicious chocolate cheesecake from Publix’s secret stock. The whole week was filled with mixed emotions as I did my best to visit the kids I could, notify as many caregivers as possible, tie up loose ends and documentation in the system, and pack up my office. I know generally it was the right move, generally speaking I am still alittle anxious about what lies ahead. As I move to new employment at the end of the month, I am extremely humbled and moved by the experience with the Guardian ad Litem Office in Clay county. For now I am enjoying the lovely downtime between employment and remembering all the wonderful memories with such an amazing agency.
The Seascapechronicles 