Help Wanted: Protect the Youth

Details: Created on Thursday, 21 April 2016 17:20; Written by Dylan Clark

Around the NEK- Due to an increase in children who have been involved in court related issues, the Department of Children and Families are seeking guardians to help serve as advocates for abused, neglected or at risk youth currently living in Caledonia County.

Shockingly, the number of youth currently in the court system is sitting at 19,000, which is up approximately 30 percent from just four years ago.

The Department of Children and Families envisions Vermont as a place where people prosper; children and families are safe and have strong, loving connections, and individuals have the opportunity to fully develop their potential.

Because of this vision, the DCF is encouraging people to help the cause move forward by becoming guardians. Guardian AD Litem Coordinator Karen Ackermann believes even if people don't want to be a guardian they can still just be there for the children.

"What regular people can do even if they don't want to volunteer as a guardian Ad Litem is to always be there for children and be aware and to open their eyes and ears to what's going on," says Ackermann. "If they see concerns or they see things that they feel are not appropriate they need to pick up the phone and call."

Ackermann also stated the issue isn't the lack of volunteers in the GLA program, but rather the increase in youths in the court system that has forced their hand in looking for more volunteers.

"We have over the past number of years increased the ranks of Guardian at Litems, however in the past four or five years the number of children involved in the court system has risen significantly," says Ackermann. "The need for more Guardian at Litems has risen significantly."

It is important to remember that if you think anyone may be abused or neglected you can call the Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-649-5285.