Fiscal Year 2019-2020LEGISLATIVE BUDGET REQUEST

AD LITEMGUARDIAN

● Investigate and examine the facts of the case● Represent the child’s best interests● Monitor the progress of the case● Give the child a voice in the proceeding● Make reports and recommendations to the court● Promote permanency for children

Florida Statutes require appointment of a Guardian ad Litem in every dependency proceeding. § 39.822, Florida Statutes.

As the child’s representative, Guardians ad Litem:

ADVOCATING FOR CHILDREN’S BEST INTERESTS

GUARDIAN AD LITEM | LBR 2019-2020

WORKLOAD INCREASE ISSUE

● In certain areas of the state, the number of children entering the child welfare system has increased at an unusually high rate.

● For example, over the past several years current numbers show Circuit 5 (Marion County) had a 74% increase of children in out-of-home care and Circuit 13 (Hillsborough County) is up 41%.

● Guardian ad Litem is requesting $3,830,146 in recurring general revenue for an additional 64 FTEs to manage and support Guardian ad Litem Volunteer Child Advocates in circuits where the biggest impacts are occurring.

GUARDIAN AD LITEM | LBR 2019-2020

● Requesting $358,128 recurring and $299,342 non-recurring general revenue (total $657,470) and 3 FTE to implement a program of certification and training for 380 professional child advocate managers.

CERTIFICATION ISSUE

● Working with Florida Certification Board and FSU Child Welfare Institute, Guardian ad Litem will establish quality and ethical standards, competency testing and professional development requirements to parallel those of Department of Children and Families and Community-Based Care case managers.

GUARDIAN AD LITEM | LBR 2019-2020

VOLUNTEERS’ EXTRAORDINARY TRAVEL EXPENSE ISSUE

● 19% of abused and neglected children are placed out of their home circuits and over 36% are placed out of their home counties.

● For Volunteer Child Advocates on fixed incomes, travel costs to visit the children can be a barrier to taking and staying on cases.

● A consistent advocate is vital to the child and the court, particularly in a system with significant turnover, and a child’s guardian ad litem is sometimes the only stable adult in his or her life.

● Guardian ad Litem is requesting $331,262 be reauthorized this year, and as recurring general revenue, to enable the Guardian ad Litem Program to reimburse Volunteer Child Advocates for extraordinary travel expenses incurred in the best interests of children.

GUARDIAN AD LITEM | LBR 2019-2020

ADDITIONAL LBR REQUESTS

Budget Realignment OPS Attorneys to FTE

Align Attorney Benefits with Select Exempt Service

Voices for Children Contract Support

Pay Adjustments for Field Managers

Revenue Neutral

$457,617 (recurring)

$240,513 (recurring)

$150,000 (recurring)

GUARDIAN AD LITEM | LBR 2019-2020

SCHEDULE VIII B EXERCISE- $4,219,992

10% reduction eliminates 72 FTEs

Reduces Guardian ad Litem ability to manage almost 2,000 citizen Volunteer Child Advocates

Erodes Guardian ad Litem ability to meet mandate in Florida Statutes that all dependent children be

represented by a Guardian ad Litem

GUARDIAN AD LITEM | LBR 2019-2020

Alan F. Abramowitz, Executive Director

Florida Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office600 S. Calhoun StreetThe Holland Building(850) 922.7213GuardianadLitem.org

AD LITEMFiscal Year 2019-2020Legislative Budget Request

GUARDIAN

Guardian ad Litem - Helping Children Reach Their Way Home.