INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Ted Talk Recommendation ……...2

Ribbon Cutting ........................ 2

Upcoming Court Dates ............ 2

CASA Conference .................... 3

Addiction Treatment …………….3

Birthdays ................................ 4

Unmotivated Students ........... 4

News You Can Use ................. 5

Mileage .................................. 6

Changes in Region .................. 6

Upcoming Training ............... 6

Online Offering ...................... 5

Two Cents ................................ 7

Contacts .................................. 7

NC Judicial District 9 E newsletter

Third Quarter 2019 Second GAL Classes of 2019

Two classes of D9 Advocates took their oaths in courtrooms in both Vance and Person Counties in May. The Honorable District Court Judge Ben Hunter presided over oaths in Franklin County Court on Thurs-day, May 30th for Franklin advo-cates: Christy Doi, Nancy Stephens, Emily Farrington and Yolanda Jackson. Judge Caroline Burnette adminis-tered oaths to new Person County GALs Carla Stovall, Rhonda Haynes and Mary Towell on Monday, June 3rd, 2019. We welcome our new D9 volunteers and look forward to working with them in securing safety and perma-nence to the children we serve. Our next training begins on Tues-day, July 9th . If you know of any interested friends or contacts, please spread the word! www.volunteerforgal.com

Left to right: (Christy Doi, Nancy Stephens, Judge Hunter, Emily Farrington, Yolanda Jackson

Left to right: Rhonda Haynes; Judge Caroline Bur-nette; Carla Stovall; Nancy Wagstaff and Julie Ramsey, Attorney Advocate.

Do you Know Someone

who could and would

serve as a GAL?

Please consider reaching

out to them with your

story of service!

TED Talk

Recommendation

Bryan Stevenson is the

founder and Executive Director of the Equal Jus-tice Initiative and one of the most acclaimed and respected lawyers in the nation. His memoir, Just Mercy, is the story of a young lawyer fighting on the frontlines of a country in thrall to extreme punish-ments and careless jus-tice. It is an inspiring sto-ry of unbreakable human-ity in the most desperate circumstances, and a powerful indictment of our broken justice system and the twisted values that allow it to continue. Mr. Stevenson spoke at our recent National CASA conference. Reminding us that our best is “good enough” and that we must continue our efforts to reach out to others in need. He states “proximity is key!”

https://www.ted.com/talks/

bry-

an_stevenson_we_need_to

_talk_about_an_injustice?

language=en

2

UPCOMING JULY and AUGUST COURT DATES

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On May 20th, 2019, the Granville County Chamber of Commerce hosted a

Ribbon Cutting for the new Guardian ad Litem offices in Oxford, NC. A num-

ber of media outlets, local dignitaries and GAL attended the reception that

included a tour and refreshments.

The opening of this office has been long time coming and opens up a number

of opportunities for our program to be more involved in Granville County.

Kudos are necessary for District Administrative, Mary Jo Van Horne. With-

out her vision and dedication to this project it would have never come to frui-

tion.

Franklin Vance Warren Granville Person

Jul. 25 Jul. 3 & 17 Jul. 23 Jul. 11 Jul. 1, 15 &

29

Aug. 29 Aug. 7 & 21 Aug. 28 Aug. 15 Aug. 5,19 &

30

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National CASA Conference ’19

D9 was fortunate to have one staff mem-

ber selected to attend the National Casa

Conference in Atlanta during the first

week of June.

Melanie Griggs, Program Supervisor,

attended the four day conference which

included a number of speakers, includ-

ing Mr. and Mrs. James Comey and for-

mer National Teacher of the year, Ron

Clark.

Small group sessions included infor-

mation about the impact of migration of

CASA/GAL cases, working with families

touched by addition and families with

incarcerated parents.

Approximately twenty GAL staff and

volunteers from North Carolina attend-

ed the conference.

At our recent CASA Conference, Brad Lander PhD, LICDC from the Addiction Medicine Center at The Ohio

State University presented the follow information:

When the brain is in distress, the most intricate and sophisticated areas of the brain are affected first includ-

ing the Prefrontal cortex

With the loss of Prefrontal cortex functioning comes:

• Fatigue • Unbalanced sugar levels • Stress • Pain • Illness • Alcohol / drug use

Goals of Treatment:

• Cessation and abstinence from all dopamine-surging chemicals

• Brain/body stabilization

• Empowerment to steer behavior with the Prefrontal cortex

• Eliminate/reduce environmental triggers

• Enhance neuroadaptation to recovery

Necessary Environmental Management:

• Establish a healthy life space

• Immersion into sober activities with sober people

• 12-step activity

CURRENT THOUGHT OF ADDICTION TREATMENT

Scholarly articles from a psychologi-

cal perspective often attempt to spec-

ulate about the issues behind unmo-

tivated students. It is often hypothe-

sized that many students who have

bad behavior or who give up are cov-

ering their concerns about being per-

ceived as stupid. They are protecting themselves from the

embarrassment of looking dumb in the eyes of their class-

mates, parents, and selves. Some students find power and

control in their refusals to work. They are often competent

and capable, but their need to be in control is so strong that

they employ a self-defeating strategy to exert their independ-

ent.

Depression among children as young as preschoolers is often

overlooked as a cause of poor school motivation. When de-

pressions is adequately diagnosed, treatment through coun-

seling and drug therapy can often be effective. Whether for

competence or autonomy, last of motivation is a protective

mechanism that must be respectfully challenged in order to

helps students make better choices.

When working with children, it is our responsibility to reach

out to those that who seem not to care. When such children

perceive that those around them have given up on them, they

may escalate their behaviors and become more hurtful, dan-

gerous and costly. (Solution-Tree.com)

Edutopia.com sites “Young people must believe they are capa-

ble of succeeding. Many students never realized that this was

possible, but if adults take baby steps, the teacher can sell

"the idea of success" to them. Like Peter Pan, a teacher has to

help students believe that success is possible and then give

them the skills to succeed. The younger they experience suc-

cess, the more likely it will continue.”

“Children perform for people that they care about. They care

about people who care about them. As a result, if an adult

takes time to discover what difficulties a child might be facing

and what needs the child has, that child is much more likely

to open up.”

BIRTHDAYS

JULY

• KIMBERLY LAMBERT

• ROBERTA FREEMAN

• JUDY GENTRY

• SHERI MINCEY

• JANET MOORE

• TERRI REYNOLDS

• SHERRI HOLLIMAN

• BONNIE BUCHANAN

• JAYNE BREMER

AUGUST

• PATRICK JACQUES

• SANDRA P. TREACY

• JESSICA MUNDAY

• SUSAN JACQUES

• CONNIE RYMAN

• KAY BLACKARD

• CAROLYN STOKLAS

• ALMICE FLOYD-GILL

• BERNADETTE WORTHAM

• DORIS SWANN

• KELLI LONDON

SEPTEMBER

• GARY MORGAN

• KERRY MACINTOSH

• ROBIN SCRUGGS

• MARY VAUGHN

• CAROLYN ROY

• GAIL BIRDSONG

• MARY KUGA

• MELISSA THOMAS

• LAURA HALL

• KAREN YOUNG

• AMBER WILLIAMS

• BETTY CURRIN

4

Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world.

For, indeed, that's all who ever have. ― Margaret Mead

5

News Y ou ca n U se: How Are F ost er Parent s

Re cr uite d and Tr a ine d?

The process of becoming a foster parent in North Caro-

lina involves a thorough assessment and mutual selec-

tion process that includes home visits, interviews, and

criminal background checks. North Carolina law re-

quires that foster parents are licensed by the NC Divi-

sion of Social Services with families working through

their local county DSS or a licensed private agency.

In North Carolina families who desire to become li-

censed foster parents are required to complete TIPS-

MAPP (Trauma Informed Partnering for Safety and Permanence – Model Approach to

Partnerships in Parenting) or an equivalent training and assessment process. This is a

minimum 30 hour course designed to inform participants about the child welfare system,

the role of foster and adoptive parents, develop participants’ skills to become successful

foster or adoptive parents and assess families to determine if fostering or adopting is the

best fit for their family. TIPS-MAPP is mandatory for foster parent licensure.

In an effort to guide families through this process, below are specific steps to get you started.

Foster Parenting Steps:

• Watch the mandatory Foster Parent Orientation video

• Choose an agency, local DSS or private foster care placing agency.

• Attend an orientation.

• Complete TIPS-MAPP course.

• Completion of Mutual Home Assessment for foster home licensing.

• The training agency must complete a Foster Home Application and submit it

to the NC Division of Social Services for review and licensure.

• Once licensed by the NC Division of Social Services, placements may begin

based on the family’s parenting abilities and preferences.

• Re-licensure of foster parents is required every 2 years.

For more information contact with local DSS or link to https://www.ncdhhs.gov/

divisions/social-services/nc-kids-adoption-and-foster-care-network/how-foster-and-or-

adopt

Mileage Reimbursement for GAL Staff is aware that children placed out of county create challenges–including financial-for GAL advocates. GAL Administrator Cindy Bizzell has announced availability from grant funds to approve mileage reimburse-ment (.25¢/mile) for monthly child vis-its (for as long as the grant funding is available). Please talk with your super-

visor about this reimbursement. If you decide to pursue it, an IRS W-9 form will have to be completed as well as mileage reimbursement forms. There is also a limited provision for re-imbursement for out-of-state travel. When the distance to be traveled warrants an overnight stay, the regional administrator for the region will be consulted regarding funding for hotel and per diam expenses. Talk to your supervisor.

GAL Guide Friday, July 19th from 9:00 – 12:30 at the VGCC Franklin Co campus, you have the opportunity to attend the third offering in 2019 of the 3-hour GAL practicum on the Guardian ad Litem Guide. This is a great opportunity to stay sharp. The sessions offered last summer in Kittrell and earlier this year in Oxford and Roxboro received positive feedback. It is a great way to spend non-court time with your peers. This will continue to be offered through the year with the intent of having every D9 GAL advocate attend. (GAL are encouraged to wait until two months after starting their first case.) Staff strive to offer rele-vant continuing education to assist you in meeting the 12-hour requirement.

CHANGES –2019 has been filled with change. Started the year with Person County merging with

Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren Counties and changes in the district’s staff responsibilities.

Since the last newsletter, GAL Regional Administrator, Cy Gurney has retired leaving a legacy of

strong GAL districts with individuals who work tirelessly to achieve the mission. Cy is in pursuit of

being a master gardener and enjoying time with her husband.

The revised GAL preservice training has been launched with a much needed specific unit addressing

trauma. (Anyone up for retraining?)

Starting July 1st, the State GAL Regions increase to 4. We welcome Geoffrey Farmer as he steps in as

the Regional Administrator of the new Northern Central Region—the new region that D9 is part of.

Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment

The Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment Training offered through

Prevent Child Abuse NC is designed for professionals and volunteers working with children and

families and any NC citizen concerned with child well-being. This on-line training takes approxi-

mately two hours to complete.

https://preventchildabusenc-lms.org/courses/rrcourse/

DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR’S TWO CENTS

Summer is here bringing the end to the fiscal year. I enjoy

looking back as much as planning for the future. Looking at the

statistics, 129 Guardians ad Litem represented 376 chil-

dren. There were 1,142 completed hearings in the district. 30

new GAL took their oaths. There were 141 new petitions and

235 child clients attained permanence.

Substance misuse and dependence is significantly present in petitions. Advocates participated

in conversations and meetings, testified and presented evidence in court that assured

thoughtfulness in decisions. Always keeping that important question at the forefront, “How is

this in the best interest of my child client?”

Practicing persistence, respecting the child’s sense of time in all of the work. Celebrating the

reunifications, awarding of custody and adoptions. Assuring those young adults that turn 18

without permanence have the resources for the best chance of succeeding. Being the Voice for

the Children in Our Community is exactly what GAL advocates make sure happens every day

in D9.

How fortunate the 5 counties of D9 are to have individuals who step up to be part of the solu-

tion in addressing child abuse and neglect. Staff member are grateful to have these incredible

individuals serving as Guardian ad Litem.

Mary Jo

Guardian Ad Litem Offices

Franklin County Office Granville County Office

P.O. Box 673 1001 College St.

Hobgood Courthouse Annex Oxford, NC 27565

113 S. Main St. (919) 690-4924

Louisburg, NC 27549

(919) 497-4244

Vance County Office Person County Office

P.O. Box 722 Person County Courthouse

Vance County Courthouse 105 S. Main St.

156 Church St. Roxboro, NC 27573

Henderson, NC 27536 (336) 503-5265

(252) 430-5121

www.volunteerfor gal.com