Guardian ad Litem

For the January general meeting, Guardian At Litem will be joining us to educate us about this very important program. For information prior to the meeting, please visit their website, http://www.guardianadlitem.org/.

I also thought I would post this editorial from today's St. Petersburg Times.

Kids in foster care needn't fly solo Nov. 23
Guardian ad litem is lifeline for child

A recent story stated that children are appointed a guardian ad litem "to represent the child's 'best interest' when it comes to where they will live." Guardians ad litem do make those types of recommendations, but it is important to recognize that they do so much more. I am a pro bono attorney, who, like a number of others, volunteers through the 6th Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program. I have been involved with the program for the past eight years. I cannot say enough about the difference it makes in the lives of our children.

Three years ago, our local GAL Program established a Transitioning Youth Project, where lay and attorney volunteers were recruited and trained to work with youth 13 to 18 who faced aging out of foster care. We completed the GAL Program's "Fostering Independence" training. I am now a trained guardian ad litem attorney, and along with other volunteers and staff, advocate for the best interests and legal rights of these teens in foster care.

In this time of state budget deficits, the importance of the Guardian ad Litem Program cannot be understated. If anyone is interested in joining us to volunteer to help these teenagers, please call (727) 464-6528 or visit www.guardianadlitem6.org to learn more about the program and the role you can play in making a difference in these children's lives.

John E. Tuthill, St. Petersburg

Skating Party at Countryside Mall

Yesterday about a dozen volunteers from JLCD together with volunteers from the YMCA and Eckerd Youth Alternatives coordinated a skating party for 78 children in the foster system in Pinellas and Pasco counties. JLCD volunteers helped the kids put on their skates, skated with the kids, and provided a pizza party for the participants. This JLCD annual event is certainly a highlight to many of these children. Thank you to all who participated. I know your time and efforts put a smiles on the faces of all the children there.

Pick up your Book Now!

"Three Little Words" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter have arrived. Ashley will be our guest speaker at the first General Meeting on September 8, 2008 at Mease Dunedin Hospital.

Copies are available prior to the General Meeting at HQ next week on Monday and Thursday and then the next few weeks on Monday through Thursday from Becky between 9am-12:00pm for $10.

Please take time to read this before our meeting! I am sure you see a different perspective, and will have lots of questions!

Here is Ashley's brief bio and her website is http://www.rhodes-courter.com/.

Ashley Rhodes-Courter was born in North Carolina in 1985 and entered foster care in 1989. Over the next 9 years, she lived in 14 placements before being adopted at age 12 by Phil and Gay Courter of Crystal River, Florida.

Ashley graduated with honors from Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. She was the recipient of Eckerd's Trustee's Scholarship, their most prestigious full-tuition award. She has won several other national and local scholarships. She completed a double major in communications and drama with a double minor in political science and psychology. She spent her January term, 2006 in South Africa working with a children's literacy project.

In the community, she has a job in marketing, and works with the Heart Gallery of Pasco & Pinellas and also does on-camera work. Ashley was the 2004 Youth Advocate of the Year for the North American Council on Adoptable Children and won the Child Welfare League of America "Kids to Kids" National Service Grand Prize. In 2004, she and her family jointly won the Angels in Adoption from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute and was nominated by Congresswoman, Ginny Brown-Waite.

On June 1, 2003, the New York Times Magazine published her grand prize winning essay, "Three Little Words". She expanded her essay into a memoir (also called "Three Little Words") which was published by Simon & Schuster.

In 2007, she was one of 20 college students selected for the USA Today All-USA Academic Team. She also was one of the four GOLDEN BR!CK Award winners for outstanding advocacy by Do Something, and was named one of GLAMOUR Magazine's Top Ten College Women.

Ashley has been featured on Montel Williams, Good Morning America, $.99 Cool Ranch Doritos bags, and other national and local television shows. She is currently maintaining a full calendar of speeches and workshops all across the country. She has a passion to tell her story and share hope with other foster children and encourage adoption and permanency.

Foster Family Fun at the Highland YMCA

On Saturday, Diane Manuel and Sara Lake coordinated a very successful foster fun day with over 100 children and their families at the YMCA on Highland in Clearwater. The foster children enjoyed all sorts of games, a drum circle, face-painting, and of course, no event would be complete without pizza and healthy fruit. The provisional class chose to present this fun event with the extra funding from the holiday gift program.

A HUGE thanks to Diane and Sara for planning and executing this wonderful event! Thanks also to Stephanie Barsema, Jill Holcombe, Erin Authier, Marcy Hawk (and a special thanks to her Mother), Linda Griggs, Karen Gaumer, Lisa Shadroui, Leslie Hanley, Abby Favali, Joanna Rosse, Sharon Gilberg, Jen Muscato, Lambdin Freeman, Amy Connors and anyone I may have missed.

As I wasn't able to attend, please post your comments about the event.

P.S. Lambdin took these wonderful pics!