Lexington, SC, 03/14/25 – The Cass Elias McCarter Guardian ad Litem Program, a division of the South Carolina Department of Children’s Advocacy, is proud to announce the swearing-in of new Guardian ad Litem (GAL) volunteers for the Lexington County GAL Program.
During the swearing-in ceremony, Efrain Irizzary, Phillip Pickard, Patricia Sims, Nicole McMahon, Angela Cerbelli and Lynne Fallaw took an oath to provide a voice for abused and neglected children involved in family court legal proceedings. The ceremony took place on Friday, March 14, 2025, at the Lexington County Family Court House and was presided over by the Honorable Robert E. Newton.
These new volunteer Guardians ad Litem join other dedicated Lexington County community members who have been trained and are advocating for children in the family court system. The primary purpose of each GAL is to represent the best interests of the child during court proceedings. This requires each GAL to visit the child monthly to learn about the child’s wishes. They must also assess the child’s immediate safety and conduct interviews with others involved in the child’s life, including caseworkers, teachers, foster parents, and family members. The GAL then reports this information to the family court judge at scheduled hearings, along with a recommendation on the best course of action for the child.
“We’re always looking for dedicated individuals who are passionate about advocating for children,” says Richard Fowler, regional recruiter, and trainer for the GAL program. “If you are interested in learning how you can change a child’s story, we encourage you to visit gal.sc.gov to learn more.”
Volunteers should be at least 21 years old, have a clean criminal record, no previous DSS case history, and be able to contribute four to five hours a month of their time for a child. Free training is provided to all volunteers. The next training classes begins on April 29, 2025.
For more information on becoming a volunteer Guardian ad Litem, contact Richard Fowler at (803) 645-9956 or Richard.Fowler@childadvocate.sc.gov or visit gal.sc.gov.
Pictured are (L to R) Efrain Irizzary, Phillip Pickard, Patricia Sims, Nicole McMahon, Angela Cerbelli and Lynne Fallaw, The Honorable Robert E. Newton.
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