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THE NEWS-JOURNAL Raeford, N.C.
May 1,19%
Volunteeer program
focuses on children
By Jen Osborn
Staff writer
Anna McPhatter doesn’t havechil-
dren of her own but she’s always
taken a personal interest i n the I i ves of
the children in and around her com
munity.
That’s why for the past three years,
McPhatter has given hours upon hours
of her own time to advocate for chil
dren in Hoke and Scotland counties as
a volunteer with the guardian ad litem
program, a program in which an adult
acts as a child’s voice in court.
McPhatter said being a volunteer
has been fulfilling because she can
give children the best of her abilities
and attention.
“I guessguardian ad litem has filled
kind of a void in me because it’s
allowed me to share a love nothing
else has,” McPhatter said.
Children, she said, are the most
precious gifts and people should do
everything in their power to make
sure they have the opportun ity to grow
up in a productive, loving environ
ment. McPhatter said it upsets her to
hear of a child who has been abused or
neglected.
“I think it should not only bother
me, but it should bother every citi
zen,” McPhatter said. If people know
of abuse and don’t report it, they are
just asguilty as the person causingthe
abuse, she said.
Getting involved
McPhatter has been working as a
volunteer with the guardian ad litem
program for more than three years.
“One of my co-workers told me
about it because I do a lot of work with
youth and she thought it would be
something I’d enjoy,” McPhaJter said.
So, she said, she fil led out an appli
cation and was accepted to go through
the 20-hour training program required
to be a court-appointed guardian. In
the application period, there is a crimi
nal background check as well as a
personal history listing of work with
children.
One reason appi icants must write a
paragraph describing their interest in
the program is to avoid people who
may have ulterior motives.
“You have to be worthy, really, to
work with a program like this,”
McPhatter said.
In her time as a volunteer,
McPhatter said it’s been enriching
work, although sometimes difficult.
“I’ve had cases that were very
heartbreaking because you go in as an
objective person but when it comes to
a child, it’s easy to become emotion
ally attached,” McPhatter said.
However, she said, the good times
outweigh the bad.
“It’s been rewarding because it
‘7/’5 been rewarding because it gives me a chance to
look at the way our children are being handled
through the system. I was pleased. It (the volunteer
program) answered a lot of questions about the judi
cial system. ”
—Anna McPhatter
gives me a chance to look at the way
ourchildrenare being handled through
the system,” McPhatter said. “I was
pleased. It (the volunteer program)
answered a lot of questions about the
judicial system.”
Fortunately, she said, all the cases
she’s been involved with have been
successful and the children have been
returned to their homes. Although the
guardian ad litem program works with
the department of social services to
protect children from abuse and ne
glect from their families, its intent is
to find solution to problems, said Jean
Miller, district administrator of the
guardian ad litem program. She ex
plained foster care is meant to be a
short-term solution until problemsare
corrected.
“My role is to advocate for the
child,” McPhatter said. “1 like to keep
the family union because that’s what
we’re all about.”
Time>consuming work
Being a volunteer in the guardian
ad litem program can take as little or
as much time as the individual person
is willing to put forth, according to
Miller. Sometimes, she said, it does
take a large lime commitment be
cause certain cases, tike sexual abuse
allegations, are very complicated.
“You want to make sure you’ve
studied the case, interviewed all par
ties,” McPhatterexplained.“You want
to make sure you spend quality time.”
And even if a lot of time and effort
is put forth, McPhatter said she still
often feels she could have prepared
better for whatever the judge may
ask.
“It’s through your eyes he’s going
to see what’s best for this child,”
Miller said.
Call for help
The guardian ad litem process be
gins when abuse is reported to the
authorities or the department of social
services. Miller said.
“Once a petition is filed alleging
abuse or neglect the program is auto
matically appointed,” Miller said.
Miller said she usually tries to
match cases with a volunteer’s indi
vidual experience and the caseload he
or she is able to handle. After the
judge’s appointment. Miller said, an
investigation begins. Volunteers have
court authority to interview anybody
that may have contact with the fam
ily. The information they obtain.
Miller said, is highly confidential.
That’s one reason volunteers must go
through such a strict process before
they’re accepted into the program.
After an investigation, the volun
teer usually organizes the collected
material and discusses the case with
Miller. Then, a report is submitted to
the judge.
“I try to emphasize to people that
we’re that child’s voice in court,”
Miller said in explaining volunteer’s
duties.
She said guardians are specifically
appointed in cases of juvenile court.
However, the judge may also allow
them to accompany a child and be
their'advocate during criminal court
proceedings.
Once the judge makes a ruling, the
volunteer and the child don’t part
ways. Miller explained that the vol
unteer is responsible for monitoring
foster care placement and continuing
to seek permanent solutions to the
problem.
“Once a volunteer is assigned a
case, they’re involved in that case for
the course of its life in the court sys
tem,” Miller said.
There are only 10 guardian volun
teers in Hoke &unty. Miller said,
each of whom put forth tremendous
time and effort. The majority of the
volunteers she monitors have full
time jobs.
“That says a lot about this county,”
Millersaid, explaining that the volun
teers have families, lives and jobs, yet
still find time to help.
Yet, although she’s proud of the
caliber of the volunteers here. Miller
said the county is always in need of
more help.
She said anyone interested in work
ing with the guardian ad litem pro
gram or hearing more about it may
call her Laurinburg office at 277-
3210.
Working on the front lines herself,
McPhatter agrees that more volun
teers are desperately needed.
“It’s a worthwhile agency and ev
erybody not involved needs to be in
volved,” McPhatter said, reminding
the public to be aware of how their
own and their neighbor’s children are
being treated. “You are your child’s
keeper.”
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— Democrat —
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Staying In Touch With Citizens and Officials at the Local Level
30th District (Robeson County, Parts of Bladen,
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*or by the Committee to Elect David F. Weinstein N.C. Senate
Elect
Buddy Blui
Hoke County Commissioner
Democratic Primary
May 7, 1996
The Hoke County Commissioners should trust
the voters of Hoke County to decide, in a
referendum, whether or not the sale of mixed
beverages will be allowed in Hoke County. If
elected, I will vote to hold that referendum.
by the Committee to Elect Buddy Blue
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Look toward the future with Andy Gibson
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Paul For By The ('ommlllcc To Elect Andy (JIb.son
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A PROVEN RECORD
Jean Powell
District A ttorney
Education:
• Graduate of Clinton High School
• UNC at Chapel Hill (AB)
^ UNC at Chapel Hill Law School (JD)
• University of Houston -
(Career Prosecutor School)
• Institute of Government -
(Effective Management School)
Professional Experience:
• 21 years as an attorney/18 years as a prosecutor
• First Female District Attorney in North Carolina
• District Attorney - Scotland, Hoke & Cumberland Counties (1989-present)
•Assistant District Attorney - Hoke & Cumberland Counties (1978-88)
• Former Treasurer, NC District Attorney’s Association
• Private Practice, Clinton, NC (1976-78)
• Vista Volunteer, Staff Attorney, Alaska Legal Services Corps. (1975-76)
Civic Service:
Raeford/Presbyterian Church - Elder, Choir, Youth Advisor
Scotland/Hoke Criminal Justice Partnership Act Task Force
Chairman, Crime & Public Safety Committee - Hoke Strategic Planning
Scottish Pilot Club, Laurinburg
Criminal Justice Advisory Board, Richmond Community College
Board of Visitors, St. Andrews College, Laurinburg
State Employees’ Credit Union Advisory Board, Raeford
Raefbrd/Hoke Chamber of Commerce, Treasurer 1990-92
Hoke Family Medical Center, Board of Directors, Acting Chairman
Scotland/Hoke Community Penalties Board
Child Protection & Fatality Teams, Hoke & Scotland
Boy Scouts of America, Cape Fear Council Executive Board
1st Hoke Leadership Class (Project: D.A.R.E. Program)
Paid for by the committee to re-elect Jean Powell