Contact: Mary Herr, Program Supervisor
 

Phone: 828-488-6224

Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.

Location: The GAL office is in the Swain County Courthouse and Administration Building in Bryson City.  From Hwy 74, take exit 67.  Proceed to Mitchell Street and turn right.

Agency description: The GAL program trains volunteers, who are appointed by the Juvenile Court, to represent an abused or neglected child.  During court proceedings, the volunteer is coupled with an Attorney Advocate; both seek to ensure that the child's rights and best interests are presented.  To prepare a recommendation for the court, a volunteer talks to the child, parents, family members, social workers, school officials, health providers, and others who are familiar with the child's history.

Training required: Volunteers are required to train two and a half hours a week for ten weeks and must complete at least four hours of court observation.

Time commitment: Please make a one-year commitment to the program and donate ten to twenty hours per month.  (Usually ten hours are necessary at the onset of the case.)

Skills, experiences, and special requirements: No experience is necessary, but a willingness to help abused and neglected children is needed. 

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