A record number of children have been taken away from their families because of abuse, neglect and abandonment.
In 2014, 421 children were removed from their homes for their safety, and in 2015 that number grew to 821.
The Guardian ad Litem organization is helping to aid these children by enlisting the help of volunteers to serve as mentors, or “Guardians.”
Those who applied to become a guardian include: retired psychologists, educators, and law enforcement officers.
The program has received positive response from across the nation; garnering 80 new Guardian volunteers since Thursday, but organization officials say they still have 20 more slots they desperately need to fill.
“We’ve always had the need, just not to this extent,” says Toni Latortui, the Circuit Director of the 12th Judicial Guardian Ad Litem Program.
She says they’re serving more children than ever before and as a result, more help is needed.
“We want to be on every case, every child, and it concerns us because how do you pick who should and who shouldn’t receive a volunteer,“ says Latortui.
There are currently less than 200 volunteers serving the more than 800 children in Manatee.
Guardian ad Litem promotes it’s easy to become a volunteer and their website has guidelines of who can apply.
To qualify, you need to be at least 21-years-old, pass a background check, submit to fingerprinting and go through training.
It’s a role current volunteers say is very rewarding.
To find out more about becoming a Guardian Ad Litem volunteer, visit: http://www.12gal.org.