CLC to Expand Services in Guilford County
In January, at the Greensboro Bar Association monthly meeting, Iris Sunshine, Executive Director, formally announced that our Guilford County based team will begin accepting appointments to Chapter 50 High Conflict Custody cases in March 2023. The Children’s Law Center has been working in Guilford County since 2014 in Chapter 50B Domestic Violence Protective Order cases, serving as a voice for children across the county in both the Greensboro and High Point communities. Since 2005, the CLC has advocated for the best interests of children in these high conflict custody cases in Forsyth County.
As Guardian ad Litem (GAL) in the cases in which we are appointed, the CLC is granted authority by the court to conduct a thorough investigation and report on the child’s best interests in the matter. Staff attorneys visit the child(ren) regularly, talk to the parents, teachers, caseworkers, doctors, therapists, and other people involved in the child’s life or the case, to hear all perspectives and provide judges with an unbiased portrayal of each aspect of the case. Their report includes recommendations regarding custody and/or visitation, services including mental health treatment for the child and/or parents, parenting classes, substance abuse treatment, and educational assistance.
The CLC has advocated for over 170 children in Guilford County through our work in Domestic Violence Protective Order cases, and this service expansion will give a voice to more children than ever. Children in high conflict custody cases need the same dedicated advocate and the parents, or parties, in these cases benefit from an objective third-party voice that can look past the emotions and tensions of the conflicts to make recommendations about what is best for the child(ren). The Judge makes the final decision in the case, including whether to accept the GAL's recommendations.
Supervising Attorney Paige Gilliard and Staff Attorney Kathryn Corey also had the opportunity to share the announcement of our upcoming expansion of services with members of the High Point Bar Association in February as part of the Association’s Continuing Legal Education program. Our team’s presentation, The Role of a Guardian Ad Litem: Protecting the Best Interests of the Child in Domestic Violence and High Conflict Custody Cases covered the legal authority for the GAL and the roles and responsibilities in the investigation.
We anticipate that expanding our services will not only have a positive impact on the children we serve but also on the communities in which they live. Our immediate goal for all our young clients is safe placement in a secure and loving home. The long-term goal of the Children’s Law Center is to enable children to become emotionally healthy adults. With an advocate and other caring adults by their side, these children can grow up to live happy, hope filled lives, and break the cycle of violence and abuse.
