We advocate for and support children, young adults, and families
impacted by abuse and neglect in Pinellas and Pasco Counties by collaborating
with community partners and the Guardian ad Litem staff and volunteers who support the children we serve.

We envision a community where every child and young adult is safe, secure and thriving. We believe every child deserves to have a permanent family and be well prepared for their future beyond foster care.
November 2019
From the Executive Director
Dear Supporters,

Fall is often a time of transition-children move from one classroom to another, the weather begins to cool, and the days become a little shorter. Much like the season, the child welfare system continues to change and transition as case management changes from one agency to another and staff on your case changes as turnover occurs.

One of the things that makes our role as Volunteer Child Advocates so important is that in a turbulent time where much is out of the child’s control and nothing stays the same, YOU are a constant. Volunteers stay with cases from the beginning until a child reaches a safe and permanent home. So many of our children remark they would be lost without with Volunteer Child Advocate and we know that children with someone advocating for their needs have better outcomes.

We need your help to tell that story in our community and encourage other everyday people to help change more children’s stories! It’s one of the reasons we have asked volunteers with children 9 years of age and up to help administer the Developmental Assets Profile (DAP) at your visits. We know volunteers are changing lives everyday but funders and donors want to see how your service impacts our children and what they need more of in their life so we can create programs and provide services to help them become more resilient. Please take a few minutes at your next visit to have the adolescents for whom you advocate fill out this quick survey . Together, we can ensure that we are able to most effectively meet the needs of the children and teens we serve!

We appreciate all you do,

Amy E. Foster
Executive Director
UPCOMING EVENTS
In-Service Pasco
Broken Places
Wednesday, Nov. 6; 2-4 PM
BOCC: 8731 Citizens Drive, NPR
BROKEN PLACES explores why some children are severely damaged by early adversity while others are able to thrive.  Watch trailer.
Register here.
In-Service Pinellas
Educational Resources
Wednesday, Nov. 6; 6-8 PM
EpiCenter: 13085 58th St. N, Clearwater, Room 1-455
Join us for November's In-Service Training on educational resources for our children in care. This will be a panel discussion with time for your questions. Register here.
Brown Bag Lunch: Advocating for Children with Special Needs
Friday, Nov 8; 11:30 AM-1:00 PM
EpiCenter: 13085 58th St. N, Clearwater, Suite 200 Conference Room
Come join veteran VCAs, Carol Allen, Donna Gaffney and Fran Abilock, to discuss your concerns, questions, challenges and opportunities of advocating for children with special needs. Snacks and drinks provided. Register here.
Holiday Magic Workshops
Pinellas: Epicenter
13805 58th St. N, Clearwater
Thursday, Dec 12; 3-6 PM
If you missed the holiday wish list deadline and/or have a new case, please join us for the Holiday Magic Workshop! We will have gifts for children of all ages. First come, first served.

Pasco: Aripeka Elks
9135 Denton Avenue, Hudson
Saturday, Dec 14; 9-10 AM Adults Only
10AM-12 PM Adults and Children
If you were unable to travel to Pinellas, missed the holiday wish list deadline and/or have a new case, please join us for this Holiday Magic workshop! We will have gifts for children of all ages. Volunteer Child Advocates are welcome to shop for their kiddos from 9-10 AM. The event will then open for children and families to enjoy the fun from 10 AM - 12 PM. There will be a Santa, hot dogs and snacks, a craft table and more! First come, first served.
RESOURCES
Free Braces for Foster Children/Teens
Donated Orthodontic Services is a program of the American Association of Orthodontists. Caregivers to apply for donated services by a local orthodontist. Once accepted there is a $200 one time fee that will be paid by the family -- all other services related to the orthodontic treatment will be free. Click here for the application and to learn more.
OPPORTUNITIES
TO SERVE
Between now and the holidays, we need lots of help to make holiday magic for more than more than 1400 children/teens! We will continue to update this link as new opportunities to serve present themselves. Check out dates and times we need volunteers to help and sign up today!
Be a part of making holiday magic!
We need more holiday sponsors for our children. We had more wish lists submitted than ever before and we need more donors to shop for individual wish lists. If you know of a business, faith community, service group or even an individual/family who would like to sponsor a child and/or donate some gifts for the workshop, please reach out to us at iamforthechild@galf6.org.
STORIES WANTED!
Have you advocated for a child/ren or teen(s) that were successfully reunited with a parent, adopted or closed with permanent guardianship? We want to hear your stories! Please email us your successful permanency story today to iamforthechild@galf6.org!
CHAMPIONS FOR OUR CHILDREN
Thank you to all the Sponsors, Runners/Walkers and Volunteers who made our SuperHero 5K such a smashing success!

Thanks to all who participated, we were able to raise $61,000 for our children's needs programs!
Thank you to an Allstate volunteer for empowering people and our community. Jason Kurrack gave his time and helped us to receive a $500 Allstate Foundation Helping Hands Grant. The Allstate Foundation supports the causes that Allstate agency owners, financial specialists and employees care about most by providing Allstate Foundation Helping Hands Grants to nonprofits where they volunteer their time to help communities thrive.
Guardian ad Litem Foundation of Tampa Bay | 727.464.6528 | Website
14250 49th St, Suite 4000 Clearwater, FL 33712