We regularly encounter families who are in need of living assistance but our resources are extremely limited. When special requests for essentials such as beds, linens, clothing and school supplies come in from families, our staff reach out to the community for help in fulfilling those needs.

If you can assist in fulfilling the below request or have any questions, please get in touch with the request contact. Thank you for your help!

• Status
  Open Need Fulfilled
   
• Request
  Stage 2 Forward-Facing Car Seat
   
• Quantity
  One (1)
   
• Narrative
  N/A
   
• Contact
  Deborah Moore
  deborah.mooregal.fl.gov
  (850) 606-1218
  (850) 294-7545
  (850) 606-1200

Child Advocates II, Inc. (CAII) — the 501(c)(3) not for profit, all-volunteer organization that supports the Second Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program — is proud and excited to announce the addition of Storage Center at SouthWood as its newest Cornerstone CAII Partner.

Storage Center at SouthWood is a Tallahassee, Florida-based company founded in 2008 offering climate controlled storage units, moving supplies and truck/trailer rentals at 2401 Barcelona Lane, just north of the Publix at SouthWood Village.

Note: Storage Center at SouthWood is now called StorQuest Self Storage

Starting their relationship with CAII, proprietors Terri and James Gavins have generously donated the use of one of their 10×20×9 climate controlled storage units. This free resource will allow CAII to collect and store donations in a more convenient and accommodating way for our volunteers and community supporters.

Beyond donating the storage unit, valued at $225 per month, Storage Center at SouthWood has also volunteered to collect incoming donations as well as process donation forms that will be provided to donors for turn in at delivery.

When instructed to do so, donators will be able to deliver their goods to Storage Center at SouthWood during their business hours, currently Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM-5:30 PM and Saturday from 9:00 AM-3:00 PM.

Donors will be advised to visit during non-peak hours if possible and not be in a rush either way, as Storage Center at SouthWood is doing CAII and us an enormous favor.

As a special bonus, Storage Center at SouthWood will also donate $50 for every new customer who opens an account — simply mention that CAII or GAL sent you.

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CAII and the Second Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program are appreciative of this generosity.

"I'm very thankful for Terri and James Gavin," said CAII Board President Brian Sealey.

"Terri has been kind enough to help us on our mission by donating storage space that we can use to help get needs to kids," he said.

Speaking of the new partnership with CAII in support of our program, Terri Gavins said that she is "looking forward to being part of your family and helping meet your goals."

Thank you to Terri Gavins, James Gavins and Storage Center at SouthWood for their commitment to children in our community!

We regularly host a variety of events to provide community outreach, raise awareness of our program, recruit new volunteers, fund raise and furnish training to our volunteer guardians ad litem. The following community outreach and continuing education event has been recently added to our calendar.

• Community Bullying Prevention Fair and Halloween Bash
• Friday, October 25, 2013, 6:00 PM-8:00 PM

We regularly host a variety of events to provide community outreach, raise awareness of our program, recruit new volunteers, fund raise and furnish training to our volunteer guardians ad litem. The following continuing education events have been recently added to our calendar.

• Stages of Child Development Webcast
• Monday, October 21, 2013, 9:00 AM-12:30 PM
   
• Revised Standards and Normalcy Training
• Friday, November 1, 2013, 12:00 PM-1:00 PM

We regularly encounter families who are in need of living assistance but our resources are extremely limited. When special requests for essentials such as beds, linens, clothing and school supplies come in from families, our staff reach out to the community for help in fulfilling those needs.

If you can assist in fulfilling the below request or have any questions, please get in touch with the request contact. Thank you for your help!

• Status
  Fulfilled
   
• Request
  Bunk Beds
   
• Quantity
  Two (2)
   
• Narrative
  Three teenage boys are sleeping on mattresses on the floor of one bedroom in the two bedroom house of their single mother. Bunk beds will better fit in the space and provide some walking room. Transportation of donated goods is helpful but not required.
   
• Contact
  Caitlyn Kio
  caitlyn.kiogal.fl.gov
  (850) 606-1219
  (850) 606-1200

We regularly encounter families who are in need of living assistance but our resources are extremely limited. When special requests for essentials such as beds, linens, clothing and school supplies come in from families, our staff reach out to the community for help in fulfilling those needs.

If you can assist in fulfilling the below request or have any questions, please get in touch with the request contact. Thank you for your help!

• Status
  Open Need Fulfilled — thank you, Bethany Apartments!
   
• Request
  Bunk Beds
   
• Quantity
  One (1)
   
• Narrative
  Two children will have to share a very small room that can only accommodate one bed.
  Bunk beds will better fit in the space and give each child their own bed.
   
• Contact
  Shuneki Brown
  shuneki.browngal.fl.gov
  (850) 606-1222

We regularly host a variety of events to provide community outreach, raise awareness of our program, recruit new volunteers, fund raise and furnish training to our volunteer guardians ad litem. The following event has been recently added to our calendar.

• Leadership and Team Building Workshop
• Friday, October 11, 2013, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
   

On August 28, 2013, the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office held the annual GAL awards ceremony and reception in Orlando, Florida.

Omega Wynn, District Manager for Starbucks, was recognized for his many years of support for our program. Omega has been a member of Child Advocates II — our local non-profit organization — for several years and has served as a guardian ad litem volunteer for the past year.

We were all thrilled when our very own guardian ad litem, Jan Watford, received the statewide "Most Valuable Advocate of the Year" award! Executive Director Alan Abramowitz presented Jan with a plaque signed by Governor Rick Scott and himself.

A guardian ad litem volunteer in our local program for six and a half years, Jan has always impressed us all with her never ending commitment to make things better for children and her sincere concern for every one of the children she represents. The award is well deserved and we are so glad Jan is part of our team!

Many volunteers were also recognized for twenty years or more of service with the Guardian ad Litem Program including our very own Marti Chumbler! Last June, Marti reached her twentieth year with our local program.

Congratulations Jan, Omega and Marti!

On Wednesday, September 11, 2013, the Leon County Government hosted their third annual Day of Remembrance and Service ceremony at the Florida State University College of Law.

Included among the over 300 attendees were Circuit Director Deborah Moore and volunteer guardian ad litem and pro bono attorney advocate James A. Kole.

Kole was present to be recognized as one of twelve individuals nominated for the inaugural Glenn J. Winuk Humanitarian Service Award.

The award was created by Holland & Knight to honor a New York-based attorney, volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician (EMT) who lost his life during the collapse of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. It is presented to "a local hero who has shown sacrificial service for the benefit of others."

The Second Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program nominated James Kole for his outstanding work, dedication and service.

In his nine years as a guardian ad litem volunteer, Kole has represented twenty children in cases assigned to him and provided hundreds of additional hours in pro bono attorney services.

Former Governor Bob Martinez was on hand for the ceremony and took time to recognize and acknowledge the contributions of each of the twelve nominees. In the end, Leon County Emergency Medical Services Deputy Chief Malcolm Kemp was selected as the winner.

Serving as an EMT for thirty-three years, Kemp helped establish the Honor Flight Tallahassee program, which recently transported nearly eighty veterans to the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

You can see the ceremony program and read the nomination of Kole below. Congratulations to James Kole, Malcolm Kemp and all of the other nominees!

The Second Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program nominates James A. Kole for the Glenn J. Winuk Humanitarian Service Award. Mr. Kole became a guardian ad litem in 2004 after completing an intensive 30 hour training course. Since then, Mr. Kole has been a constant for our program and in the lives of 20 guardian ad litem children including the two children he currently supports.

He understands the importance of continuity and stability for children in the child welfare system and continues to provide quality advocacy for every child until the case is closed. Mr. Kole visits his guardian ad litem children in their foster home, relative placement or in the biological home and is present for each court hearing.

Mr. Kole is conscientious and provides the best possible advocacy for every child he represents. The guardian ad litem children's best interest is a priority for Mr. Kole. He never hesitates to be their voice and stand up for them. Every one of the 20 children has been truly impacted by his unwavering support.

A few months ago, Mr. Kole was instrumental in preventing a disruption for a young child. With only weeks away from finishing the school year, the caregiver asked to have the child moved to another placement. The child was already experiencing challenges in school and leaving the school early would have resulted in not only the child missing out on important school activities with classmates but there was a good chance she would be held back a year.

Mr. Kole understands the negative impact of multiple moves for a child in foster care particularly on the child's education. He met with the caregiver and the caregiver agreed to keep the child in the home until the end of the school year. In addition, the child avoided trauma of leaving siblings and a familiar environment. He was truly successful at representing the child's best interest and being the child's voice.

Mr. Kole shares a common vision with all of us in the Guardian ad Litem Program that all children deserve a safe, caring and permanent home. He is a dedicated guardian ad litem advocate and we are fortunate to have him on our team. We are grateful for his continued commitment and devotion. We hope you will consider Mr. Kole for the Glenn J. Winuk Humanitarian Service Award.

We regularly host a variety of events to provide community outreach, raise awareness of our program, recruit new volunteers, fund raise and furnish training to our volunteer guardians ad litem. The following events have been recently added to our calendar.

• Revised Standards and Normalcy Training
• Wednesday, October 23, 2013, 6:00 PM-7:00 PM
   
• FYS 5K Run to Give — benefiting Florida Youth SHINE and foster youth
• Sunday, November 3, 2013, 9:30 AM-12:00 PM