Local Guardian Ad Litem Shares His Advocacy Story

For about three years, I watched Bobby Douglas come to birthday parties and foster family events and two little girls that he spoke for in court ran straight for him with huge smiles and arms outstretched.  “Mr. Bob” is a beloved, special friend to these two sisters who were just adopted from foster care.  He became their buddy  as a guardian ad litem (GAL) in Oconee County.  For years, Bobby checked on the girls at their foster home, spent time coloring with them at their visits at Oconee Department of Social Services (DSS), and was greeted with squeals of delight when he arrived at their birthday parties. 

“My girls couldn’t wait to see Mr. Bob at their visits at DSS. He was an amazing source of peace  for us, too, on a long foster care journey as we knew he was totally dedicated to advocating for their best when we couldn’t.” -Oconee foster Mom    

In the 80s, Bobby Douglas became a mentor to a young man who was often in trouble while living in group homes. Despite being 14 and still believing in Santa Claus, this young man was kicked out of his group home and when DSS called then-single Bobby to take him short term he said yes to a Christmas spent together.  The young man was at his wedding and connected to him for many years. This young man’s story had a lasting impact on him, so when he retired, he remembered the work of the guardian ad litems he’d worked with back then.   Now for three and a half years, he’s been a voice for Oconee County foster children in court himself.  

Guardians visit the children they represent in court each month at their schools, in their foster homes, and with their parents at DSS. 

One of the things he likes about being a guardian is that you can have flexibility in what kinds and how many cases you take. GALs can come and go through the files and see what cases they feel most comfortable taking, ages of kids, and even what DSS staff  they've worked well with in the past. The kids might be placed elsewhere, but all the cases are Oconee cases; sometimes guardians travel with caseworkers to visit children placed in other counties. 

Currently, Douglas is working with an older child for the first time, and he’s learning new things about the benefits available to children aging out and is finding reward in investigating all his options and helping him make wise decisions about his future. 

Being in court can be intimidating at first. There is a training and as part of it  GALs attend court hearings as part of the training, but every case is unique as those involved change each time.  He’s learned a lot about court procedures, being assertive to speak up for kids and injustices, and about all kinds of different hearings along a two to three year case.  Court may be scheduled for 9am, but not be heard for hours or not at all.  This volunteer work takes a lot of patience, but Bobby feels like that time can even be spent building those relationships with DSS staff that benefit the children. It can be tough to communicate with biological parents (clients), caseworkers, and the foster children themselves, so perseverance along the way matters!  Guardians turn in monthly reports and information about visitations and what’s new in the case  each month. There are separate reports written for court hearings for the judge. 

Douglas says hard work pays off when children are safely living happy lives again, and you’ve represented them well as part of the team.  His hope is always that the kids will break the cycle that landed them in foster care.

 Douglas adds, “It’s rewarding both when parents work their treatment plans, and change their lives to be reunited with their kids, or when kids are placed in loving homes with adoptive families.”  

Bobby advises that anyone who wants to be a guardian should be a good listener and keep an open mind. Find out more here about becoming a guardian: https://gal.sc.gov/.  Contact the coordinators below to join a  training class May 2nd!  

Oconee County

Catherine Neal, County Coordinator

Phone: 864.638.2267  Cell: 864.508.4815 Email: Catherine.neal@childadvocate.sc.gov

Pickens County

Mallory Doolittle, County Coordinator

Phone: 864.878.0807   Cell: 864.508.2595

Email: mallory.doolittle@childadvocate.sc.gov

Sharhonda Dillard, Regional Recruiter/Trainer for Oconee and Pickens

Phone: 864.508.4914  Email: Sharhonda.Dillard@childadvocate.sc.gov