Voices for Osceola’s Children

ISSUE NO. 1 SPRING 2014

W h a t ’s

I n s i d e

A Special Message

About VoicesOC

Our Mission

Highlights

N e w s l e t t e r

Community Involvement

Annual Fundraiser

Volunteer Opportunities

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What’s GAL

GAL Teen Honored

Newest Members

Voices for Osceola’s Children, Inc. is a nonprofit (501c3) organization that supports the advocacy efforts of theGuardian ad Litem Program in Osceola County.

For the past 23 years, our local organization has been the fundraising arm for the “GAL” Program, as it helps to provide the necessary financial assistance that benefit abused, neglected and abandoned children in foster care. VoicesOc supports the Guardian ad Litem Program by assisting in the recruitment, retention, training, and support of all the volunteers that serve as the “voice” for abused, and neglected children by advocating for their best interest in dependency court proceedings.

“To advocate for the best interests of abused,

abandoned, and neglected children by supporting

the development, growth, and continuation of the

Guardian ad Litem Program in Osceola County.”

O u r M i s s i o n

“Sharing my time as a volunteer child advocate with the Guardian ad Litem Program, feels like a gift was placed within

my heart. Make a difference today-and share your gift of time with an abused, neglected or abandoned child who needs you voice.”

Kathy Wandel Board President for VoicesOc Certified Child Advocate GAL Volunteering Since 2003

L e a r n Ab o u t T h e G u a r d i a n a d L i t e m P r o g r a m

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CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE! W W W. VOIC E S O C . ORG

A b o u t V o i c e s

The Florida Guardian ad Litem Program is a partnership of community advocates and professional staff providing a powerful voice on behalf of Florida’s abused and neglected children. The “GAL” Program is the only volunteer based organization that provides thistype of caring and objective voice in court. Guardian ad Litem’s ensure through their volunteer advocacy efforts that children are not lost in an overburdened legal and social service system or languish in an inappropriate home orshelter.

With the help of VoicesOc, the “GAL” program is able to assign and court-appoint a child advocate volunteer on to a case; making a world of difference in not only the child’s life, but in the volunteer. All of our volunteers are provided with 30 hours of training, a background screening and fingerprints, ongoing training and support. For as little as (5)hours a month, anyone 21 years of age or older can help change the life of a child who has been a victim of abuse, neglect or has been abandoned. Our goal is for every child be able to have a “voice” in court, and their best interest advocated for.

VOICESOC

This past Januar y, Voices for Osceola’s Chi ldren was awarded with the St . Cloud Cit izens Foundat ion Grant for 2013-2014. Since then, VoicesOc has joined the St . Cloud Chamber of C ommerce, andhas been able to stay ver y ac t ive through-tout the community ; attending loca l events as wel l as present ing the “GAL” Program to var ious groups , and organizat ions who have an interest in our ef for ts .

VoicesOc was a lso blessed to be one of only e ight recipients of the Osceola C ounty C ommunity S er vice Grant Program in support of the Guardian ad Litem Program ef for ts in volunteer recruitment and retent ion. Since Februar y, this grant has a l lowed for a par t- t ime “GAL” recruiter posit ion to be held for the remainder of the year ; more important ly, i t i s a posit ion that wi l l in turn br ing in new volunteers f rom our community dedicated to helping us reach ever y chi ld and provide a powerful voice in court .

Receiving the St. Cloud Citizens Foundation Grant in January. Pictured is Board Member Ed Hogan & Board President, Kathy Wandel.

Teen Honored to Represent Florida’s GAL Children

in Foster Care

Awards Reception April 7th for Children’s Week in Tallahassee. Pictured: GAL Teen, Alan Abramowitz-GAL Executive Director, Gem Hernandez-Teen’s GAL Advocate.

Our very own GAL foster teen was one of two children in the whole state of

Florida to be chosen to represent the Guardian ad Litem Program during

Children’s Week. Our teen had the honor of introducing Alan Abramowitz,

the Executive Director of the Statewide Guardiand ad Litem Program at the

Awards Reception, which had nearly 500 people in attendance; all of which are

involved in child welfare. Before introducing Mr. Abramowitz, our teen got the

opportunity to share a heartfelt speech about his personal experience

being in the foster care system, and how much having a GAL volunteer has

made a positive impact in his life.

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Board President-Kathy Wandel, Board Members-Mohsen Faraji & Ed Hogan, and Osceola County Commisioner-Fred Hawkins Jr.

Welcome to Our Newest Board Members!

Voices for Osceola’s Chi ldren has once again par tnered with the Guardian ad Litem Program more than ever this year. Pic tured to the le f t , h ighl ights one of the many events we attended support ing the volunteer e for ts of the GAL Program and a lso seeking out sponsorship opportunit ies for our Annual FunFest for Foster Fami l ies Event .

The pic ture was taken at the St . Cloud Li fe’s C ommunity and Business Extravaganza, which was held on March 29th in Downtown St . Cloud. We thank ever yone who v is ited our booth, and a specia l thanks to Osceola C ounty C ommissioner, Fred Hawkins Jr. for a lso taking the t ime to stop by!

On January 28th, during our first board meeting of the year, we welcomed 8 new members to the VoicesOc Board of Directors family. We are delighted and look forward to having them be a part of our team. Please help us all welcome: Lt. Joan Robinson, Stephanie Middleton, Ed Hogan , Melba Rubera, Alex Cardenas, Michelle Carlos, Kelvin Soto, and Chris Mack.

VoicesOc’s latest highl ight was gett ing the opportunity to become one of the newest members of the St . Cloud Chamber of C ommerce!

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Visit our website: www.voicesoc.org for more information, event pictures from past years and also find downloadable sponsorship forms for this year.

Check Out Last Year’s Generous Sponsors

BECOME A GAL VOLUNTEER HELP US REACH EVER CHILD! WITH OVER 500 ABUSED, NEGLECTED, OR ABANDONED CHILDREN IN OSCEOLA COUNTY ALONE, WE NEED CARING AND MOTIVATED ADULTS TO BECOME THE “VOICE” OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN. CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO GET INVOLVED OR REQUEST A PRESENTATION FOR YOUR GROUP, ORGANIZATION, OR BUSINESS. (407) 742-6655.

VISIT US ON GAL9THCIRCUIT FOLLOW US

P.O. Box 452377Kissimmee, FL 34745

Ph: (407) 205-9537E: info@voicesoc.org