Training Program Expanded, Upcoming Sessions Announced

Volunteering to help others is one of the most popular New Year's resolutions.^[1] We are excited to announce an improvement for next year that will make the process of becoming a volunteer guardian ad litem and providing a voice for a local child a bit more accessible.

Starting in January 2013, our guardian ad litem volunteer training program will be conducted every month. In addition, a three-month advance schedule will be released each quarter: in January, April, July and October.

Volunteer training—including classroom learning, reading, court observation and practice activities—is a requirement for all first-time and recertifying guardians ad litem. Seven training classes were offered this year. Graduates are later sworn in at the Leon County Courthouse.

By scheduling one quarter ahead and expanding to twelve classes annually, we will offer increased flexibility to volunteers and simplify the historically time-consuming scheduling process for staff.

The following tentative training dates have been set for February and March 2013. Event flyers with confirmed dates and times will be available soon when registration begins. [These dates are now official.] Training dates for April, May and June will be released next month.

• Volunteer Training M
• Wednesday, February 13
• Saturday, February 16
• Monday, February 18
• Wednesday, February 20
• Thursday, February 21

• Volunteer Training N
• Monday, March 4
• Wednesday, March 6
• Thursday, March 7
• Monday, March 11
• Wednesday, March 13
• Thursday, March 14

As a reminder, Volunteer Training L still has openings for its January sessions. Registration for Volunteer Training K, which starts on Thursday, December 6, 2012, closes in two days on Tuesday, December 4, 2012.

Subscribe to the blog RSS feed or follow us on Twitter to find out when the event flyers are published and registration opens for Volunteer Training M and N, as well as when any other training dates and events are announced.

Please email deborah.mooregal.fl.gov if you have any questions about our volunteer training program and to register for classes. Prospective volunteers need to complete an application before attending training.

Thank you to Volunteer Trainer Chris Gornik and the rest of our fantastic staff for developing and implementing these improvements!