What are the responsibilities and job description for the Volunteer Advocate for Children (VAC) position at Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc.?
Organization
The Legal Aid Society was begun in the early 1960’s as a volunteer organization and created by attorneys who were members of the Orange County Bar Association. The volunteer attorneys agreed to take referrals in civil and criminal cases for local residents who could not afford an attorney. In 1967, the organization was formally incorporated in Florida as a not for profit under the name of Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc. It hired its first director and full time staff and offered free civil legal services. Currently, Legal Aid employs about 45 staff including 18 attorneys and coordinates the contributions of time and money from over 3000 volunteers both attorneys and non-attorneys.
Legal Aid remains a local program with core support from volunteers whose dedication enables it to provide civil legal services primarily in Orange County. Legal Aid is especially proud of its Pro Bono Programs, and one of those programs, the Guardian ad Litem Program.
,
The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) oversees the operation of the Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Program in Orange County. Legal Aid recruits and trains lay people from our community who want to volunteer their time to help abused, abandoned and neglected children. We refer to our lay volunteers as Volunteer Advocates for Children (VACs). VACs work in partnership with both Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Program staff and Attorneys to ensure that the children are seen regularly (at minimum once per month) and that their needs are brought to the court’s attention.
VACs are a constant in the lives of the children we serve. Our children must have advocates who will ensure their needs and desires are brough to the program’s attention.
The requirements for serving as a VAC include completed application, three references, an interview with our VAC Program Coordinator, attendance at training session, and successful clearance of a Level II background check.
Please note this is a volunteer opportunity only.
The Legal Aid Society was begun in the early 1960’s as a volunteer organization and created by attorneys who were members of the Orange County Bar Association. The volunteer attorneys agreed to take referrals in civil and criminal cases for local residents who could not afford an attorney. In 1967, the organization was formally incorporated in Florida as a not for profit under the name of Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Inc. It hired its first director and full time staff and offered free civil legal services. Currently, Legal Aid employs about 45 staff including 18 attorneys and coordinates the contributions of time and money from over 3000 volunteers both attorneys and non-attorneys.
Legal Aid remains a local program with core support from volunteers whose dedication enables it to provide civil legal services primarily in Orange County. Legal Aid is especially proud of its Pro Bono Programs, and one of those programs, the Guardian ad Litem Program.
,
The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) oversees the operation of the Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Program in Orange County. Legal Aid recruits and trains lay people from our community who want to volunteer their time to help abused, abandoned and neglected children. We refer to our lay volunteers as Volunteer Advocates for Children (VACs). VACs work in partnership with both Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Program staff and Attorneys to ensure that the children are seen regularly (at minimum once per month) and that their needs are brought to the court’s attention.
VACs are a constant in the lives of the children we serve. Our children must have advocates who will ensure their needs and desires are brough to the program’s attention.
The requirements for serving as a VAC include completed application, three references, an interview with our VAC Program Coordinator, attendance at training session, and successful clearance of a Level II background check.
Please note this is a volunteer opportunity only.