2004 highlights

• The GAL Program represented 3,251 children in 1,625 cases; recruited and certified 124 new Guardian Ad Litem volunteer advocates and supported a total of 637 GAL advocates throughout the year.

• The GAL Program advocated in Criminal Court on behalf of over 350 children who were witnesses to or victims of crimes committed by their parents or other adult perpetrators.

• The GAL Program implemented the Transitioning Youth Project, an expansion of advocacy geared towards teens preparing to exit the foster care system.  In its first six months, the TYP Project served 55 teens.

• The GAL Program collaborated with Foster Care Review Board, Lawyers for Children America and Dade County Legal Aid to create Miami CAN, a project to recruit, train and support volunteers to advocate for children in the foster care system.  The project will focus on helping volunteers educate the public about barriers to having all Miami children in safe, permanent homes and advocating for changes to remove those barriers.
 
• Voices For Children provided over $931,000 to the GAL Program, which is 37% of their total operating budget.

• Through the various programs in the Children’s Need’s Fund, Voices For Children provided:

---Almost 900 children with direct financial assistance, totaling $129,000.
---Birthday celebrations for approximately 260 children who otherwise might not have had their own party.
---Almost 4,000 children in foster care with toys during the annual Toy Drive.
---Financial emergency rent, food and utility assistance to 45 families.
---A complete summer camp experience, through Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation, for 120 children.
---Judges with 900 teddy bears to give to children when they appear in court.

• Voices For Children raised over $320,000 from the three annual events: the Gala, held at Mandarin Oriental, Miami; the Halloween Luncheon, held at Parrot Jungle Island and A Festival of Voices, held at Village of Merrick Park.

• The Be An Angel Program, an annual giving program, raised over $123,000.

• Voices For Children received, for a fifth consecutive time, a grant from the Florida Legislature that allows the Guardian Ad Litem Program to employ social-work trained staff to represent approximately 30% of its children.

• Became designated as the recipient of various fund raising events within the community, such as Miami Best Tennis Tournament, Beach Bank Art Exhibit, An Intimate Evening with Dave Barry, Bazaar, Commercebank Art Exhibit, all of which raised almost $90,000.