14th Circuit Guardian Ad Litem Office

06/08/2026

In late 2023, three children came into the child welfare system due parent’s substance abuse issues. Initially, all three children were first placed together in licensed foster care and then a relative placement. The children were then moved again to grandmother’s home.

The mother faced significant challenges, particularly related to substance abuse. While there was an initial delay in her engagement with services, once she committed to her case plan, she demonstrated meaningful and consistent progress. The mother successfully entered and completed substance abuse treatment and remained engaged in recovery

The Guardian ad Litem Child Advocate Manager Kristen Thornton saw the mother’s effort after her delay. She worked with the mother, encouraging her to stay on the right path. She and the Guardian ad Litem team recommended for additional time for the mother to complete her case plan based on clear and observable progress, including her sobriety, commitment to treatment, and her efforts to provide a stable environment for her children.

The mother received additional time, and her continued efforts proved successful. Last year, the children were reunified with their mother. The girls were excited and happy in being reunited with their mother, and the overall family dynamic was visibly improved. When the case closed the mother was focused on her sobriety and had secured stable housing and full-time employment.

With support, engagement and encouragement, this mother was able to make the necessary changes to create a stable, secure home for her children. We are happy to be a part of their story. To learn how you can make difference, visit www.guardianadlitem.org

06/08/2026

06/03/2026

Come see me this morning from 9:30am - 11am at The Press in Downtown Panama City!
If you've been curious about what our office does or how you can get involved, this is the perfect opportunity to learn more and see if becoming a volunteer or mentor is the right fit for you!
If you're unable to make it but still want to learn more, head on over to our website
https://guardianadlitem.org/
I hope to see you there 🙂

05/21/2026

Graduation is a milestone.

But for teens in care, it often means overcoming more than most people ever see.

School changes. Uncertainty at home. Constant changes that make it hard to stay focused. Moments when giving up might have felt easier.

But they still show up. They push through. And they make it to this moment.

That kind of resilience deserves to be seen!

Behind many of these graduates is someone who showed up consistently, encouraged them, supported them, and reminded them they were capable. Many times that is their Guardian ad Litem or their mentor. Mentors can provide that additional support, encouragement and push a teen may need to succeed. Mentors not only help teens reach this milestone, but help them as they move forward to the next chapter.

All it takes is one person showing up, checking in, offering guidance, and being present. Those things can change the trajectory of a young person’s life.

If you’ve ever wondered how you could make an impact, this is one way.

Because sometimes, the difference between making it and giving up… is simply having someone in your corner. For more information on how you can become a mentor go to www.guardianadlitem.org

05/19/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

Often, children who are abused, neglected, or abandoned face significant hurdles, including mental health challenges. Consistent, caring adults in their lives help them know they are not alone and support access to the services they need to promote healing.

It is a time to focus on providing education and supporting those with mental health conditions. One of the most important tools is connection—connection to resources, to community, and to a network of support.

To learn how you can make a difference in the life of an abused, abandoned, or neglected child, visit www.guardianadlitem.org.

05/13/2026

May is Foster Care Awareness Month.

Every day, children across Florida who have experienced abuse, abandonment, or neglect rely on caring adults to help support them through difficult circumstances. Foster families play an important role in providing stability and a safe place during this time.

Child welfare involves many individuals and organizations, each with a distinct role in the process. Throughout it, the focus remains on helping children navigate challenging circumstances and move toward safe, stable, and permanent outcomes.

The Florida Guardian ad Litem Office extends its gratitude to those who step forward to support children in care and remains committed to representing their legal interests both in court and in the community.

To learn more about how you can help, visit: http://www.guardianadlitem.org

05/11/2026

May is National Foster Care month. The Florida Guardian ad Litem Office – Circuit 14 would like to take a moment to thank all of the foster parents who have chosen to step up.

Thank you for opening your home to children in need.

Thank you for showing patience in moments that weren’t easy.

Thank you for the quiet, everyday things… the rides, the meals, the routines, the consistency.

Thank you for being a steady place during uncertain times.

You may not always see the impact in the moment, but what you do matters more than you know.

This month, and every month, we’re grateful for you and everything you do for the children we represent. To learn how you can make an impact, visit www.guardianadlitem.org.

05/07/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month Children in the child welfare system are at a higher risk of facing mental health challenges. They need people who will be there to support them and help them as they navigate these challenges. Having a consistent, stable person in their lives can make all the difference. Learn how you can be there for a child in need. Visit www.guardianadlitem.org.

05/04/2026

Come see me this morning from 9am - 11am at The Press in Downtown Panama City!
If you've been curious about what our office does or how you can get involved, this is the perfect opportunity to learn more and see if becoming a volunteer or mentor is the right fit for you!
If you're unable to make it but still want to learn more, head on over to our website
https://guardianadlitem.org/
I hope to see you there 🙂

03/30/2026

Advocacy in Action is a series that highlights the difference that a dedicated Guardian ad Litem team can make in a child’s life.

From multiple placements to permanence. From uncertainty to belonging. From instability to safety. One child at a time. One life at a time.

Here is a story of advocacy in action.

The Florida Guardian ad Litem Office was appointed to a young girl who experienced constant instability in her young life. When she was two years old, she entered the child welfare system after due to neglect. She had been separated from her siblings before she was old enough to understand why her world kept changing.

Throughout her case, her Guardian ad Litem team was there. They maintained regular contact, observed her in each placement, and pushed for services and stability to meet her needs. They knew she needed more than temporary solutions; she needed permanency.

A pivotal moment came when she was placed with a former babysitter, a caregiver she knew and trusted. The team was there as the relationship grew stronger. In that stable and nurturing environment, she began to thrive. Her behavior improved. She felt safe. Over time, it became evident that she had found her forever home.

This past December, she started a new chapter – a forever chapter with her now adoptive mother. Watching her adoption being finalized was a powerful reminder of the impact we make.

To learn how you can make a difference and become part of the team, visit www.guardianadlitem.org