19th Judicial Circuit Guardian Ad Litem Program

Specialties

The State of Florida’s 19^th Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program (GALP) specializes in advocating through the dedicated assistance of compassionate volunteers for the best interests of children who are alleged to be abused, neglected, or abandoned and who are involved in court proceedings in St. Lucie, Okeechobee, Indian River and Martin Counties.

History

Established in 1980.

The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1974 provided financial assistance to the states for programs which prevented, identified and treated child abuse and neglect. In 1980, the Florida Legislature appropriated funds to the Office of the State Courts Administrator to implement a pilot program that would examine the feasibility and effectiveness of a volunteer based program for the delivery of Guardian ad Litem services for abused and neglected children. As a result of the success of the pilot program, by 1990, all of Florida’s twenty judicial circuits had volunteer-​based programs for the delivery of Guardian ad Litem services that were administratively managed by the trial courts.

Meet the Manager

Omar W.

Manager

Omar Walker is a Volunteer Recruiter for the 19^th Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program (GALP). Mr. Walker’s primary responsibility is to assist caring individuals who are interested in child advocacy to become certified Florida State Volunteers. Mr. Walker was born on July 26, 1970 in Hessen Germany. Raised in a military family who traveled the world, Mr. Walker settled in Charleston, South Carolina. After serving 24 years of decorated military service, Mr. Walker retired at the rank of Master Sergeant (P).

Understanding the importance of continued education, Mr. Walker went back to school under an accelerated program and in 2014; he graduated with a BS in Organizational Management with a concentration in Human Resource Management from Charleston Southern University in South Carolina. Mr. Walker is currently perusing his Masters in Human Resource Management. Mr. Walker currently resides in Florida with his lovely wife Leslie and their four dogs.