This grant proposal seeks $250,000 to establish the New Hanover Child Advocates (NHCA) organization. NHCA will assign Guardian ad Litems (GALs) to advocate for the best interests of children in the family court system of New Hanover County, North Carolina. Currently, abused and neglected children lack proper representation in court and judges have insufficient case information to make decisions. The proposal outlines NHCA's goals of placing 75% of children in permanent homes within a year, recruiting and training community volunteers as GALs, and evaluating their impact after the first year. A detailed budget and list of necessities is provided to cover staffing, office space, equipment and operating costs for the new nonprofit.

1. Grant Proposal
April 24, 2013
Prepared by: Caroline Logan, Sarah Ashley Barnett,
Danielle Nichols, and Grant Boone

2. Introduction

NHCA will seek to fill the void for
children in the court system without a
voice, advocating for their best
interests in court

3. Project Summary

Statement of need

Children in the system will be assigned
a Guardian Ad Litem

Guardians recruited as community
volunteers

4. Project Description

Role of Guardian Ad Litem

GAL Training

5. Problem Statement
① Inadequate Representation
No organization exists within the New Hanover County courtroom setting
to ensure that abused & neglected children are afforded the proper
level of attention once they enter the court system & foster care.
② Overburdened Legal System
Lack of sufficient information & detailed case analysis available for
judges to use in making legal decisions concerning child placement.
③ Overburdened Social Service System
Inability to provide the resources to accommodate the children who
have been removed from home due to on-going safety issues & have
no other appropriate family members to care them.

6. ① Inadequate Representation




The New Hanover Department of Social
Services is required to recommend
whether the child should be removed
from home
Once a court decides the child will enter
the court system, DSS assumes the
responsibility of working with birth
parents to address safety issues in an
effort to return the child home
Although an effort is made to locate
extended family members to care for
the child, DSS ceases to play an
accountable role in the child’s
allocation
Only about 23% of children in out of
home placement reside with relatives
while the remaining 77% are placed in
foster care

7. ① Inadequate Representation (cont…)

As children enter the court system, they
are not being afforded the necessary
support to navigate local bureaucracy

Although Child Protective Services is
being offered in all 100 counties of North
Carolina, there is not always enough
staffing provided to be able to give
each case the attention that it needs
and deserves

NHCA provides a direct need for these
children to be provided with an
advocate – an individual that can
provide the necessary support to
supplement DSS and help ensure the
safety of the child

8. ② Overburdened Legal System
Judges make the final determination concerning the fate
of an abused or neglected children.
Sufficient information & detailed case analysis is needed in order for judges to
understand the true facts of a child’s condition in an over-burdened child welfare
system
Currently, New Hanover County Department of Social Services is the court's only
source from which to base judicial determinations.
However, because of budget cuts, understaffing, high volume caseload, and
duty to work with birth parents, DSS is unable to deliver adequate perspective
pertaining to the best interest of the child. Consequently, judges often produce
ill-advised verdicts.
Children without properly trained advocated are then quickly transitioned from
an over-burdened and misinformed legal system to an over-burdened and
depleted social service system.

9. ② Overburdened Legal System (cont…)
NHCA presents a unique position to work in the system without
actually being of the system.

Trained Guardian ad Litems are granted tremendous authority by
the court, and are able to do what it takes to see that a child is
not ignored, their best interests and critical needs are addressed,
and that the presiding judge is well-informed.
Throughout the process, NHCA have permission to visit the
children regularly, talk to a child’s parents, teachers, caseworkers,
doctors and therapists in order to hear all perspectives and give
an unbiased portrayal of the case to the judge.


Ultimately, New Hanover Child Advocates help kids through the
legal system safely, quickly, and more effectively.

10. ③ Overburdened Social Service System
Between 2008-2009,
there were a total of
4,702 children under the
age of 18 that were
removed from the
custody of their parents
for a median total of
approximately 365 days
(NCDHHS).
Star News reported in
January of 2012 that the
total number of child
abuse or neglect reports
for New Hanover
County has increased
by 50% when compared
to the previous year
(Star News).
Although Child
Protective Services is
offered in all 100
counties of North
Carolina, there is not
always enough staffing
provided to be able to
give each case the
attention that it needs
and deserves.

11. ③ Overburdened Social Service System

When children cannot return to their parents because of
on-going safety issues and there are no other appropriate
extended family members to care for the child, the child is
placed in the first available foster care residence.

New Hanover County is only able to accommodate about
38% of children in out of home placements, but the
remaining 39% are moved outside of New Hanover County.

Placing children in unfamiliar environments after they have
already experienced abuse or neglect may damage their
overall development, create distrust in the social service
system, and impair their ability to form vital attachments.

12. ③ Overburdened Social Service System


NHCA provides a direct need for these children to be
provided with an advocate – an individual that can provide
the necessary support to supplement DSS and help ensure the
safety of the child.
By allowing
another program
to come into the
Child Protection
Services, the
needs of the child
will be held as the
highest priority.

13. Key Benefits
Provide consistency through adult presence
 Speak up for the best interest of abused/neglected
children in the courtroom setting
Reduce the amount of time spent in long-term foster care
& the likelihood of reentering care



14. Goals/Objectives
1.
Have at least 75% percent of
cases placed into permanent
homes.
5.
Host a charity auction and
dinner with a goal of raising
$20,000.00.
2.
Have less than 15% of cases
filed, return into foster care.
6.
Plan and execute at least 2
other fundraising events within
the first year.
3.
Increase the number of cases
that NHCA is involved with by
20%.
7.
Increase number of volunteers
by 25% by the end of year 1.
4.
By the end of year 1, be able
to hire a full-time casemanager.

15. Benchmarks
To ensure NHCA on track to reach our first year
goals, measures will be taken throughout the
year to monitor the progression of the
organization.

16. Benchmarks

Weekly meetings between the Director of
Volunteers, attorney on staff, and the volunteers
to ensure all members of the organization are on
the same page & to confirm the proper resources
are being provided to children in need.

Volunteers will complete monthly case reports to
turn into the on-staff attorney. This will help to
supervise the children’s whereabouts, view their
progression thus far, and reveal the next steps to
take.

17. Evaluation
NHCA will work to evaluate its progress after one
year.


NHCA will first examine our overall effectiveness within the New Hanover
community by comparing legal and social statistical data from the
previous year.
Purpose comparative analysis:
 Determine level of effectiveness & formulate new methodologies in
areas needing improvement
 Approximate the number of cases that NHCA can reasonably
expect to be involved in an grow internally as a result.
 Determine if we need to increate the number of volunteers,
establish volunteer strengths and weaknesses in order to develop
skills, and potentially reevaluate methods of training volunteers in
regard to the previously established characteristics needing the
most improvement.

18. Evaluation


NHCA will work to evaluate its progress after one
year.
NHCA will also conduct a comprehensive review of all
budgetary aspects.
Purpose of comprehensive budget evaluation:
To establish where funding can be more efficiently allocated
 Determine areas of the organization that can withstand
cutbacks
 Establish additional benchmarks to implement in future
operations and evaluations


19. Evaluation
NHCA will work to evaluate its progress after one
year.

Conducting a yearly evaluation will emphasize the importance of
reaching goals set for the previous year.

Annual review will also promote our organization’s intention to set
even higher, yet attainable, goals for the year to come.

Combined, New Hanover Child Advocates’ implementation of
benchmarks & evaluations will result in continuous positive growth
within New Hanover County.

20. Budget
&
Key
Personnel
Position
Funds
Executive Director
$64,500.00 *
Attorney on Staff
$62,500.00 *
$52,000.00
Fund-Raiser/Grantor
$40,000.00
Administrative Support
$38,000.00
Lease ($1,250.00/month)
*Position is paid by Board of Directors
and not included in the total NHCA will
allocate $37,685.00 in funds for furniture,
electronics, equipment, supplies and
utilities. These necessities have been
itemized by quantity and price.
Director of Volunteers
$15,000.00
Insurance Benefits
$80,000.00
($16,000.00/employee)
Total Cost
$225,000.00

21. Budget

We are budgeting $15,000 to lease a Class C property in
Downtown Wilmington. The lease will include insurance
through the property owners insurance on the contents of our
office.

We are asking for $250,000 and have received an installment
loan from Bank of America to provide 10% matching.
We will provide insurance benefits to all five employees
accounting for $80,000 of the budget.
The Board of Directors will coordinate a charity auction/dinner
to raise $20,000 to purchase a passenger van to transport ad
litems and consumers.


22. Budget
&
Necessities
itemized by quantity & price
Chairs
Price
Qty
$100.00
23
Total
$2,300.00
Conference Table
Desks
$500.00
$250.00
1
5
$500.00
$1,250.00
Panel Workstation
Shelves
Filing Cabinets
Copier
Shredder
Accent Chairs
Safe
$6,000.00
$100.00
$160.00
$400.00
$150.00
$250.00
$250.00
6
4
3
1
1
4
1
$6,000.00
$400.00
$480.00
$400.00
$150.00
$1,000.00
$250.00
Desktop PC
$1,200.00
5
$6,000.00
Laptop PC
Projector
$800.00
$600.00
2
1
$1,600.00
$600.00
Projection Screen
$300.00
1
$300.00
$3,500.00
7
$3,500.00
Computer Software
Continued…

23. Budget
&
Necessities
(cont…)
(continued…)
First Aid
Dry Erase Board
Bulletin Board
Time Clock
Trash Can
Lamp/Lighting
Misc. Décor
Misc. Supplies
itemized by quantity & price
Utilities
Office Supplies
Bank of America
Loan
Price
Qty
$150.00
1
$100.00
2
$75.00
2
$250.00
1
$15.00
7
$400.00 N/A
$800.00 N/A
Total
$150.00
$200.00
$150.00
$250.00
$105.00
$400.00
$800.00
$2,000.00 N/A $2,000.00
$200.00 12 $2,400.00
$6,500.00 N/A $6,500.00
$474.65
12 $5,696.80
Tota
l $43,381.80

24. Questions?