The Florida Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office CHAMPIONS are messengers for child welfare advocates protecting children’s rights. They contribute and inform on policy and practice while acting as ambassadors and leaders in child advocacy efforts within their local and state child welfare communities. The CHAMPIONS share their lived experience in the Florida foster care system to better focus on child advocacy practices, offer suggestions, and help shape the Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office priorities, training opportunities, practices and effectiveness.
As previous foster children, CHAMPIONS speak from their hearts about their lived experiences in the Florida foster care system. The conversations are raw, emotional, insightful, impactful, and unscripted. Opening up about your personal life, past, and hurt is hard. The courage and passion CHAMPIONS show to speak out so the path can be better for other children in foster care now and in the future is inspiring.
The CHAMPIONS have spoken in front of more than 450 people at one time. They have spoken at different functions across Florida, including The Florida Bar Annual Convention, Florida Children and Families Summit, Florida Children and Youth Cabinet, and testified before Florida Senate and House Committees.
To learn more or to contact the CHAMPIONS, please email CHAMPIONS@gal.fl.gov.
