Department:
Guardian Ad Litem
Start Here. Grow Here. Stay Here.
Make a meaningful difference in the lives of children by joining the Florida Guardian ad Litem Office – 12th Judicial Circuit as a Child Advocate Manager. In this highly independent role, you'll work as part of a multidisciplinary team alongside Guardian ad Litem attorneys and, at times, trained community volunteers or pro bono attorneys to represent children involved in the dependency court system. Your work will focus on representing each child's best interests while helping ensure their safety, well-being, and path toward permanency.
You'll build trusted relationships with children and families, support legal proceedings, collaborate with community partners, and may also coach and supervise Guardian ad Litem volunteers. This position requires regular time in the office, the courtroom, and throughout the community. If you're passionate about child advocacy and bring strong communication skills, sound judgment, and a commitment to trauma-informed, child-centered care, we'd love to hear from you. Experience with child welfare, Florida's dependency court system, volunteer coordination, or case management is a plus — but not required. Starting pay is $22.94/hour. Apply today and help give every child a voice!
In this role, you will...
Advocate for Children
Serve as part of a multidisciplinary team alongside Guardian ad Litem attorneys, volunteers, and other advocates to represent the best interests of children involved in the dependency court system.
Build meaningful relationships with assigned children through regular monthly visits and ongoing communication, while gathering information from families, schools, service providers, law enforcement, and other partners to understand each child's unique needs.
Gather information, make recommendations, and maintain accurate case records that support each child's safety, permanency, well-being, education, health, and overall success.
Participate in court hearings, case conferences, mediations, and meetings, helping prepare reports, supporting attorneys, and ensuring each child's voice and preferences are considered whenever appropriate.
Provide strong, child-focused advocacy by collaborating with your team to ensure services, visitation, and other supports are in place while following all Guardian ad Litem policies and best practices.
Support Guardian ad Litem Volunteers
Recruit, train, coach, and support Guardian ad Litem volunteers, helping them become effective advocates for children.
Foster positive working relationships with volunteers by providing guidance, feedback, and individualized support based on their strengths and communication styles.
Monitor volunteer performance to ensure compliance with Guardian ad Litem standards, policies, and best practices.
Coordinate volunteer certification, continuing education, and annual recertification requirements.
Promote a collaborative team environment where volunteers play an active role in achieving positive outcomes for children.
Build Community Partnerships
Develop and maintain strong working relationships with the Department of Children and Families, contracted providers, schools, courts, and other community organizations involved in child welfare.
Collaborate with the Department of Juvenile Justice and other agencies serving youth with multiple system involvement to help coordinate services and advocacy.
Partner with service providers and stakeholders to identify resources that support children's safety, permanency, and well-being.
Represent the Guardian ad Litem Office professionally while building partnerships that strengthen outcomes for children and families.
Stay current on policies, procedures, and initiatives to ensure consistent, high-quality advocacy and collaboration across agencies.
Work Hours:
Full-time, 40 hours per week.
Typical Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (no weekends!)
As a reminder, all county employees are considered essential and must be prepared to protect and support the community and its citizens. Each employee, without exception, will have a duty assignment and be required to work during a disaster or declared emergency.
To be considered for this role, you must have the following:
A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in sociology, social work, psychology, child development, education, communications, behavioral science, criminal justice, counseling, or a related social science field.
OR: Progressively responsible related experience may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required college degree.
Valid Florida driver's license within 30 days of hire.
The ideal candidate has the following knowledge, skills, and/or abilities:
Please note that these are not requirements but bonuses for your consideration.
Knowledge of child development, trauma-informed care, resilience, and the impacts of abuse, neglect, and abandonment on children and families.
Familiarity with Florida's dependency court system, Guardian ad Litem program, child welfare practices, and community resources that support children and families.
Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work compassionately and professionally with children, families, volunteers, and community partners in sensitive situations.
Experience coordinating, coaching, or mentoring volunteers or team members, while maintaining accurate documentation, case records, and detailed reports.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, uphold ethical and professional standards, and remain committed to ongoing learning and professional development.
Subject to Passing Substance Screening: This position is subject to passing a pre-employment substance screening. An applicant who fails to pass a required drug screening test shall be disqualified from employment for a period of 5 years.
Physical Demands: Employees in this role must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 lbs.
Fingerprint Screening Requirement: This position requires a fingerprint-based background check, as required by law. The screening reviews criminal history and other legally permitted information. Applicants who do not meet the screening requirements will not be eligible for employment. Learn more: https://info.flclearinghouse.com
Starting Pay: $22.94/hr
Our interview process could include phone interview(s), Microsoft Teams video interview(s), and/or in-person interview(s).
If you are selected to join our team, please click on this link to review the Required First Day Documents. You will need to present the following items on your first day:
1. I-9 Acceptable Documents to show your identity and authorization to work. Use this link to learn more and review the different document options: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
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If your position requires a Florida Driver’s License, this must be one of your documents. (Your Florida Driver’s License can serve as one of your documents listed in link above – List B Documents.)
2. U.S. Social Security Card (signed, physical card). This is a requirement of our Payroll Department and failure to provide this document could jeopardize timely compensation. (Your U.S. Social Security Card can serve as one of your documents listed in link above – List C Documents.)
Benefits:
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Enjoy great benefits including Health, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, Flexible Spending Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Florida Retirement System (FRS) and many, many more! Choose one of three great medical plans, including one with a $0 premium option, with completed preventative visits!
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Utilize our award-winning wellness program including free gyms at multiple Sarasota County Government locations.
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Enjoy 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days and 16 paid vacation days in the first year of full-time employment with increasing accrual rates with years of service. (That adds up to a possible 30 days off in your 1st year!)
A different blend of voices prompt better conversations, choices and results for everyone. Sarasota County – Many Voices, One Team.
We celebrate and value the experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, talents and strengths that make us different.
Our vision is to attract, develop, retain and engage a talented workforce broadly representative of the citizens and communities we serve. To further value creativity, innovation, collaboration and great customer service – internally and externally.
A job applicant with a disability who requires reasonable accommodation to participate in the application/selection process is requested to make known the need for an accommodation to Human Resources or appropriate county staff members. For assistance with the application, please call 941-861-5353.
Sarasota County prohibits discrimination in all services, programs or activities. View the complete policy at scgov.net (keywords: ADA Compliance).
Sarasota County Government is a Tobacco-Free/Drug-Free Workplace.
