Effective Volunteer help leads to the Ongoing Success of an NGO

Because they often assist those who less fortunate, non-profit organizations (NGO’s) highly rely on volunteer help to do business. However, these NGO’s know the importance of obtaining qualified help and often institute background screening policies to do so. By incurring this initial cost of a background check, they safeguard against putting those they help in harms way.

The Florida Guardian ad Litem Program is once such organization that has adopted this type of policy. A state program that advocates for abused and neglected children in the court system, the Guardian ad Litem Program aims to achieve 100 percent representation. With the help of many volunteers, this program already represents approximately 30,000 children. However, over 43,000 children are under the Department of Children and Family supervision and involved in court proceedings. Thus, in order to reach this goal, the program is in need of volunteer help.

Although volunteer participation is a necessity and high priority, the organization does not cut any corners which might jeopardize the safety of the children it assists. Each volunteer goes through a screening process, which includes a criminal background check, interview, and two written character references. Any individuals who have a criminal record of a felony, a judicial finding of guilt for a crime against a person, or history of abuse or neglect of a child or adult are ineligible for the program.

These background screening requirements enable the Program to find effective and legitimate volunteer help, and takes it one step closer to meeting its’ goal.