Opportunities for Non-Attorneys

Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer with the Truancy Intervention Project! We need attorneys to serve as Lawyers and Guardians ad Litem and non-attorneys as guardians, role models, and to help with early intervention. Volunteers are asked to commit one year, or as long as the child's case remains active, to provide legal and for advocacy services for the child. Volunteers can expect to commit 25 or more hours on each case and are encouraged to build a positive, meaningful relationship with the child, serving as a role model and advocate for the child.

 

Registration

If you are interested in volunteering with the Truancy Intervention Project, please complete the registration form and we will contact you for our next seminar.

For Non-Attorneys

All volunteers who are not a member of the Georgia Bar Association must complete background check with the Fulton County Police Department and attend the TIP training seminar.

In early intervention cases, referrals are received directly from the school regarding children who have begun to demonstrate a pattern of poor attendance that has not yet risen to the level of court intervention. In these cases, volunteers are assigned to work with the child and their family to rectify the situation and avoid the need for court intervention.

Job Description for Early Intervention Volunteer

The volunteer is asked to commit one year, or as long as the case remains active, to provide advocacy services for the child, and to be a role model and advocate for the child and family.

The volunteer has two major roles:

  • To attend the initial planning meeting at the school and work as an active participant to find solutions to the child's attendance issues.
  • To be a role model for the child and an advocate to the child and family; to assist the family in identifying and utilizing community resources.

 

The volunteer will work with the school to help ensure that the child's issues related to attendance are resolved, so that court intervention does not become necessary. The volunteer will work with the child and family, making weekly contact, to monitor the progress of the case and assist in determining what services and resources are needed.

The volunteer will be the child's main advocate for the case. As well, the volunteer will work with other professionals to meet the needs of the child. Other professionals may include:

  • School social workers
  • School counselors
  • Child's teachers
  • School nurses
  • School principals
  • Child's doctor/dentists
  • Other social service professionals

Volunteer as Role Model and Advocate

All volunteers agree to serve as a role model and advocate for the child and to assist the family in identifying and utilizing community resources.

  • The volunteer will work to build a positive and supportive relationship with the child.
  • In this role, the volunteer will identify needs in the child's life that are contributing to the child's truancy and will assist in locating resources to meet those needs.
  • The volunteer will encourage the child to attend school, and encourage the family to appreciate the importance of education.
  • The volunteer will strive to be a positive role model for the child.