NC Judicial District 9 E newsletter Second Quarter 2018

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1 NC Judicial District 9 E newsletter Second Quarter 2018 Advocate Kathy Bradley was honored for her over twenty years of Guardian ad Litem service prior to Granville County District Court on Thursday, February 15th. Records show that Mrs. Bradley is the longest serving GAL in the 9th District. She has served 78 children and 35 families during her tenure and has overseen many permanent placements. Kathy s contribution to the children of our area was praised by Judge Carolyn Thompson who commented that Kathy is truly a Guardian Angel for those she has served so faithfully. Kathy is currently serving three children. INSIDE THIS ISSUE Judge Carolyn Thompson reading the years of service certificate with signatures of NC Chief Justice, NC Administrative Office of the Court and GAL Administrator signature to Kathy Bradley. at Granville County Courthouse. National CASA Conference... 2 Birthdays... 2 GAL Summit... 2 New Volunteers... 2 Opioids & Pregnancy... 3 Resilience Film... 4 Monthly Update Form... 4 Recruitment News... 4 TED Talk Recommendations... 5 T-Shirt Orders... 5 Upcoming Court Dates... 6 Two Cents... 6 GAL Attorney Advocate John Dunlow, with GAL Kathy Bradley, Judge Thompson and Granville DSS Attorney Batten.

2 BRANCH ATTENDS RECRUITMENT SUMMIT This past February, Samantha Branch, Program Specialist for D9, had the opportunity to represent our district and the NC GAL in Austin, Texas at the Volunteer Power Recruitment Summit. Sponsored by Texas CASA, Inc., recruitment strategies from all over the county were shared and celebrated. New and inventive ideas to get the word out about Guardian ad Litem and its need for volunteers was the focus of the conference. Samantha was one of three North Carolina staff members selected to attend this national event. Be on the look out for new ideas and concepts that came from this exceptional opportunity. BIRTHDAYS If You Change Nothing, Nothing will change... APRIL DENISE DAVIS TANDRA HENDERSON ALISA KING SHARON SPEED JUDY STORK HELEN WADFORD MARGARET WATKINS New Class of Advocates MAY ANITA CONDREY EVELYN SMITH CAROL DERRENBACHER STACY INFANTINO JAMES WILLIAMSON DORIS POWELL-PERRY SHYREESE RUSSELL JUNE JEARLEAN BURK RENEE TERRY JENNIFER DAVIS Front row from left to right: Felicia Wootsick, Anita Condrey, Mary Kuga, Gary Morgan, Evelyn Smith and Christine Wilkerson. Back row: The Honorable Chief District Court Judge John W. Davis The first class of D9 Advocates for 2018 took their oaths with the Honorable Chief District Court Judge John W. Davis, in Franklin County Court on Thursday, March 1st. Advocates Evelyn Smith (Franklin), Felicia Wootsick (Franklin), Mary Kuga (Franklin), Anita Condrey (Vance/Granville), Gary Morgan (Vance) and Christine Wilkerson (Warren). We welcome these new advocates to the fold! 2

3 Opioid Use During Pregnancy In a nationally representative survey conducted in the USA, it was noted that 74% of non-pregnant women of reproductive age reported using some sort of substance - this includes legal substances such as alcohol and nicotine. Of that number, 20% reported having symptoms of a substance use disorder. During pregnancy, the numbers decrease to 63% reporting use and 15% having a substance use disorder. At the time of this survey (2012), illicit drug use disorder (predominantly opioids and analgesics) was observed among 2% of women, whether pregnant or not. One research article noted that quite apart from the erratic lifestyle of drug misusing women (of whom a significant proportion engage in prostitution to fund their drug dependence) opiate use is associated with menstrual irregularity, and so unplanned pregnancy is common. Untreated heroin use during pregnancy is associated with: spontaneous abortion intrauterine growth restriction premature rupture of the membranes antepartum hemorrhage preterm delivery stillbirth This article goes on to cite that because women with substance use disorders frequently engage in a broad range of risky behaviors (multiple drug use, poor nutrition, risky sexual behavior, inadequate antepartum care, etc.) pregnancy outcomes are complicated. Illicit substance use in pregnancy particularly those of opiates such as heroin and methadone continues to be associated with significant maternal and neonatal morbidity. Heroin is the most commonly abused illicit opiate and crosses the placenta readily. Heroin enters the fetal tissues within 1 hour of maternal use. Women who use heroin are likely to use other harmful substances, such as tobacco, alcohol, and cocaine, all of which have their own potential adverse effects on pregnancy. Therefore, it is difficult to separate the effects of heroin from these other substances. Heroin can be mixed with other substances, including amphetamines, which can have independent detrimental effects on the pregnancy and fetus. In addition, intravenous drug use is a risk factor for many infectious diseases, including cellulitis, endocarditis, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, which can further complicate pregnancy. Opioids like heroin and methadone are among the most commonly used by pregnant women. In turn, the newborn may be at risk of prenatally acquired HIV, hepatitis C and/or hepatitis B infection and the incidence of sudden infant death are significantly increased. Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome The range of symptoms associated with opioid withdrawal in newborns is called Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). NAS occurs in 55 to 94 percent of babies born to opioid-addicted mothers. What a huge statistical range! The level of addiction depends on what drug the mother has been using, how much per day, and for how long. Symptoms may include: splotchy skin irritability excessive crying diarrhea hyperactive reflexes excessive sucking poor feeding sleep problems sweating trembling vomiting stuffy nose increased muscle tone fever seizures h t t p s : / / m e d m a r k. c o m / q u e s t i o n s - a b o u t - o p i o i d - w i t h d r a w a l - a n d - y o u r - n e w b o r n / 3

4 RESILENCE FILM SHOWING Hopefully, all of our D9 Advocates know about our Monthly Visitation form to fill out in the months where there is no court report needed because your case isn t being heard in court that month. This simple 2 page form is a quick and painless way to keep some records for yourself regarding visitation and to let us know that you have been out to see the children on your case load. If you have any questions about this form or need another copy, please don t hesitate to ask any GAL staff person. Many of you know that April is Prevent Child Abuse Month in North Carolina. The first week of April is also Public Health Month. To commemorate these occasions, the Guardian ad Litem program for Judicial D9 is hosting a showing of the film, Resilience, at the Leslie Perry Library in Henderson on the afternoon of April 6 th. Resilience, outlines the links between childhood trauma and lifetime health risk factors such as heart disease and cancer. (the link below explains more.) A representative from Prevent Child Abuse NC will also be present to facilitate a discussion after the film. On April 24, GAL will host a Recruitment booth at Springfest in Warren County! Come see us! RECRUITMENT NEWS I am continuously recruiting more advocates for the program. For the past two months the focus has been on Granville County. The staff has participated in various recruitment events in that area. Various businesses in Creedmoor have been contacted and information has also been mailed to over 20 churches in Oxford NC. Your help is always welcomed. If you know of a civic group or organization that will allow staff to share information about the program, please contact the office. April Volunteer Appreciation Month and Child Abuse Awareness Month. There are some events scheduled in the District and we hope to see you there. Thank you for all that you do and continue to do for the children of District 9! - Samantha 4

5 RECOMMENDED TED TALKS Jill Bolte Taylor: A Stroke of Insight Dan Pink: The Puzzle of Motivation Nilofer Merchant: Got a Meeting? Take a Walk nilofer_merchant_got_a_meeting_take_a_walk Andrew Solomon: Love, No Matter What Your story might be someone else s victory Kiona D9 GAL T-Shirts are ON THE WAY! As shared in our recent , we are in the midst of gathering orders for D9 GAL t-shirts in the signature GAL color of Royal Blue. This order is also open to friends of the program. Here are the things you need to know : *T-shirts are 100% cotton American made by Bayside T-Shirt *T-shirts are available in crew neck and v neck *Prices are: Crew: s-xl $15.00 each, 2x - $16.75 V Neck: s-xl - $16.00 each, 2x - $17.75 We are asking that all orders be paid in advance and be made in cash only. We will take orders and payments through Friday, April 6th. That s the afternoon of our Resilience Film Screening. That should provide everyone with time to get their orders in. 5

6 UPCOMING DATES Vance Court April 4th, April 18th Franklin Court April 26th Granville Court April 12th Warren Court April 24th DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR S TWO CENTS Greetings! April is appreciation month and Guardian ad Litem Child Advocate month. Guardians ad Litem (GAL) deserve honor and celebration because GAL advocacy is THE most special kind of volunteerism. The willingness to step into a child s abuse/neglect/dependency case to explore the history of circumstances, to conduct interviews with not only the child, but multiple parties, to read extensive records, to collaborate for solutions, to prepare best interest recommendations for judges, to explain court proceedings to children in an age appropriate manner, to monitor situations regularly - all while keeping parties aware of the child s sense of time and urgent need for permanence is highly commendable. The 123 children in D9 that attained permanence during the last fiscal year all benefitted from GAL advocacy. Though staff believes it is priceless, volunteer service provided in NC is valued at $21.88/hour yet know the true compensation comes from knowing you had an integral role in keeping the children as the focus and savoring the moments when permanence is attained. It takes very special people to volunteer with GAL and to be the attorney advocates. Staff only accept and train the very best to further the GAL mission: North Carolina Guardian ad Litem equips community volunteers to serve abused and neglected children by advocating for their best interests in court. The four counties of D9 are gifted daily by the service provided. Thank you for choosing this program to give your time to and know that you make a difference every day. - Mary Jo Guardian Ad Litem Offices Franklin County Office P.O. Box 673 Hobgood Courthouse Annex Louisburg, NC (919) Mary Jo Van Horne District Administrator PO Box 673 Louisburg, NC FAX mary.j.vanhorne@nccourts.org Vance County Office P.O. Box 722 Vance County Courthouse Henderson, NC (252) Samantha Branch Program Specialist PO Box 673 Louisburg, NC FAX samantha.r.branch@nccourts.org Melanie Griggs Program Supervisor PO Box 722 Henderson, NC FAX melanie.h.griggs@nccourts.org