Guardians reach out to kids

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

Lecturing at Chaminade University keeps her busy but it wasn't enough to satisfy retired Hawai'i public high school teacher Gail Takatsuka.

Gail Takatsuka, left, talks with Gloria Zane of the Family Court guardian ad litem program. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

"The reward for me is being able to make a difference," said Takatsuka, who taught English for 27 years. "The program is intense and requires a person who is committed to hanging in with the child for at least a year.

"The hope is to see that the case concludes with either adoption or some kind of return home safely to the family."

The program has nothing to do with volunteers adopting children, becoming their legal guardians or providing shelter for them.

There are 170 volunteers, says Gloria Zane, who manages the program in the First Circuit.

"This job is not for everybody," Zane noted. "You have to learn some law, do report writing, deal with cultural issues and sex abuse, and do court observation. It's not stuffing envelopes, so it's hard to recruit."

The 40-hour training requirement, which occurs on five consecutive Saturdays, is a commitment many would-be volunteers cannot make.

"It's like a screening tool," Zane said of the training. "Many can't do it because of their employment."

A guardian ad litem's duties may include gathering relevant facts on the child's case from the family or any agencies involved; serving as the child's spokesperson; ensuring the child has legal representation and the court is aware of all relevant facts, and making sure all court orders are being carried out.

"I visit children, usually for an hour, once a month and go to hearings once every six months," said Takatsuka, who has two cases, one which was assigned to her 3 1/2 years ago. "All of them have been hurt, which is why the state took them away.

"The little ones are happy to see me because I'm a big playmate to them. The older kids, those 7 and 8, have a better understanding that they're not going to see their family with me. Mostly, I try to talk to them alone to see if they're OK and safe with their foster parents."

Takatsuka, whose own children are 36 and 33 years old, volunteers about four hours a month to the program.

Volunteers are required to write periodic reports to keep the court informed about the child. "Basically, it's how the child is doing and any recommendations," Takatsuka said.

Before being accepted for guardian ad litem training, however, all applicants are interviewed and must agree to a criminal history check. They must also be cleared by Child Protective Services.

"A ... person shouldn't come to us with personal issues, for example, someone who was abused as a child," Zane said. "They see the program as settling an issue in their lives. We don't take those kinds of people.

"What's important to our people is to have a meaningful volunteer life. They want to touch other people's lives."

A typical case involves children whose parents are doing drugs, Zane said.

"It could be a home in Kahala or a low-income area," she added. "The kids, maybe a 5-year-old and a toddler, are left at home alone to fend for themselves while the parents go off on Friday to do drugs and don't come back until Sunday."

Takatsuka says not all cases involve physical abuse.

"It can be verbal and psychological abuse, (which) is equally harmful," she noted. "As a teacher, I could see it students who were being abused. It's the way they speak to you as a teacher or the way they treat classmates."

Anyone interested in becoming a guardian ad litem volunteer can call Zane at 538-5933. The next training session will be held April 21-May 18.