Melissa Howard

Guardian Ad Litem

Melissa Howard has passionately volunteered as a Guardian ad Litem in Manatee county for over 11 years. She wants to spread awareness of the office and increase the number of Guardian ad Litems and foster parents in our region, which is currently in desperate need of assistance. 

A Guardian ad Litem is a court appointed guardian representing Florida’s abused, neglected, and abandoned children in court and the community. Guardian ad Litems meet with the child once a month to form a bond and help them through an incredibly difficult time in early development. 

“I recently just found out a 17-year-old girl I worked with was adopted after being in the system for over 10 years. All of her anger, pain, everything she went through was from being rejected. It was the happiest moment I’ve had knowing we kept pushing and never gave up on this child.” 

Melissa also serves on the board of Everyday Blessings, a nonprofit organization in Sarasota dedicated to helping children and siblings stay together in the foster care system. In one of her visits to the group foster home as a Guardian ad Litem, Melissa became attached to two young boys and eventually adopted them as her children. 

Since the pandemic, the number of registered foster parents have decreased by 60% in our community. In addition, children that are not assigned a Guardian ad Litem linger in foster care twice as long as those that have one. There is a drastic need for people to step up and help these children. 

“Being a Guardian ad Litem has changed my life for the better. All it takes is a few hours each month to make a lasting impact on a child’s life.”

Text by Tom Reese | Photo by Nancy Guth