I Speak for This Child: True Stories of a Child Advocate

by Gay Courter

Book Overview

This is the true story of Gay Courter's experiences as a court-appointed guardian for children--of her first tentative approach to her local program after learning about it in aParademagazine cover story, of learning the duties and responsibilities of her position, and of her efforts to ensure that, at least in the cases assigned to her, American's most vulnerable citizens are treated with care and respect.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0517595419
• ISBN13: 9780517595411
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
• Length: 387 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Advocate's Review

I Speak for This Child: True Stories of a Child Advocate Having been a child advocate, this book is more than the journey of one child advocate. From beginning to end, the author informs the reader of how she dealt with certain challenges, and how a child advocate can do more for a child in foster care than they realize.

As a child advocate this book really puts child abuse by our system in prospective!

This is the best book I have ever read by a child advocate. Our system does not do right by abused children. If we don't get our system in better shape all these foster children will be in our prison system. And did you know it cost more to pay for prison than it does college!! Thanks Gay and keep up the great undying work you do!!! P.S. Everyone in the GAL office in Putnam County is reading your book and Ashley's

This book changed my life.

As a freshman in college, I stumbled upon this book in the library, and soon after dedicated myself to improving the child welfare system. Courter's account is incredibly inspiring, emphasizing the responsibility we all have to speak up for kids who have been wronged by our systems. I have now been a court appointed special advocate myself, and it is the most heartbreaking (but rewarding!) volunteer experience of my life. If you're looking for a book that will be difficult to put down, and stories of kids who are difficult to turn your back on, then this book is for you.

A look into the life

I picked up the book by Gay Courter and could not put it down. Inspiring! I can't say enough about it!

Read this book!

This chronicle of the author's experiences as a Guardian Ad Litem in Florida will alternately enlighten you, frustrate you, inspire you, and make you angry. Much, I would expect, like being a Guardian. Besides giving others a blueprint on "how to help," and serving as an education on some of society's problems that most people wish they could ignore, this book is great reading, chock full of emotionally-involving, often heart-rending stories. Prepare to be engrossed.