Judge Dawson was recently recognized by the Florida Guardian ad Litem Program an Honorary Guardian ad Litem. An Honorary Guardian ad Litem is a community leader who supports the mission of the Guardian ad Litem Program to represent the best interests of Florida’s abused, abandoned, and neglected children.

Giving, caring, protecting, advocating, listening – these are some of the words that describe the spirit of the Guardian ad Litem Program. Each day, Guardian ad Litem volunteers help shape the future and create hope for the children of Florida who have been neglected and abused.

GAL volunteers do not work alone however. Floridians from every walk of life support their work. There are many people in the community who work tirelessly for Florida’s children. Without these community supporters, the work of the Florida Guardian Program would be much more difficult. The Guardian ad Litem Program has established the title of Honorary Guardian ad Litem for those select community leaders who have gone to great lengths to support the program’s mission and goals. Judge Dawson is one of those great community supporters and now Honorary Guardian ad Litem.

When giving the award, Alan Abramowitz, Executive Director of the Florida Guardian ad Litem Office said, “Judge Dawson has always been there when our attorneys or guardians ad litem needed training or support. His work with children and support of the mission of the Guardian ad Litem Program made him a perfect Honorary Guardian ad Litem. In fact, the Guardian ad Litem Program even has an award given in his name every year.”

Judge Dawson’s dedication to the children and families in Florida is apparent to all who have met him. He has worked to better the lives of children through his work on the Florida Bar Juvenile Rules Committee, the DJJ Statewide Advisory Group, the Governor’s Child Abuse Prevention and Permanency Advisory Council and the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice – and that is just to name a few.

Florida’s GAL Program is a partnership of volunteer child advocates and professional staff who join together to provide a powerful voice on behalf of Florida’s abused and neglected children. Since its inception over 35 years ago, the GAL Program has represented the best interests of over 150,000 children in Florida’s dependency system and assisted in the adoption process for many of these children.