CINCINNATI, Ohio — It took one courtroom visit as an undergraduate social work student for Megan Busam to decide she wanted to become an attorney and represent children in the welfare system.

What You Need To Know

  • A Guardian Ad Litem is an advocate for children in the court system who are often abused or neglected

  • There are more than 1900 children in the foster care system in Hamilton County most of whom do not have a Guardian Ad Litem

  • Volunteers can become a Guardian Ad Litem through a 12-hour training with the Ohio Supreme Court or a CASA (court-appointed special advocate) program

At the time, Busam worked at a therapeutic foster care agency in Indiana and accompanied a teenage girl to court. When the teenager asked a simple question, “Can I see my mom?” and the judge said no, banged the gavel and left the bench, a light bulb went off.

“In that moment I'm like, 'this isn't fair. Why is no one speaking up for this child? This is what she wants,'" Busam said. "I knew in that moment that every kid needed someone to advocate for them in these situations, that it's not fair that they don't have a voice."

The experience galvanized Busam who did a six-week crash course to prepare for the entrance exam to law school, determined to speak up for children who are abused and neglected.

“I knew that every kid needed someone to advocate for them in these situations, so I did a very quick six-week, crash course study for the LSAT, came to law school and knew this is exactly what I wanted to do.”

With more than 1900 children in the foster care system in Hamilton County, most of whom do not have court-appointed advocates like Busam, the need is overwhelming. Once assigned, Busam visits children at school and in foster care, goes with them to doctor appointments and supervises parental visits, getting to know them and working to determine the best outcome.

“When I first go out and meet a child, I explain to the child that my job is to advocate for what I think is best, and that I'll also let the court know what they want, and then I make sure that they understand that those two things might not be the same thing,” Busam said.

Busam said the happiest part is when the kids can go home and it's successful.

“Sometimes, unfortunately, kids aren't able to go home, and there is a termination of parental rights, which can be really, really difficult," she said. "But when they're in, say, a loving foster home and that foster home wants to adopt them, those adoption days are so much fun."

Busam said she’s learned a lot from the kids she’s represented over the years.

“I would say probably the biggest thing is patience," she said. "I think sometimes kids, especially in these situations, really feel like they're not being heard.”