Dr. Phil McGraw, psychologist and host of the Dr. Phil show on television often asks guests "and how's that working for you?"

Usually the question follows some remark from the guest about what they are doing in their life that's related to a problem or behavior they're trying to change.

According to a recently posted article on the National CASA website, Dr Phil and his wife Robin were named official spokespersons for the national Forgotten Children Campaign.

The campaign was created to raise awareness of foster children and to aid in the recruitment of much-needed CASA volunteer advocates who work together with the court system in the best interest of foster children.

In South Carolina these child advocates are members of the SC Volunteer Guardian ad Litem program. The SC program is a member of National CASA.

It won't be long before the arrival of a new year - 2009. Now is the time of year when many of us make resolutions about changes we will make in the upcoming year.

Some popular resolutions are losing weight, exercising more, and paying off debt, just to name a few.

These are all worthwhile, but in the words of Dr Phil, 'how's that been working for you'?

Now might be a good time to discard the habit of making New Year's resolutions that you always break and replace them with one that can make a difference in the life of a child.

Resolve to become a volunteer Guardian at Litem. Help an abused or neglected child find a permanent, safe home.

It's easier than you might imagine. During training, volunteers learn investigative skills, interviewing techniques, how to prepare reports and Family Court procedures.

They are also trained in family dynamics and cultural diversity.

Volunteers are rewarded with priceless satisfaction for helping rescue children and break the cycle of child abuse.

Except for court appearances, volunteers have considerable flexibility in scheduling interviews and appointments.

Anyone 21 or older may become a volunteer Guardian ad Litem; however, the state is careful about whom it chooses to work with South Carolina's most fragile citizens.

Background checks are employed to protect children from further physical and emotional harm.

An abused or neglected child is often in foster care for one to two years. That might not seem very long to adults - until they remember how the three-month summer vacation from school seemed to last forever. A year or two can seem like a lifetime for a child.

The next training session for Fairfield County will begin in a few weeks. Please call Nikki Owens at 581-0226 to request an application and to register for the training class. You may visit our website at fairfield.scgal.org for more information or to download an application.

The South Carolina Volunteer Guardian ad Litem Program is a member of National CASA. www.nationalcasa.org