Reasons for discontinued service among Guardians ad Litem

• Using qualitative data, reasons for discontinuing service among Guardians ad Litem (GALs) were examined
• Most GALs joined to make a difference yet most discontinued volunteering because of inactivity for six months or more
• Younger volunteers served shorter periods than older volunteers
• Increasing engagement of volunteers may improve retention rates

High attrition among Guardians ad Litem can compromise the quality of care for youth in the dependency system. In order to improve the retention of Guardians ad Litem and the quality of work completed, the characteristics of volunteers who have discontinued service as well as the reasons these volunteers provide for discontinuing service were examined. These analyses were conducted using a Grounded Theory approach as well as descriptive and bivariate statistics. The most frequently reported reason for discontinued service was the volunteers' inactivity for six months or longer. In addition, younger volunteers aiming to gain experience in the field had the shortest length of service, while older volunteers and volunteers who no longer wished to continue had the longest length of service. Our recommendations include 1) standardized and consistent tracking systems of volunteers, 2) create a track for student volunteers who cannot commit to the preferred length of service, 3) recruit older adults who may have more time and life experience to commit to the program, and 4) enhance volunteer commitment by increasing socialization, celebrating accomplishments, and cultivating volunteers' work expectations.