Spring 2011-#12. South Hero's David Carter Honored for Pro Bono Work.

• Author: by Mary C. Ashcroft, Esq.

Vermont Bar Journal

2011.

Spring 2011-#12.

South Hero's David Carter Honored for Pro Bono Work

THE VERMONT BAR JOURNALVolume 37, No. 1Spring 2011South Hero's David Carter Honored for Pro Bono Workby Mary C. Ashcroft, Esq.Attorney David Clinton Carter may live on an island, but he is far from isolated from the needs of his neighbors. The South Hero man's commitment to his community-from local to global-was recognized and rewarded with the Vermont Bar Association's 2011 Pro Bono Service Award.

Attorney Carter is an unabashed advocate for young people. That's what moved Franklin/Grand Isle Court Clerk Gaye Paquette to nominate him. "He always will take a case on behalf of children, either as an attorney or a GAL," Paquette stated. "He is very generous with his time when it involves children and has never refused unless he had a conflict."

David Carter's pro bono work for kids spans many years. But one case still remains in his memory. A number of years ago, Carter was appointed guardian ad litem for a family of five children who lived in total poverty. They had no heat, no food, and no attention to basic needs. One of the children was blind and needed surgery. The children were placed in foster homes, and more problems followed with one of the foster families. Carter followed the cases through the various court processes, obtained surgical care for his ward, and turned the children's lives onto a better path.

Carter's advocacy on behalf of young people does not stop at the courthouse door. He works to address the root of problems that propel families into court. Carter heads the child protection team for Grand Isle County. The team, composed of nurses, school counselors, DCF personnel, and attorneys, meet monthly to triage families in trouble. "We talk about families and home situations, cross-pollinate ideas for assisting them," says Carter. "We try to be proactive, intercepting families in trouble and providing services for them."

When one of those service providers- the Champlain Island Parent Child Center-needed help, Carter stepped forward. Under his chairmanship, the Center just completed a successful six-year capital campaign to raise $950,000, helping to sustain its child care, parent support, play group, Head Start, and pre-kindergarten programs.

David Clinton Carter has made international connections because of...