We’ve all heard it. “It takes a village to raise a child.”
Attorney Valerie Faltemier is part of that village for many Northeast Florida children. The village mentality is exactly what proactive family, public interest and pro bono attorneys stand for — attorneys like Faltemier.
Faltemier who primarily focuses her pro bono efforts in the arena of family law, makes it her mission to help parents or guardians secure custody, support and housing so they can better care for their children.
Although Faltemier has provided her legal services for dozens of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (JALA) cases and has taken on multiple personal pro bono cases, she keeps on giving to her community and to those who need the legal knowledge she possesses to obtain custody and guardianship in order to care for their loved ones.
A current case hits close to Faltemier’s mind and heart, because it holds a personal connection.
A social worker in the local school system contacted Faltemier about helping an elementary school girl after her grandmother, who had been raising her, passed away. Faltemier had taught that same girl in her Sunday school class at their church, and the girl was also a schoolmate with one of Faltemier’s children. Because of Faltemier’s connection with the case, she was eager to help.
“Two relatives from out of state were willing to take on the awesome responsibility of continuing to raise this young girl, although they did not have the financial ability to hire an attorney to file a petition for guardianship of the child with the Court,” said Faltemier.
“I had seen a child in a similar situation in the past, and she had to wait in foster care for a year before she could finally go to live with her relatives out of state. I am thankful to be in a position to be able to help this young girl transition to a new life, and avoid being placed into foster care,” she said.
While that specific case is nearing its end and the guardianship order will be entered soon, Faltemier does not slow down her efforts to provide pro bono legal service to the community.
In addition to individual representation, Faltemier is spearheading the start of a Child Support Modification group information clinic in Nassau County. The Child Support Modification action is one that persons can pursue pro se with some education and encouragement.
Faltemier is serving as the organizer and coordinator for the effort to serve Nassau County residents in a monthly clinic format similar to what is offered in Duval County. She will schedule the clinics to be held at the Nassau County Courthouse and will coordinate Nassau County pro bono attorneys willing to present the information to interested members of the public.
Growing up as the daughter of a social worker, Faltemier told her mother she wanted to help people, too.
“My mother told me I would be able to provide better service and help to people if I became an attorney,” Faltemier said. We think her mother was right.
Sincere thanks and appreciation are extended to Valerie Faltemier for her tireless efforts and for her willingness to be part of the “village” in Northeast Florida.
Attorneys interested in pro bono opportunities throughout the Fourth Judicial Circuit are encouraged to contact Kathy Para, Chairperson, The JBA Pro Bono Committee, [email protected].