Under the Aegis: Late-Night Crises and Building Trust with Vulnerable Children

Discover how Karen Rogers, a Guardian ad Litem with TIGALA, supports vulnerable children during crises, drawing on her experience with homeless youth to build trust and provide vital care.

For Karen Rogers, a Guardian ad Litem with TIGALA, the nights often bring the most challenging and rewarding aspects of her role. Having worked extensively with children experiencing homelessness in the past, Karen is no stranger to the streets of Dublin at night, where vulnerable young people often find themselves with nowhere to turn.

Karen recalls her time supporting homeless children at night, encountering them on the steps of Garda stations amidst the chaos of city life. “The streets in Dublin at night are terrifying,” she reflects, remembering the fear and uncertainty these children faced. Her role was to provide them with some semblance of security, ensuring they had a safe place to stay, something to eat, and someone to talk to.

I think it can show that this person is not just going to walk off because it's 5 o'clock... You log off when the young person wants to log off and when they're done talking to you.

One experience that stands out for Karen is working with a teenager in crisis, whose placement was at risk of breaking down. With no family to return to, the young person found themselves in an extremely difficult situation. Karen spent hours sitting with them, not necessarily talking about the specifics of their circumstances, but simply being present, offering support, and building trust.

Karen explains, “You log off when the young person wants to log off and when they're done talking to you,” not at 5pm, when a typical working day might end. This unwavering commitment to being there for vulnerable children, even in the most challenging of circumstances, is at the heart of what it means to be a Guardian ad Litem with TIGALA.

At TIGALA, our Guardians understand that trust is not built overnight, but through consistent, compassionate support during these critical moments. Karen’s experience working night shifts has deeply influenced her approach, emphasising the importance of being there for children when they need it most, no matter the hour.