ROCK HILL, S.C. - The governor's office is trying to find a way to pay for the state's volunteer guardian system for children in abuse and neglect cases after January, a spokesman for Gov. Mark Sanford says.

"The governor has worked with his staff and cabinet agencies to find the money to fund the program through January," Sanford spokesman Will Folks said. Sanford told staff "to identify alternative funding sources moving forward from that point."

The program is part of the governor's office and offers training for volunteers in all 16 judicial circuits in the state.

Funding dropped to $315,318 for the fiscal year that ended June 30, about a quarter of the $1.2 million legislators put into it three years earlier. That's forced judges to appoint more lawyers for children.

"It would be a disservice to the community if this program falls apart," York County Department of Social Services lawyer Cherie Barton said. "I hope the governor finds a way to keep this program alive."

The volunteer program is not affiliated with paid guardian ad litems Family Court's appoint in contested custody cases.

Information from: The Herald