The Guardian Ad Litem Program :: essays research papers

The Guardian Ad Litem Program represents children who appear in the state courts. These children have not committed any crime but atomic number 18 victims of abuse, escape or abandonment. The program is comprised of volunteers who represent children in the courts, making sure they do not become victims of "the system". Each volunteer works with one or more children involved in the judicial system and tender services agencies, becoming familiar with there lives, while representing the interest of each child forwards the court or social services agencies involved. Specifically, a volunteer acts in the interest of each child in five different capacities. First, as an investigator, a guardian learns as much as possible about the child background (i.e. school, church, friends, and any otherpeople/organizations that affect the child). As a monitor, a guardian makes sure social services agencies, and any other organizations involved with the child are meeting their responsibili ties to the child. As a protector, a guardian prevents insensitive questioning in the courts that is in truth often commonplace. As a reporter, a guardian is a liaison between the child and the courts, presentingwritten reports and recommendations to help act in the childs best interests. Finally, as a spokesperson, a guardian makes sure the childs wishes are heard and their best interests are presented to the courts and social services agencies involved with the child. Qualifications to be a Guardian Ad Litem are at least 19 years old pass screenings with law enforcement agencies, the Abuse Registry, and Guardian Ad Litem staff and have a genuine patronage for a childs welfare. No prior experience is necessary as each volunteer goes through 48 hours of training, ranging from juvenile justice, child development, and child abuse and neglect.