|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
||
| Library: Guardian ad Litem | |||||
|
SECTION 6 |
|||||
| Document Author: Contact: National CASA Date Posted: |
|||||
|
Section 6: Conclusion
National CASA believes that it is time to take steps to ensure that every abused or neglected child has quality representation in the courts. While the Association recognizes that there are many complex problems that must be addressed to accomplish true system reform, it recommends two critical first steps which if taken, would bring about immediate improvement. First, trained CASA/GAL volunteers should be recognized as a resource for improving the system. There should be recognition that both volunteers and attorneys must play a significant role in providing GAL representation for children, and in jurisdictions where there is role conflict and confusion, there should be joint efforts to clarify and define mutual responsibilities. Second, there should be one accepted set of duties for a guardian ad litem which are uniformly implemented by courts. National CASA recommends the ten duties presented in this article. For too long, children who have been abused by their parents or caretakers, have also been abused by the system designed to protect them. Too often, they have become invisible to overburdened agencies and courts more concerned with processing and closing cases than with individual children. It is time to put aside debate, professional elitism, and excuses, and to take steps to ensure that every child has quality representation in the legal system. The recognition that volunteers and attorneys must both play a role in advocating for children and the adoption of the duties of a GAL presented here are two steps in that direction.
Contents | Sec.1 | Sec.2 | Sec.3 | Sec.4 | Sec.5 | Sec.6 | Footnotes
|
