Frequently Asked Questions
Table of Contents
Who can be a Guardian ad Litem?
I work full time. Can I still be a
Guardian ad Litem?
What is the time commitment for a
Guardian ad Litem?
How many cases will I be expected
to take?
How is the Guardian ad Litem
different from a social worker?
I worry that the parents will be
uncooperative?
May I take the child home with me
or on special outings?
What is a Guardian ad Litem?
A: A Guardian ad Litem (GAL) is a trained volunteer who is appointed by the court to advocate for the best interests of an abused or neglected child. The GAL serves as an important voice for the child in court.
Who can be a Guardian ad Litem?
A: Anyone.
Guardian ad Litem volunteers come from all walks of life and have a variety of
professional, educational and ethnic backgrounds. No special education or experience is
required.
How will I
know what to do?
A:
Guardian ad Litem offices use a nationally recognized training program. You will learn all about your role in the
court system so that you can be confident when you take your first case.
I work full time. Can I still be a Guardian ad Litem?
A: Many of our volunteers have full-time jobs. Much of the work can be done on the weekend,
in the evening, or on the telephone. You
will need your employer’s permission to take off work when you have a court
date (every three to six months, depending on the case.)
What is the time commitment for a Guardian ad Litem?
A:
After the initial training, you will usually spend about 6-8 hours a month
working on your case until the child is placed in a permanent situation. The length of time varies from case to
case.
How many cases will I be expected to take?
A: We have no set minimum number of cases for
volunteers. Each GAL accepts only as
many cases as he/she has time to handle.
How is the Guardian ad Litem different from a social worker?
A: The social worker
represents the Department of Social Services (DSS), which has legal custody of
the child or children involved, and is charged with finding a permanent
caregiver for the child. The social
worker usually oversees several cases at a time. A GAL doesn’t have nearly as many cases and
is able to devote more time to each case.
The social worker has to provide the child with many services, while the
GAL only advocates for the child’s needs in court.
I worry that the parents will be uncooperative.
A: It comes as a surprise to many people that the
parents are usually more than glad to tell their version of the events that
have caused this case to come before the court.
As a GAL, you are just asking questions and listening at the outset, and
most parents do not find this threatening.
We will never ask you to do anything that makes you feel unsafe. You can arrange to have visits in a public
place like a restaurant or at DSS, and you can always take another GAL
volunteer with you.
May I take the child home with me or on
special outings?
A:
No. You also must not give significant
gifts to the child. You are not a parent
or caregiver. Your role is to
investigate and observe in order to be a well-informed advocate. That in itself is an important gift to the
child, and it requires good judgment and objectivity.
Last revised: July 13, 2005
