YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE A CHILD'S LIFE!

 THE GUARDIAN AD LITEM PROGRAM AT CHILDREN IN PLACEMENT...

provides a unique statewide support network of court appointed volunteers who assist children in the welfare system by serving in their best interests before the court(s). A Guardian ad Litem (GAL) has the primary responsibility of assisting the court to promote permanent placement for children. To accomplish this, our GALs:

• Investigates and reports on their child’s case - this may include visiting their previous home, speaking with the child’s parents, teachers, health care providers, etc. 
• Determines safe, nurturing and permanent placement options for the child(ren).
• Makes informed recommendations in court for the child’s best interests and safest living option.

GAL volunteers are extensively trained, supervised and supported by the Children in Placement team to provide them with the best tools to support these children in state welfare. They are required to complete 40 hours of intensive training, with a 12 hour follow up annually. Volunteers are assigned one case and remain with the case until it is closed, and final placement is successfully found for the child(ren).

GALs are essential in ensuring that a child’s best interests are heard by the court; however, they also provide a support system and a trusting adult figure for these children, many of whom have never had someone advocate for their well-being.

Our GAL volunteers are genuine heroes, doing the work of reducing the time Connecticut's abused and neglected children spend in the welfare system. It is our goal to help find them a safe, stable and permanent home where they can flourish and truly live the childhoods they deserve.