Fostering Voices Podcast

What is a GaL? Not just a cute name for a girl. A Guardian ad Litem is a lawyer, who is assigned to a child in foster care, and their job is to represent the best interest of the children they serve. If a child in foster care is 12 and older, they are legally able to request another attorney. The other lawyer advocates for what that child wants. The lighthearted example that Kim Turner shared with us is that a GaL will advocate that their client needs to eat vegetables every day, and their personal attorney can advocate that the child would like to eat candy instead. Obviously the issues are more serious, but that's a picture of the two lawyers' roles in a foster child's case. Definition of ad litem : for the lawsuit or action : appointed by the court to represent a client or estate in a particular legal action Merriam Webster There is recourse for GaLs who neglect to visit their clients before a court hearing! They must sign affidavits that state that they visited their clients! So if you are a foste