Guardian Ad Litem Training Understanding Children and the need for Permanency Risk v. Safety

Objectives of Training Topics for Discussion ● Risk v Safety ● Prognosis Indicators ● Principles of Permanence Considerations ● Identify risk and safety ● Understand indicators and case planning ● Understand the principles as they relate to case planning

Determining Risk and Safety Advocates should be able to assess whether there is sufficient showing of evidence upon which the agencies recommendation is based. Child Safety

Child Safety- Questions to Answer Nature of Maltreatment Circumstances of Maltreatment Child/ren day to day functioning Parental Discipline Overall parenting skills Parental life management

Prognosis Indicators you will need to review attachment A for this slide ● Should be addressed in any case plan ● Guardians should be aware of these indicators when determining best interest ● Guardians should ensure any indicators have been addressed/treated prior to returning child/ren home

The Principles for case planning and assesment Constantly examine your own value system Carefully examine the CPS agency record Ask the parents why they think they lost custody of the children Recognize that the system should be operating on the child’s sense of time Understand grief and what moving and waiting to do children Stay child centered and family focused Recognize parents strengths but do not ignore their failings Be a team player Aggravate the system if you have to-be catalyst for change Work for justice-act with mercy

Conclusion All children need a “parent.” a primary attachment figure. Permanence is most probable when the legal parent is also the emotional parent.