Georgia Office of the Child Advocate Pre-Appointment Child Attorney/GAL Training

language English

The Guardian ad Litem training offers a broad overview of the rights, duties, and responsibilities of Attorney Guardians ad Litem under federal and state law.

The goal of this course is to provide the student with a basic understanding of what the law requires of an Attorney Guardian ad Litem and to provide instruction on best practices. Students also receive information on scenarios and topics that they are likely to encounter while working on cases for which they are appointed.

This 9 CLE hours training includes modules on:

• Introduction and Georgia's Child Welfare System Overview – Jerry Bruce, Director, Georgia’s Office of the Child Advocate, and Angela Tyner, Advocacy Director, Georgia CASA
• Georgia DFCS and the Anatomy of a DFCS Case – Lori Davis, Trainer, Georgia Division of Family & Children’s Services
• Dependency and TPR Court Process – Honorable Judge Amber Patterson
• Child Representation Models and Ethical Considerations – Jen Carreras, Deputy Director, Georgia’s Office of the Child Advocate
• Best Interests Advocacy – Jerry Bruce, Director, Georgia’s Office of the Child Advocate, and Angela Tyner, Advocacy Director, Georgia CASA
• Child Development, Trauma, and Interviewing and Legal Counseling Techniques – Dr. Jennifer Elkins, Associate Professor and Director of MSW Program, University of Georgia, and Emma Hetherington, Clinical Associate Professor and Director, Wilbanks Child Endangerment and Sexual Exploitation (CEASE) Clinic at the University of Georgia Law
• Effective Case Planning and Case Plan Advocacy – Lori Davis, Trainer, Georgia Division of Family & Children’s Services, and Amber Walden, Attorney
• Evidence Primer – Jerry Bruce, Director, Georgia’s Office of the Child Advocate
• Trial Skills – Diana Rugh Johnson, Director, Georgia Court Improvement Project Program

This course satisfies the training requirement of OCGA §15-11-104(f) and CAPTA Section 106.