OCO - Initiate and maintain contact with the child's Lawyer Guardian Ad Litem, the person appointed by the court to represent the child in abuse/neglect proceedings.

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Initiate and maintain contact with the child's Lawyer Guardian Ad Litem, the person appointed by the court to represent the child in abuse/neglect proceedings.

The Lawyer Guardian Ad Litem is the person who advocates for the child in the courtroom and is an important person with whom caregivers should share information. At the time of placement, or shortly thereafter, the child’s worker is required to provide the caregiver with the name and telephone number of the child’s Lawyer Guardian Ad Litem. Under recent legislation, the following list includes some of the responsibilities of the child’s Lawyer Guardian Ad Litem:

To serve as the independent representative for the child’s best interest, and to be entitled to full and active participation in all aspects of the litigation
To determine the facts of the case by interviewing the child, social workers, family members, and others as necessary, and reviewing relevant reports and other information
To meet with and observe the child and consult with the caregiver prior to each hearing
To explain to the child, according to the child’s ability to understand, the role of the Lawyer Guardian Ad Litem
To attend all hearings
To monitor the implementation of the case plan and compliance with court orders


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•	Talk directly to the child's foster care worker if you have a question or concern about the child's case plan or the agency's recommendations.
•	Be sure you have all of the case information to which you are entitled regarding your foster child's case.
•	Attend each court hearing relevant to the foster child's case.
•	Provide a written statement to the worker and request that it be attached to the service plan.
•	Attend and participate in the Foster Care Review Board (FCRB) proceedings.
•	Exercise your right to appeal the decision to remove a foster child from your home.
•	Educate yourself about the policies that govern children's protective services, foster care, and adoption.
•	It is important for foster parents and relative care providers to be a part of the team that plans for the foster children in their home.