Indiana State Office of GAL/CASA

The work we do is vitally important. When a child must be removed from their home, it is because their situation is desperate. It is because their parents cannot care for them properly at that time. Although it is true the state agencies try to do everything they can with the interests of the child in mind, their ultimate goal is always reunification with the family. Services tend to focus heavily on supporting the parent to obtain their children back from the state. There are very little services in comparison geared toward helping the child. It is not always in the best interest of the child to go back to their parents. Children are extremely intuitive and know their needs. Therefore I have the privelage of legally representing a child's desires in court. Sometimes, even when it is not in the best interest of the child, the courts are forced to return custody to a parent because the law ties their hands. It's good to be that support for someone.