2nd District Guardian ad Litem Program
Cause Area
- Advocacy & Human Rights
- Children & Youth
- Emergency & Safety
- Justice & Legal
- Race & Ethnicity
Location
Juvenile and Family Justice Center25 West 7th StreetSt. Paul, MN 55102 United StatesOrganization Information
Mission Statement
"To support and promote court-appointed volunteer advocates to ensure every abused and neglected child in Minnesota has a safe, stable and permanent family."
Description
Guardians ad litem are appointed by the court to represent the best interests of abused and neglected children during court proceedings.
According to federal and Minnesota state law, all children whose parents may have abused or neglected them must have a Guardian ad Litem. When the court is making decisions that will affect a child's future, the child needs and deserves a spokesperson--an objective adult to provide independent information about the best interests of the child. While other parties in the case are concerned about the child, they also have other interests. The Guardian ad Litem is the only person in the case whose sole concern is the best interests of the child.