please post your story on this blog!!! you know who you are i just dont want to put your name i will keep in touch with you via email and my request as well as yours to dr phil will help ive had one call back already :)
Stalking is a repetitive pattern of unwanted, harassing or threatening behavior committed by one person against another. Acts include: telephone harassment, being followed, receiving unwanted gifts, and other similar forms of intrusive behavior. All states and the Federal Government have passed anti-stalking legislation. Definitions of stalking found in state anti-stalking statutes vary in their language, although most define stalking as "the willful, malicious, and repeated following and harassing of another person that threatens his or her safety" (1).
Are Stalkers Mentally Ill? Most stalkers are not psychotic, (i.e., have hallucinations/delusions) although many do suffer from other mental problems including depression, substance abuse, and personality disorders (4).
Mindy Mechanic, Ph.D. National Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center University of Missouri at St. Louis
I think calling everybody trying to find out where you'll live is a form of stalking, don't you, especially when he is ordered to stay away from one of you and also since it is NONE OF HIS BUSINESS!
SP - it won't let me put his whole blog up - it's too long, but definitely read it - sounds like someone we know!!
www.gregoryforman.com
Gregory S. Forman, P.C. Charleston Family Law Attorney & Certified Family Court Mediator Like Us on Facebook Blog Impeaching a guardian ad litem who’s gone (too) rogue
Gregory S. Forman, P.C. Charleston Family Law Attorney & Certified Family Court Mediator Like Us on Facebook Blog Impeaching a guardian ad litem who’s gone (too) rogue Posted Saturday, October 6th, 2012 by Gregory Forman Filed under Child Custody, Guardians Ad Litem, Litigation Strategy, Not South Carolina Specific, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys Twenty years experience shows that there’s some validity to Robert Rosen’s jaundiced view of guardians ad litem in private custody cases, best expressed by the title of one of his articles for South Carolina Lawyer: “Getting Rid of the GAL: How to Save Your Client from Those Expensive, Unnecessary Officious Intermeddlers.” As Rosen’s article notes: I have rarely been involved in a custody case in which the GAL contributed anything except to the cost. That contribution is usually significant. This is not to say that guardians cannot be useful. Of course, they can be, and there are undoubtedly some cases which guardians have helped settle or have given useful advice. But, the same would be true in a wreck case or a medical malpractice case. If there were a guardian involved, he or she could also give some useful advice to both the plaintiff and the defendant. In general, GALs merely add another lawyer with another hourly rate to talk to the same witnesses, sit at the same depositions and present an opinion which is usually as valuable (as lacking in value) as the opinion of the lawyer for the wife or the lawyer for the High School. Many times their opinions are worthless. GALs add nothing to the litigation except another batch of subjective opinions based on their own childhood experiences, their own marriage(s) and children and their own view of the world. Family court lawyers admit all this privately to each other, while they pander to and praise GALs who are on their side…. It is, therefore, my unshakeable belief that avoiding a guardian ad litem is an important service to your client because: (1) it saves money; (2) does away with another wild car in the case; (3) is one less person to have to listen to, accommodate, humor and deal with; and (4) and most importantly, the GAL can always recommend against your client, which is usually fatal, as judges generally place entirely too much value on their “impartial” recommendations While I agree with many of Rosen’s criticisms of guardians, I believe there are some tasks a guardian is uniquely qualified and useful to perform in child custody cases. Unlike the parents’ attorneys or the family court judge, a guardian can go into both parents’ homes multiple times to observe the living situation and to observe parent-child interaction. A guardian can ask the parents to answer questions about the incidents and disputes that come in most custody cases and expect honest answers (and note a party’s failure or refusal to answer). A guardian can meet with the children multiple times and develop an understanding of their concerns and wishes. A guardian can observe the child with third-party care givers and provide (assumably unbiased) observations on the child’s level of comfort with such care givers.
SP - check this out. I guess Virginia is not the only with this problem.
Thursday, March 14, 2013Day of Reckoning - March 28 2013 - for Guardian ad litem Reform The following four bills will be open for testimony by the public on Thursday March 28 starting at 1 pm. This is an opportunity for our group to speak of the issues we have had to deal with concerning Guardians ad litem, the Judiciary and Divorce Industry. The three that would help parents and children are LD 551, 872 and 975. LD 522 is a bill from the Judiciary which would take control in house of Guardians ad litem. In almost 40 years they have not been able to correct problems that many in the Judiciary and divorce industry do not see. Should LD 522 pass it would mean that reform would be a dead issue at least for this session. What ever momentum we currently have would be lost. The fight will be harder. How many families and children have to be hurt before there is meaningful change? You will have an opportunity to stop that hurt and help others that are experiencing the horrors of a Guardian ad litem gone wrong. Your voice is needed. Please help
LD 522, SP 212, An Act To Amend the Guardian Ad Litem Laws Link to PDF of bill: LD 522, SP 212 Link to schedule
LD 551, HP 370, An Act To Establish Certification Standards for Guardians Ad Litem Link to PDF of bill: LD 551, HP 370 Link to schedule
LD 872, SP 297, An Act To Improve the Quality of Guardian ad Litem Services for the Children and Families of Maine Link to PDF of bill: LD 872, SP 297 Link to schedule
LD 975, HP 689, An Act To Ensure Accountability of Guardians Ad Litem and Parenting Coordinators Link to PDF of bill: LD 975, HP 689 Link to Schedule
SP - this is just a paragraph from the article, you should read the whole thing, but I thought this was interesting. I'll give you the website tonight.
WASHINGTON STATE Title 26 Family Law Guardian Ad Litem Guidebook Washington
Ethical issues can have serious implications. The Washington Supreme Court decided in In the Matter of the Disciplinary Proceeding Against Joseph P. Whitney (No. 200, 173-4, September 29, 2005) that an attorney acting as a GAL could be disciplined as an attorney. Mr. Whitney was disbarred from the practice of law. This case may be looked upon as precedent, and GALs who are licensed to practice professions such as psychology, social work or other professions may be disciplined for work done as a GAL.
SP - check out this website - jenkinslawofficeva.com
Look at the Guardian Ad Litem Questionnaire. How many of these questions were you asked?? Probably two!!!
This looks like what a real GAL would ask and seek out information from. It is very thorough and asks a lot of good questions for which good information can be obtained, very unbiased. You can tell this was well thought out. Of course, these are the obvious questions a GAL would seek. Very impressive. Of course, if it were one-sided, you definitely wouldn't want to use it. Maybe this law office needs to have a class in how to be a good GAL!!
SP - You need to read this whole article. I couldn't put all of it on here. I am going to print it off and highlight some info for you. This was some of the exact stuff we were talking about the other day. Also, I think I found the number to get the other info I was telling you about. I think I can request it. I am going to call them today.
Meet face-to-face and interview the child. COMMENT: The first duty of the GAL is to establish a relationship with the child client, as an attorney would with any client. This interview should be conducted face-to-face at a time and place that allows the GAL to observe the child and ascertain: the child’s wishes, the safety and adequacy of the child’s current placement, and the need for further testing, evaluation or interim judicial relief. Such interviews are best conducted on a date prior to the first court appearance and at a location other than the courthouse. It is important to meet with the child in a private setting, such as the GAL’s office, the child’s home, school or placement, away from the litigants so that the child can talk openly.
STANDARDS TO GOVERN THE PERFORMANCE OF GUARDIANS AD LITEM FOR CHILDREN These standards apply to all attorneys serving as Guardians ad litem for children in child protection1, custody and visitation, juvenile delinquency, child in need of supervision, child in need of services, status offense and other appropriate cases, as determined by the court, in juvenile and domestic relations district courts, circuit courts, the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Virginia. These standards augment the policies governing the qualification of attorneys as Guardians ad litem.
The content and direction of the interview should take into account the child’s age, maturity and potential stress created by the circumstances of the case and prior interviews, especially in cases involving allegations of sexual or other abuse. In such cases, GALs should rely upon videotapes of forensic interviews or attend interviews of the child conducted by trained experts rather than conducting their own independent investigation and interviewing the child about the facts of their alleged victimization.
The GAL shall interview the parties to the dispute and any other persons with relevant knowledge of the child and the facts that gave rise to the allegations. Such other persons would include, for example, the child’s parents, current caretaker including foster parents, an assigned Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) worker, social worker, child care provider, clergy, neighbors, relatives, school personnel, and health and mental health providers. When the child is young, there is a greater need to seek independent sources of information S -5 and obtain verification of salient facts. Such interviews are best conducted on a date prior to the court appearances and at a location other than the courthouse.
“Any member of the public who wishes to speak on behalf of or against the reelection of a specific judge must contact me in advance to be added to the schedule.” -Mary Kate Felch*
*Mary Kate Felch Senior Research Associate Judicial Electi...on Process Administrator Virginia Division of Legislative Services General Assembly Building 910 Capitol Street, Second Floor Richmond, VA 23219 804-786-3591 MFelch@leg.state.va.us MFelch@dls.virginia.gov http://dls.state.va.us/pubs/legisguidejudicselect.pdf
What is CASA The Court Appointed Special Advocate program is authorized by the State of Virginia and provides trained volunteers to advocate on behalf of children who are subjects of juvenile court proceedings involving allegations of abuse and neglect. Appointed by juvenile court judges, CASA volunteers advocate for the best interests of children to ensure that they do not get lost in overburdened legal system or languish in an inappropriate foster or group home. CASA Volunteers stay with each child’s case until the child is in a safe, permanent home with hope for a positive future. There are 29 local CASA programs in Virginia. Last year in the United States, there were 70,900 CASAs who helped 237,000 children find safe, permanent homes. The National CASA Association A concept is endorsed by the American Bar Association, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and the National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators. Volunteers receive extensive training prior to being sworn by the court. They undergo background checks. FBI Fingerprint national record check and interviews to assure safety to the children they serve. They are supervised by the program director and attend monthly training meetings.
June 27th, 2012 by Robin McGraw A Whole Lot of Theta Love The following is a post by my wife, Robin McGraw, who has made our marriage and our growing family her priority in life. Robin’s devotion to “family first” can be seen through her dedicated work as a board member of The Dr. Phil Foundation and national spokesperson for CASA. In 2010, she became a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity, which has donated more than $1 million to CASA over the last 20 years.
It’s been two years since I had the thrill of being initiated into the Omicron Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta. For those of my readers who don’t know, Kappa Alpha Theta is the first Greek letter fraternity known among women — founded in 1870 — and my favorite nonprofit, CASA for Children, is Theta’s official philanthropy. I’m still in awe of the tremendous amount of energy Theta women put into everything they do — especially their passionate support of CASA for Children. In an interview with Theta magazine, I once said, “There are no children more disadvantaged than those who get caught up in the foster care system.” I still believe this, with one exception: The kids in the foster care system who have a CASA volunteer have a huge advantage! Those children have a caring adult matched with them one-on-one; an adult who is trained to give that child a voice and who will lift up that child’s best interests in court. CASA volunteers are just as passionate as my Theta sisters about the work that they do. The stories I hear from young people who have “aged out of the system” start with such tragedy, but they end in victories for each child who was listened to and who made his or her way to the safety of a forever family. That is why I am so grateful to each and every Theta. Whether my Theta sisters are still in college or university, or whether they are alumnae who, like me, haven’t been students for more than a few years, the energy these women pour into their support of CASA makes my heart soar. My Theta sisters are about to enjoy a fun-filled, information-packed Grand Convention in Tucson. I wish I could be there with them! Since I can’t be, I’m writing this message to wish every Theta sister a whole lot of Theta love! Please do your part to help abused and neglected children! Visit iamforthechild.org and add your voice. Thank you! Tags: CASA, Children, Robin McGraw, Theta This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 27th, 2012 at 8:00 am and is filed under Featured, In The News, Inspirational, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site
Stephanie - go to Office of Executive Secretary website and click on Court Improvement Program and then click on Resources and Reference Material and click on Table of Appeals of Termination of Parental Rights Cases to the Court of Appeals of Virginia. After reading some of these (you need to read the whole thing, too long to put on here), I'm left wondering - why did they take the kids from you. I read one where the mother tested for cocaine (more than once) and they took the children from them, gave them counseling, etc and they were given back to the parents (you need to read the whole thing). Let's see you don't do drugs nor drink, don't even smoke cigarettes, took good care of your children and they took them away from you. I guess if you were a drug addict, alcoholic, abuser, etc, you would have been given a second chance. It truly blows my mind!! Based on their criteria (Prince Edward County Courts) half the people in the United States would not have their children! She probably thinks half the people in the United States should not have their children. Maybe that's her mission!! Funny thing though, I do know of people who should not have their children and nobody does a thing about them!! Oh that's right, it is the poor that get targeted. Easy victims, don't have the money or the resources to fight back.
The lady from the Freedom of Information Act told me to call the Office of the Executive Secretary and I will call them today and see about what I told you I wanted to find out. Hopefully, they can tell me the process or point me in the right direction.
I cannot believe she (LT)came on your property threatening you (and with so many witnesses) espically when she was ordered to stay away from you. I think you should get a warrant for her. And all that cussing she did in front of the children and what she threatened to do to you in front of the children. Definitely go get a warrant today. I know the witnesses said you did not even say anything to her except when she started the cussing and threatening, you askd her to leave. I know the people there said they will back you up 100%. They could not believe it! And it was in Powhatan, not Prince Edward!
Maybe you can get a restraining order. Go today!!
Bleached blonde, new Mustang, then Hummer, boytoy - midlife crises maybe?!
While, in the midst of tragedy we naturally ask why, the reality is that God doesn’t often answer our whys. He speaks directly to the questioning Job for four chapters (Job 38-41) … but never answers his why. An important thing to remember about God: He is not in the business of explaining; He is in the business of sustaining. And “when answers aren’t enough, there is Jesus. He is MORE than just an answer to our prayer.”
If your heart and mind are flooded with whys today over the devastating circumstances of life … if you cannot make sense of that which seems so unfair and so uncalled for, keep in mind the bedrock things that you do know.
1. God really does love us. The cross of Jesus Christ proves this beyond any shadow of a doubt. Romans 8:32 says, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?"
2. God really is in control and does everything with a purpose. Nothing sneaks up on God. He is the blessed and only Sovereign. While He is definitely not the author of evil, evil cannot touchdown in our lives unless He, for whatever purpose He deems necessary, allows it to (see Job 1-2). He is in charge and never makes a mistake. And everything He does flows from a heart of love, because “God is love” (1 Jn. 4:8).
3. We can trust God, no matter what. God is worthy of our trust. He is the one who takes all the bad things and works them together for our good and His glory (see Rom. 8:28). While He doesn’t often tell us why things happen the way they do, He does tell us, “My child, even in this, you can trust Me.”
Will you trust Him? In your own personal hurt, pain, and bewilderment, will you choose to come to Him and cling to Him, no matter what? He is God, and there is no other. He is the only One who can see you through. Resist the temptation to get bitter at Him when you don’t understand, and surrender all your whys to His unfathomable love, His limitless wisdom, and His amazing grace.
At least they don't have Dr. Phil in their back pocket!!
ReplyDeleteSo glad that person contacted you. I'm sure there are plenty more out there and maybe they will contact you too.
You need to tell her about the mommygobyebye blog and who is listed on there. It shows people were complaining about them a long time ago.
There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.
ReplyDeleteElie Wiesel
He who commits injustice is ever made more wretched than he who suffers it.
Plato
“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.”
Elie Wiesel quotes
Stalking is a repetitive pattern of unwanted, harassing or threatening behavior committed by one person against another. Acts include: telephone harassment, being followed, receiving unwanted gifts, and other similar forms of intrusive behavior. All states and the Federal Government have passed anti-stalking legislation. Definitions of stalking found in state anti-stalking statutes vary in their language, although most define stalking as "the willful, malicious, and repeated following and harassing of another person that threatens his or her safety" (1).
ReplyDeleteAre Stalkers Mentally Ill?
Most stalkers are not psychotic, (i.e., have hallucinations/delusions) although many do suffer from other mental problems including depression, substance abuse, and personality disorders (4).
Mindy Mechanic, Ph.D.
National Violence Against Women Prevention Research Center
University of Missouri at St. Louis
I think calling everybody trying to find out where you'll live is a form of stalking, don't you, especially when he is ordered to stay away from one of you and also since it is NONE OF HIS BUSINESS!
SP
ReplyDeleteI posted on the other website - check it out!
SP
ReplyDeleteIt is called the Freedom of Information Act.
SP - it won't let me put his whole blog up - it's too long, but definitely read it - sounds like someone we know!!
ReplyDeletewww.gregoryforman.com
Gregory S. Forman, P.C.
Charleston Family Law Attorney
& Certified Family Court Mediator
Like Us on Facebook
Blog
Impeaching a guardian ad litem who’s gone (too) rogue
Here is a little bit of it!!
ReplyDeleteGregory S. Forman, P.C.
Charleston Family Law Attorney
& Certified Family Court Mediator
Like Us on Facebook
Blog
Impeaching a guardian ad litem who’s gone (too) rogue
Posted Saturday, October 6th, 2012 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Child Custody, Guardians Ad Litem, Litigation Strategy, Not South Carolina Specific, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys
Twenty years experience shows that there’s some validity to Robert Rosen’s jaundiced view of guardians ad litem in private custody cases, best expressed by the title of one of his articles for South Carolina Lawyer: “Getting Rid of the GAL: How to Save Your Client from Those Expensive, Unnecessary Officious Intermeddlers.” As Rosen’s article notes:
I have rarely been involved in a custody case in which the GAL contributed anything except to the cost. That contribution is usually significant. This is not to say that guardians cannot be useful. Of course, they can be, and there are undoubtedly some cases which guardians have helped settle or have given useful advice. But, the same would be true in a wreck case or a medical malpractice case. If there were a guardian involved, he or she could also give some useful advice to both the plaintiff and the defendant. In general, GALs merely add another lawyer with another hourly rate to talk to the same witnesses, sit at the same depositions and present an opinion which is usually as valuable (as lacking in value) as the opinion of the lawyer for the wife or the lawyer for the High School. Many times their opinions are worthless. GALs add nothing to the litigation except another batch of subjective opinions based on their own childhood experiences, their own marriage(s) and children and their own view of the world. Family court lawyers admit all this privately to each other, while they pander to and praise GALs who are on their side….
It is, therefore, my unshakeable belief that avoiding a guardian ad litem is an important service to your client because: (1) it saves money; (2) does away with another wild car in the case; (3) is one less person to have to listen to, accommodate, humor and deal with; and (4) and most importantly, the GAL can always recommend against your client, which is usually fatal, as judges generally place entirely too much value on their “impartial” recommendations
While I agree with many of Rosen’s criticisms of guardians, I believe there are some tasks a guardian is uniquely qualified and useful to perform in child custody cases. Unlike the parents’ attorneys or the family court judge, a guardian can go into both parents’ homes multiple times to observe the living situation and to observe parent-child interaction. A guardian can ask the parents to answer questions about the incidents and disputes that come in most custody cases and expect honest answers (and note a party’s failure or refusal to answer). A guardian can meet with the children multiple times and develop an understanding of their concerns and wishes. A guardian can observe the child with third-party care givers and provide (assumably unbiased) observations on the child’s level of comfort with such care givers.
Our justice system at its finest - LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteSP - you are allowed to sit in and speak when judges come up for reappointment. I will look it up for you and let you know when it is.
I will also find out the other info I was telling you about.
Also, I posted some more stuff on our other website so don't forget to check it out. It has had a lot of hits!!
SP - I have a friend who said they will do a U-Tube video for you. Maybe we can do it this weekend.
ReplyDeleteIsaiah 61:7 (CEV) "They were terribly insulted and horribly mistreated; now they will be greatly blessed and joyful forever."
ReplyDeleteSP - check this out. I guess Virginia is not the only with this problem.
ReplyDeleteThursday, March 14, 2013Day of Reckoning - March 28 2013 - for Guardian ad litem Reform
The following four bills will be open for testimony by the public on Thursday March 28 starting at 1 pm. This is an opportunity for our group to speak of the issues we have had to deal with concerning Guardians ad litem, the Judiciary and Divorce Industry. The three that would help parents and children are LD 551, 872 and 975. LD 522 is a bill from the Judiciary which would take control in house of Guardians ad litem. In almost 40 years they have not been able to correct problems that many in the Judiciary and divorce industry do not see. Should LD 522 pass it would mean that reform would be a dead issue at least for this session. What ever momentum we currently have would be lost. The fight will be harder. How many families and children have to be hurt before there is meaningful change? You will have an opportunity to stop that hurt and help others that are experiencing the horrors of a Guardian ad litem gone wrong. Your voice is needed. Please help
LD 522, SP 212, An Act To Amend the Guardian Ad Litem Laws
Link to PDF of bill: LD 522, SP 212
Link to schedule
LD 551, HP 370, An Act To Establish Certification Standards for
Guardians Ad Litem
Link to PDF of bill: LD 551, HP 370
Link to schedule
LD 872, SP 297, An Act To Improve the Quality of Guardian ad Litem
Services for the Children and Families of Maine
Link to PDF of bill: LD 872, SP 297
Link to schedule
LD 975, HP 689, An Act To Ensure Accountability of Guardians Ad Litem
and Parenting Coordinators
Link to PDF of bill: LD 975, HP 689
Link to Schedule
SP - this is just a paragraph from the article, you should read the whole thing, but I thought this was interesting. I'll give you the website tonight.
ReplyDeleteWASHINGTON STATE
Title 26 Family Law
Guardian Ad Litem
Guidebook
Washington
Ethical issues can have serious implications. The Washington Supreme Court decided in In the
Matter of the Disciplinary Proceeding Against Joseph P. Whitney (No. 200, 173-4, September
29, 2005) that an attorney acting as a GAL could be disciplined as an attorney. Mr. Whitney was
disbarred from the practice of law. This case may be looked upon as precedent, and GALs who
are licensed to practice professions such as psychology, social work or other professions may be
disciplined for work done as a GAL.
SP - check out this website - jenkinslawofficeva.com
ReplyDeleteLook at the Guardian Ad Litem Questionnaire. How many of these questions were you asked?? Probably two!!!
This looks like what a real GAL would ask and seek out information from. It is very thorough and asks a lot of good questions for which good information can be obtained, very unbiased. You can tell this was well thought out. Of course, these are the obvious questions a GAL would seek. Very impressive. Of course, if it were one-sided, you definitely wouldn't want to use it. Maybe this law office needs to have a class in how to be a good GAL!!
SP - You need to read this whole article. I couldn't put all of it on here. I am going to print it off and highlight some info for you. This was some of the exact stuff we were talking about the other day. Also, I think I found the number to get the other info I was telling you about. I think I can request it. I am going to call them today.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.vsb.org/docs/sections/family/galstandards.pdf
Meet face-to-face and interview the child.
COMMENT: The first duty of the GAL is to establish a relationship with the child
client, as an attorney would with any client. This interview should be conducted
face-to-face at a time and place that allows the GAL to observe the child and
ascertain: the child’s wishes, the safety and adequacy of the child’s current
placement, and the need for further testing, evaluation or interim judicial relief.
Such interviews are best conducted on a date prior to the first court appearance
and at a location other than the courthouse. It is important to meet with the child
in a private setting, such as the GAL’s office, the child’s home, school or
placement, away from the litigants so that the child can talk openly.
STANDARDS TO GOVERN THE PERFORMANCE OF
GUARDIANS AD LITEM FOR CHILDREN
These standards apply to all attorneys serving as Guardians ad litem for children in child
protection1, custody and visitation, juvenile delinquency, child in need of supervision, child in need of
services, status offense and other appropriate cases, as determined by the court, in juvenile and domestic
relations district courts, circuit courts, the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Virginia. These
standards augment the policies governing the qualification of attorneys as Guardians ad litem.
The content and direction of the interview should take into account the
child’s age, maturity and potential stress created by the circumstances of the case
and prior interviews, especially in cases involving allegations of sexual or other
abuse. In such cases, GALs should rely upon videotapes of forensic interviews
or attend interviews of the child conducted by trained experts rather than
conducting their own independent investigation and interviewing the child
about the facts of their alleged victimization.
The GAL shall interview the parties to the dispute and any other persons
with relevant knowledge of the child and the facts that gave rise to the
allegations. Such other persons would include, for example, the child’s parents,
current caretaker including foster parents, an assigned Court-Appointed Special
Advocate (CASA) worker, social worker, child care provider, clergy, neighbors,
relatives, school personnel, and health and mental health providers. When the
child is young, there is a greater need to seek independent sources of information
S -5
and obtain verification of salient facts. Such interviews are best conducted on a
date prior to the court appearances and at a location other than the courthouse.
Here is another website to check out.
ReplyDeletehttp://leg2.state.va.us/dls/h&sdocs.nsf
SP - your mother can petition the court for visitation of her grandchildren so maybe you can talk to her about it tonight. I know she misses them!!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Judicial-Interviews-of-
ReplyDeleteIncumbents-2010-Richmond-Virginia/138253656230064
“Any member of the public who wishes to speak on behalf of or against the reelection of a specific judge must contact me in advance to be added to the schedule.”
-Mary Kate Felch*
*Mary Kate Felch
Senior Research Associate
Judicial Electi...on Process Administrator
Virginia Division of Legislative Services
General Assembly Building
910 Capitol Street, Second Floor
Richmond, VA 23219
804-786-3591
MFelch@leg.state.va.us
MFelch@dls.virginia.gov
http://dls.state.va.us/pubs/legisguidejudicselect.pdf
http://misconductinvirginiafamilycourts.blogspot.com/2010/09/judicial-appointment-process-in.html
ReplyDeleteFinally - something that makes perfect sense, just make they're not from anywhere around here!!
ReplyDeleteI talked to the director of CASA yesterday - interesting. I will leave it at that for now.
ReplyDeleteWhat is CASA
ReplyDeleteThe Court Appointed Special Advocate program is authorized by the State of Virginia and provides trained volunteers to advocate on behalf of children who are subjects of juvenile court proceedings involving allegations of abuse and neglect. Appointed by juvenile court judges, CASA volunteers advocate for the best interests of children to ensure that they do not get lost in overburdened legal system or languish in an inappropriate foster or group home. CASA Volunteers stay with each child’s case until the child is in a safe, permanent home with hope for a positive future.
There are 29 local CASA programs in Virginia. Last year in the United States, there were 70,900 CASAs who helped 237,000 children find safe, permanent homes.
The National CASA Association A concept is endorsed by the American Bar Association, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and the National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators.
Volunteers receive extensive training prior to being sworn by the court. They undergo background checks. FBI Fingerprint national record check and interviews to assure safety to the children they serve. They are supervised by the program director and attend monthly training meetings.
June 27th, 2012 by Robin McGraw
ReplyDeleteA Whole Lot of Theta Love
The following is a post by my wife, Robin McGraw, who has made our marriage and our growing family her priority in life. Robin’s devotion to “family first” can be seen through her dedicated work as a board member of The Dr. Phil Foundation and national spokesperson for CASA. In 2010, she became a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity, which has donated more than $1 million to CASA over the last 20 years.
It’s been two years since I had the thrill of being initiated into the Omicron Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta. For those of my readers who don’t know, Kappa Alpha Theta is the first Greek letter fraternity known among women — founded in 1870 — and my favorite nonprofit, CASA for Children, is Theta’s official philanthropy.
I’m still in awe of the tremendous amount of energy Theta women put into everything they do — especially their passionate support of CASA for Children.
In an interview with Theta magazine, I once said, “There are no children more disadvantaged than those who get caught up in the foster care system.” I still believe this, with one exception: The kids in the foster care system who have a CASA volunteer have a huge advantage! Those children have a caring adult matched with them one-on-one; an adult who is trained to give that child a voice and who will lift up that child’s best interests in court.
CASA volunteers are just as passionate as my Theta sisters about the work that they do. The stories I hear from young people who have “aged out of the system” start with such tragedy, but they end in victories for each child who was listened to and who made his or her way to the safety of a forever family.
That is why I am so grateful to each and every Theta. Whether my Theta sisters are still in college or university, or whether they are alumnae who, like me, haven’t been students for more than a few years, the energy these women pour into their support of CASA makes my heart soar.
My Theta sisters are about to enjoy a fun-filled, information-packed Grand Convention in Tucson. I wish I could be there with them! Since I can’t be, I’m writing this message to wish every Theta sister a whole lot of Theta love!
Please do your part to help abused and neglected children! Visit iamforthechild.org and add your voice. Thank you!
Tags: CASA, Children, Robin McGraw, Theta
This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 27th, 2012 at 8:00 am and is filed under Featured, In The News, Inspirational, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site
Stephanie - go to Office of Executive Secretary website and click on Court Improvement Program and then click on Resources and Reference Material and click on Table of Appeals of Termination of Parental Rights Cases to the Court of Appeals of Virginia. After reading some of these (you need to read the whole thing, too long to put on here), I'm left wondering - why did they take the kids from you. I read one where the mother tested for cocaine (more than once) and they took the children from them, gave them counseling, etc and they were given back to the parents (you need to read the whole thing). Let's see you don't do drugs nor drink, don't even smoke cigarettes, took good care of your children and they took them away from you. I guess if you were a drug addict, alcoholic, abuser, etc, you would have been given a second chance. It truly blows my mind!! Based on their criteria (Prince Edward County Courts) half the people in the United States would not have their children! She probably thinks half the people in the United States should not have their children. Maybe that's her mission!! Funny thing though, I do know of people who should not have their children and nobody does a thing about them!! Oh that's right, it is the poor that get targeted. Easy victims, don't have the money or the resources to fight back.
ReplyDeleteThe lady from the Freedom of Information Act told me to call the Office of the Executive Secretary and I will call them today and see about what I told you I wanted to find out. Hopefully, they can tell me the process or point me in the right direction.
Proverbs 22:8
ReplyDeleteEnglish Standard Version (ESV)
8 Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,
and the rod of his fury will fail.
I cannot believe she (LT)came on your property threatening you (and with so many witnesses) espically when she was ordered to stay away from you. I think you should get a warrant for her. And all that cussing she did in front of the children and what she threatened to do to you in front of the children. Definitely go get a warrant today. I know the witnesses said you did not even say anything to her except when she started the cussing and threatening, you askd her to leave. I know the people there said they will back you up 100%. They could not believe it! And it was in Powhatan, not Prince Edward!
ReplyDeleteMaybe you can get a restraining order. Go today!!
Bleached blonde, new Mustang, then Hummer, boytoy - midlife crises maybe?!
A QUESTION GOD DOESN’T OFTEN ANSWER
ReplyDeleteWhile, in the midst of tragedy we naturally ask why, the reality is that God doesn’t often answer our whys. He speaks directly to the questioning Job for four chapters (Job 38-41) … but never answers his why. An important thing to remember about God: He is not in the business of explaining; He is in the business of sustaining. And “when answers aren’t enough, there is Jesus. He is MORE than just an answer to our prayer.”
If your heart and mind are flooded with whys today over the devastating circumstances of life … if you cannot make sense of that which seems so unfair and so uncalled for, keep in mind the bedrock things that you do know.
1. God really does love us. The cross of Jesus Christ proves this beyond any shadow of a doubt. Romans 8:32 says, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?"
2. God really is in control and does everything with a purpose. Nothing sneaks up on God. He is the blessed and only Sovereign. While He is definitely not the author of evil, evil cannot touchdown in our lives unless He, for whatever purpose He deems necessary, allows it to (see Job 1-2). He is in charge and never makes a mistake. And everything He does flows from a heart of love, because “God is love” (1 Jn. 4:8).
3. We can trust God, no matter what. God is worthy of our trust. He is the one who takes all the bad things and works them together for our good and His glory (see Rom. 8:28). While He doesn’t often tell us why things happen the way they do, He does tell us, “My child, even in this, you can trust Me.”
Will you trust Him? In your own personal hurt, pain, and bewilderment, will you choose to come to Him and cling to Him, no matter what? He is God, and there is no other. He is the only One who can see you through. Resist the temptation to get bitter at Him when you don’t understand, and surrender all your whys to His unfathomable love, His limitless wisdom, and His amazing grace.