Florida Guardian ad Litem Academy

Presenters: 

* Amy Thome, GAL 14th Circuit Managing Attorney 

* Victoria Maines, MDT Coordinator (former DCF Child Protective Investigations Supervisor)

This course will focus on common core safety concepts to determine if a child is safe within the Florida Child Welfare Practice model, namely: 

1. Present Danger 
2. Impending Danger

Key advocacy points include: 

• Importance of communicating with Child Protective Investigations at the outset and critical junctures throughout the case. 
• Florida Safety Decision Making Methodology is Florida's child welfare practice model. 
• Encourage staff and volunteers to generate an abuse report by phone so that information related to the six domains of family functioning can be included. 
• When assessing child safety, caregiver protective capacities are important considerations that may mitigate an identified danger threat. 

Additional notes for GAL Volunteers and/or Staff: 

• OPTIMA TRAINING TOPIC:  (Volunteers & GAL Staff):  "Child Welfare System / DCF / CBC"
• CAM CERTIFICATION DOMAIN: Legal, Ethical and Professional Responsibilities
• CLE Certificate number and information provided at completion of course.