About our GAL Volunteer Program
The Bette J. Dick Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Program at Kids’ Voice of Indiana is dedicated to advocating for children involved in legal cases across Marion Superior and Circuit Courts. Appointed by judges in the Civil, Probate, and Paternity Divisions, our GAL volunteers play a crucial role in ensuring that children’s best interests are represented.
The GAL program provides guardian ad litem services for children using trained, supervised and represented volunteers. The GAL program volunteers will often conduct home visits, investigate the children’s situations, and interview family members and other service providers. The GAL volunteer may provide a report with recommendations for mediation or a court hearing, and this report is sent to counsel for the parties or self-represented parties. The report must not be shown to the child. The volunteers may also appear in court and testify on the children’s behalf. Each volunteer receives training from the Kids’ Voice staff, and our volunteers are supported and advised by a Kids’ Voice staff attorney throughout the case.
Each Kids’ Voice GAL volunteer is not a professional custody evaluator. The volunteer is a trained GAL who is committed to representing and protecting the child’s best interests according to Indiana law (I.C. 31-9-2-50). Their role involves researching, advocating, and monitoring the child’s situation. The GAL cannot act as a mediator, parenting time coordinator, or provide supervised visitation.
Kids’ Voice requests a program fee for GAL services, but we are committed to serving every case regardless of a party’s ability to pay. We offer fee waivers and flexible payment plans to ensure that financial constraints do not prevent access to our services. Learn more about these options here: GAL Fee Waiver.
Kids’ Voice periodically trains community members to serve as volunteers for the Bette J. Dick GAL for Kids Program. Volunteers learn about their roles and responsibilities, child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, substance abuse, mental health issues, interviewing, report writing, relevant statutes, court procedures, and testifying in court. Indiana law requires that volunteers who are not attorneys complete a training program in order to serve as a GAL.
Become A Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Volunteer
Kids’ Voice offers a rewarding opportunity to serve as a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) volunteer. Our comprehensive GAL training covers essential topics including Dissolution, Paternity, Reporting Child Abuse, Guardianship, Ethics, and the fundamentals of being a GAL. Training session are held throughout the year, with dates and registration details available on our events calendar.
How to Get Started:
- Complete an Application: All volunteer advocates must submit a GAL volunteer application and undergo a background check before participating in training. Please send your completed application to Chelsea Shelburne at cshelburne@kidsvoicein.org.
- Earn CLE Credits: Attorneys volunteering with us can earn up to 7 free hours of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) by completing the GAL training course.
Hear from Our Volunteers:
- “I find this area fascinating and learned valuable information even though I primarily practice family law.” — Pro Bono GAL Volunteer
- “I feel ready to volunteer and can tell the Kids’ Voice attorneys are always available to answer any questions I have.” — GAL Community Volunteer
How does a GAL differ from a CASA volunteer?
While CASA and GAL volunteers both advocate for children’s best interests, they work on different types of legal cases. CASA volunteers focus on cases involving abuse and neglect. GAL volunteers at Kids’ Voice are appointed to cases related to adoption, divorce, paternity, and guardianship. You can learn more about CASA volunteering here.
Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Training
Attorneys in Marion County and surrounding areas can earn 7 free CLE hours by participating in our GAL training, provided they commit to serving at least two pro bono GAL cases with Kids’ Voice. Attorneys outside these counties may attend the training for a fee, with no service obligation required.
Kids’ Voice also offers additional CLE programs throughout the year. Visit our event calendar for upcoming CLE opportunities.
