Update from MN Office of the Legislative Auditor: GAL Roundtable Discussion

Public Domain Image http://www.pd4pic.com

There is still time to provide written comments concerning the Guardian ad Litem Program!  

From an e-mail from Caitlin Badger, who is on the GAL audit team: ” It would be most helpful to us to have all comments submitted by the beginning of October, but we are happy to hear from people for the remainder of the calendar year (2017).”

PLEASE inform your networks, friends, social media, anyone who may be interested so they can submit concerns, or any other feedback.

Contact Jodi Munson Rodríguez, program evaluation manager by e-mail at: jodi.rodriguez@state.mn.us

Or, Caitlin Badger, Evaluator: Caitlin.Badger@state.mn.us

________________

An update from the MN Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA)  about the 2017 audit of the Guardian ad Litem program: OLA Minnesota

Roundtable Discussion: Guardians Ad Litem, Monday, May 15, 1:00 p.m., Room 300N, State Office Building.

Address: State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55155

State Office Building – Directions, Parking, General Info

OLA has released this statement concerning the Roundtable Discussion:

Interested Stakeholders:

The Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) is beginning a program evaluation of the Guardians ad Litem program. We are seeking input from stakeholders like you as we begin developing our evaluation questions and the scope of our research activities.

OLA is a nonpartisan audit and evaluation office in the legislative branch of Minnesota state government.  We evaluate programs’ activities to determine how effectively and efficiently programs, as a whole, are fulfilling their missions.  We do not have the resources to investigate individual cases or the authority to conduct criminal investigations.  If you would like more information about OLA, click here to visit our homepage.

Our preliminary areas of study are:

• How effectively the Guardians ad Litem program is governed
• How well the Guardian ad Litem board recruits, trains, monitors, and evaluates guardians ad litem
• The extent to which complaint and appeal processes are fair and effective

Depending on what we hear at the open forum, we may alter the focus of the evaluation.  Given the level of interest in this topic, we may need to limit the length of individual comments to ensure everyone who attends the forum has the opportunity to speak.

 If you are unable to attend the open forum or would like to provide written comments, please contact Jodi Munson Rodríguez, the program evaluation manager. You may reach her at jodi.rodriguez@state.mn.us.

The Round Table Discussion is an important opportunity to gain more information on the audit process and have your concerns heard.

 Note:  It is important for the public to keep in mind when providing information to the Evaluators that they are seeking information regarding the problems within the whole system of the MN State GAL Program.  Their focus will be on reviewing the system.  There has been a common pattern of GAL problems affecting so many parents and children in family court, making it quite easy for the public to identify and compile this information to give to the Evaluators.  This focus area will have the most benefit and impact on the audit process.  Think about this as you prepare your input.

For more information about the role of a Guardian ad Litem, and their mandated duties please visit: Role of the Guardian ad Litem (GAL)

For More Info:

Breaking News: MN Guardian ad Litem Program to be Audited

(Minnesota) NOTICE: Public Will Have Input Into 2017 Audit of GAL Program

OLA Guardian ad Litem Topic Selection Background Paper April 2017