[jeavesmom]

Ok kids had a visit with Bio mom today ,of course our 21 month old screamed ,but also our new SW came by (we have not had one since FEB. when our other one left) any way what a day my thing is we go to court in Aug. we are suppose to bring the kids so the Judge and GAL can see them (they are 10 months and 21 months).Should the GAL not see them before ?Can I call and request a visit with the GAL ? I just want someone who is suppose to be there for the kids to see them and and how wonderful they are doing?

[xxsurroundedbyxy]

Yes, call and ask to make an appt to speak to the GAL and take the kids. Our CASA worker came to our house to meet the kids and both the CASA worker and GAL would come to the staff meetings every 3 months but without a caseworker I'm not sure you have even had those. Still, if the GAL hasn't even met you or the children then how can he/she push for their best interests? Our last GAL had no idea about the sexual abuse report that was substantiated or ANYTHING until I opened my mouth in the staffing and filled her all in. It was obvious the CW was not going to and I knew she had been handed the same caseplan I had just been handed and obviously from what she was saying had not been given a report on this child. I think it is this way in many cases and unless you go and talk and let them meet the children then you are just another court docket number to them.

Kim

[KelleyF]

I have never meet my fs's GAL and the only time I spoke to him is when I called him about my concerns. My fs has been with us for almost 6 mos. Is the GAL supposed to come to the house and meet with us or is that only if the cases are headed toward TPR?

[Tuppy]

Our three FC's pre-permanancy hearing was a week ago, the final TPR hearing is set for Aug. 1st.

The kids' GAL had no contact until two days before the pre-perm. hearing last week. He had never met the kids at all, but had been to the parents criminal trials and saw the photos of the abuse the kids suffered and the environment they kids were in.

He stopped by and asked us some questions, met the kids, and took a look around (brief, never left the room we were in) and was on his way 30 minutes later.

I will say, he took in a lot of info while he was here and represented us very well in court. We'll see what happens in the end though, you know how these things go.

God Bless!

[mamaboogerbear]

We have had out FS for 5 months now and have never actually met the GAL. We saw him at the hearing on June 5, he never came over to introduce himself. He has never been to our home. When I spoke witht he previous foster mom about him, she said she didn't even know who he was and he had never called her or seen our FS when he was in their home.

I made to phone calls to him regarding info we received from CYS to see what we could do and what he would do. He was very aloof with his answers to my questions/concerns and didn't have any info for me. He is not very helpful to say the least.

How can he represent what is in the best interest of our FS when he hasn't met us or our FS, seen our home or seen how we all interact with each other.

It's very frustrating!

[jeavesmom]

The GALS not meeting the kids is my thing ,How can they do what is BEST for the kids if they do not even talk with the Foster Parents or th kids!
So I guess I will give CW a call and find out how to get in touch with our GAL!

[jeavesmom]

Well I called CW had to leave message,that I wanted to meet with the kiddos GAL and either wanted him or her to contact us or I needed the number .So I guess I will see how that goes!

[ranoutofnames]

In all the years I've been doing foster care I've only once had a GAL call about a child in my care (A3).

In addition I only once had a GAL come out to our home to meet with a foster child, and that was only because the child was so worried about being returned to her parents too quickly (she was 10yrs old) that she wanted to share with the GAL all the things going on in the home that never showed up in any report.

In addition I've never had a GAL go against the DA or DCFS recommendations.

[KelleyF]

Good luck with that. I spoke to my fs's GAL once when I had some concerns about the visits. I contacted him, and all he kept talking about was what a nice guy the BD was and how he was "really pulling for him". Is he kidding??!! He's supposed to be working for the child's best interest only, it shouldn't matter if the BD is a nice guy. He's not working his plan! He also said he would be out to visit us soon. That was 2 months ago.

[fostermomintx]

I guess my fkids have been very fortunate because their GAL has seen them several times. I have been sent several letters requesting that I bring the kids to his office so he can see them before the next court date and also to talk with me. He's a very nice guy and very informative. He always fills me in on anything that is going on with the case that I should know about. He's really the only one I've seen or spoken to since I've been a foster parent.

I briefly met my son's GAL at mediation but I don't really count that as knowing her, they thought I had met her but to this day I know I hadn't until then. I had heard her name mentioned but didn't actually meet her until the day of mediation.

[casey03]

My sib group of three's GAL would call either the day before court or the morning of court for an update on the kids. He did come to see us once prior to a court hearing but that was one time in two years. However, I must say that the kids social worker did not come to the house even once so he definitely did more than she did.