2006 Utah Code - 78-3a-911 — Office of Guardian Ad Litem Director -- Appointment of director -- Duties of director -- Contracts in second, third, and fourth districts.

     78-3a-911.   Office of Guardian Ad Litem Director -- Appointment of director -- Duties of director -- Contracts in second, third, and fourth districts.
     (1) There is hereby created the Office of Guardian Ad Litem Director under the direct supervision of the Judicial Council in accordance with Subsection 78-3-21(13).
     (2) (a) The Judicial Council shall appoint one person to serve full time as the guardian ad litem director for the state. The guardian ad litem director shall serve at the pleasure of the Judicial Council.
     (b) The director shall be an attorney licensed to practice law in this state and selected on the basis of:
     (i) professional ability;
     (ii) experience in abuse, neglect, and dependency proceedings;
     (iii) familiarity with the role, purpose, and function of guardians ad litem in both juvenile and district courts; and
     (iv) ability to develop training curricula and reliable methods for data collection and evaluation.
     (c) The director shall be trained in the United States Department of Justice National Court Appointed Special Advocate program prior to or immediately after the director's appointment.
     (3) The guardian ad litem director shall:
     (a) establish policy and procedure for the management of a statewide guardian ad litem program;
     (b) manage the guardian ad litem program to assure that minors receive qualified guardian ad litem services in abuse, neglect, and dependency proceedings in accordance with state and federal law and policy;
     (c) develop standards for contracts of employment and contracts with independent contractors, and employ or contract with attorneys licensed to practice law in this state, to act as attorney guardians ad litem in accordance with Section 78-3a-912;
     (d) develop and provide training programs for attorney guardians ad litem and volunteers in accordance with the United States Department of Justice National Court Appointed Special Advocates Association standards;
     (e) update and develop the guardian ad litem manual, combining elements of the National Court Appointed Special Advocates Association manual with specific information about the law and policy of this state;
     (f) develop and provide a library of materials for the continuing education of attorney guardians ad litem and volunteers;
     (g) educate court personnel regarding the role and function of guardians ad litem;
     (h) develop needs assessment strategies, perform needs assessment surveys, and ensure that guardian ad litem training programs correspond with actual and perceived needs for training;
     (i) design and implement evaluation tools based on specific objectives targeted in the needs assessments described in Subsection (3)(h);
     (j) prepare and submit an annual report to the Judicial Council and the Child Welfare Legislative Oversight Panel regarding the development, policy, and management of the statewide guardian ad litem program, and the training and evaluation of attorney guardians ad litem and volunteers;
     (k) hire, train, and supervise investigators; and

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     (l) administer the program of private guardians ad litem established by Section 78-7-45.
     (4) A contract of employment or independent contract described under Subsection (3)(c) shall provide that attorney guardians ad litem in the second, third, and fourth judicial districts devote their full time and attention to the role of attorney guardian ad litem, having no clients other than the minors whose interest they represent within the guardian ad litem program.

Amended by Chapter 281, 2006 General Session