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General Program Information

Program Values

The Minnesota Guardian Ad Litem Program seeks justice for children by:

  • Ensuring no child falls through the cracks of our child welfare or family court system because of a lack of an effective Guardian Ad Litem to look after their interests.
  • Ensuring the most vulnerable children (pursuant to federal and state mandates) are the top priorities of the entire state court system.
  • Providing competent, cost-effective, and professional service by Guardians Ad Litem, supervisors, and managers.
  • Working as a unified and cohesive team to realize common goals and share statewide resources, ideas, and strategies.
  • Providing fair and equitable treatment of Guardians Ad Litem.
  • Being accountable, ethical, and professional as individuals and as a system.
  • Being sensitive to, and competent in, areas of culture, race, ethnicity, gender, and the long-term impact of violence and abuse on child development.

Program Goals

  1. To provide well-trained, highly effective Guardian Ad litem advocacy for every abused, neglected and maltreated child in Minnesota’s Juvenile and Family courts.
  2. To create and manage a statewide GAL administrative structure with standardized policies that:
    • Ensures consistent, high quality GAL advocacy for every maltreated child
    • Promotes safe, nurturing and permanent homes for maltreated children
    • Is cost-effective and well-managed
    • Is accountable for results and to the public good
    • Promotes professional and ethical GAL practice
    • Is flexible and respectful of local needs and culture
    • Builds public trust and confidence in the judiciary
  3. To promote a competent, professional and ethical workforce that is treated fairly and is adequately trained and supervised.

Policy and Procedure Development

The Judicial Council, which is made up of chief judges, assistant chief judges, judges, and administrators from the state's ten judicial districts, has policy authority for the GAL Program. 

Administrative workgroups within State Court Administration review proposals from the GAL Program Managers group and others, and approve bringing procedures and policies forward to the Judicial Council for final review and approval. The Supreme Court promulgates the Rules of GAL Procedure in Juvenile and Family Court and takes an active interest in ensuring high-quality child representation for abused children in Minnesota's trial courts.

Administration

Minnesota's Guardian Ad Litem Program is a partnership between the Office of the State Court Administrator and the state's ten judicial districts.  As designed by key stakeholders during Visioning Sessions in early 2002, the GAL Program is "State supervised and supported and Judicial District administered." 

Each Judicial District Program is configured to serve its bench and deliver the most cost-effective, high-quality service to judges and children. 

There are ten Judicial District Guardian Ad Litem Program Managers who manage the Guardian Ad Litem Program for their District.  In addition, 25 regional or local GAL Program Coordinators implement the program and provide direct support and oversight to the Guardians Ad Litem. 

The State Guardian Ad Litem Program office resides in the Court Services Division of State Court Administration.  The Program provides technical and legal support, training assistance and ensures that a quality assurance process is in place that continuously seeks to improve the service Guardians Ad Litem provide to the bench and families. 

How To Become A GAL

To learn about becoming either a paid or volunteer GAL, please click on this link Volunteer Opportunities or contact the GAL Program Manager in your area.

Additional Background Information

Office of the Legislative Auditor Guardians ad Litem Program Evaluation (1995)

Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Task Force on the Guardian ad Litem System Final Report and Proposed Rules (1996) GAL_REPORT_1996.pdf