Evaluation of the Guardian Ad Litem/Advocate Pilot Project

• NCJ Number: 222463
• Author(s): Susan Pate
• Date Published: December 2007
• Length: 50 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Southern Maine
• Sale Source: University of Southern Maine
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Findings and recommendations are presented from an evaluation conducted on Maine’s Guardian Ad Litem/Advocate Pilot Project.

Abstract

The overall perception of Maine’s Guardian Ad Litem/Advocate Pilot Project was very positive. It was clear from responses that not all Guardian Ad Litems’ performances were perceived equally. There were various characteristics that made a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) more effective. These characteristics were compliance, challenges, length of commitment, monthly meetings, and areas of improvement. Highlights of recommendations submitted following the evaluation include: (1) roles for those involved should be clearly defined and explained to everyone; (2) the facilities should be using the same protocols for the same policies; (3) identifying those characteristics that are considered to make a GAL more effective is important to consider when selecting, training, and mentoring GALs; and (4) conducting an evaluation of the pilot project once all the youth in the pilot have been released to community reintegration. The Pilot Project began in January 2006 and is scheduled to end in April 2008. It was established to determine the need of judicial review for the services provided to at-risk juveniles committed to a Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC) juvenile correction facility. Over the course of the pilot, up to 15 juveniles in special need of intensive services were identified at Long Creek Youth Development Center and another 15 juveniles were identified at Mountain View Youth Development Center. Juveniles at Long Creek were appointed a GAL and juveniles at Mountain View were assigned to the MDOC Chief Advocate. In this evaluation, evaluators examined whether the GAL/Advocate Pilot Project was implemented in accordance with the Legislative Resolve. The GALs, Advocate, sentencing judges, MDOC staff, juvenile participants, and parents/guardians/legal custodians were surveyed to learn their perception of the effectiveness of the pilot. Evaluators also examined indicators of the perception of service quality as compared to similar groups within the facilities. Tables, references, and appendix