The Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) system exists for the purpose of assisting “a court in its determination of a child’s best interest” (Sup. R. 48). The GAL assists the court in cases where there are controversial views on the best interest of a child, including in divorce custody cases.

Mandated standardized training for GALs includes includes education about child psychology and child development in addition to material about healthy parenting. GALs may have limited or no prior education on these topics.

What models of healthy child and adolescent development and healthy parenting are taught in GAL pre-service training?

What information about mental health and illness and its management are taught in GAL pre-service training?

How do these models compare to contemporary best practices in psychology on child well-being?

What challenges and rewards do guardians ad litem see in their job? What do they see as their continuing education needs?

What are the views of parents on their GAL experiences, including their assessment of GAL practice for their children’s best interests during the litigation?

We are currently conducting a pilot study in Ohio. The findings of this pilot project will be used to develop a larger next phase of the GAL research study in the future.