tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125220381040097197.post4934315320863213886..comments2023-10-24T11:55:57.073-04:00Comments on Maine GALert: Forced to buy Lemons at GunpointAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00116455297447458871noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125220381040097197.post-47133507050469561832012-08-08T20:19:37.895-04:002012-08-08T20:19:37.895-04:00Sadly this is true and the GALs that do an excelle...Sadly this is true and the GALs that do an excellent job will be tarnished by those that do not.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116455297447458871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125220381040097197.post-61342651981335041702012-08-08T16:42:56.000-04:002012-08-08T16:42:56.000-04:00One can become a GAL with 4 types of background: l...One can become a GAL with 4 types of background: lawyer, Mental health professional, screened volunteer for CASA or by meeting the approval of the head Judge, LaVerdiere. This last route to a lucrative career in court work may entail more than the approving friendship of Judge LaVerdiere, but the lack of transparency and lack of specificity of its written requirements make it appear to be based on cosiness of some kind. Fortunately, there are few GALs in this category. <br /><br />One of the interesting things about entry requirements is that it is indicated that pre-existing professional skills are not used in a GAL's work, and GAL-work cannot be judged by the standards of their core profession.. Why then the requirements of an allegedly unused profession?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125220381040097197.post-5655058813387720022012-08-07T20:20:40.034-04:002012-08-07T20:20:40.034-04:00The concept of "continuing education' has...The concept of "continuing education' has grown out of the need for the traditional professions: law, medicine, the mental health professions to stay up to date with expanding knowledge in their field. The idea is that education after achieving full professional status will build on the existing core profession, expand it, enrich it and enlarges it in the light of new developments, new knowledge and new skills.<br /><br />A GAL is not a profession. With 16 hours of training and no practicum or internship, it is a support role for the courts that doesn't even meet paraprofessional educational standards. There is no core professional education to continue. It may require job related, role related training that will enhance functions encompassed by the job description. <br /><br />$125.00 to $200.00 per hour fees for 16 hours of training without an internship has to make GALs the best paid unskilled workers in America! When one adds bill collecting by the courts it truly reaches the proportions of a grand scandal and court inflicted cruelty on families.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125220381040097197.post-27233338796272182822012-08-06T07:23:54.163-04:002012-08-06T07:23:54.163-04:00Time and again we have heard from others that they...Time and again we have heard from others that they are financially crippled by the GAL and the 'services' they have been provided. The bills are often unclear for the 'work' that was done. What is unfortunate is that there is no relief from the cost of having a GAL. Most people do not realize that the GALs bill can not be discharged in bankruptcy court. That GALs have and will use the court to garnish wages. Thank you for your comment.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116455297447458871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125220381040097197.post-86835620322007104392012-08-06T07:19:02.853-04:002012-08-06T07:19:02.853-04:00Guardians ad litem have such extreme power over th...Guardians ad litem have such extreme power over the lives of others and so little training. Thank you for the comment.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00116455297447458871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125220381040097197.post-35641162384194953892012-08-06T06:50:34.414-04:002012-08-06T06:50:34.414-04:00The GAL program is so badly constructed- with 16 h...The GAL program is so badly constructed- with 16 hours of training and a "handbook"- that it needs more than simple repair or a patch job. It needs to be re-conceptualized with a focus on public protection, safety for families and children and quality assurance.<br /><br />This can only be done by redefining the GAL role and designing educational supports for this role, which has to include a supervised practicum or internship- for all GALs. It needs testing for licensure, ongoing supervision, tracking data and oversight.<br /><br />Continuing education, as it exists now, is inappropriate, irrelevant and offers false assurance of doing something. It is hard to take seriously the current 6 hours of continuing education when the basic entry level of GAL "education" consists of 16 hours and a handbook. Continuing education should be based on job description and should re-enforce that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2125220381040097197.post-45334115674621186972012-08-05T21:02:01.610-04:002012-08-05T21:02:01.610-04:00The Maine JB GAL program is a scandal of the highe...The Maine JB GAL program is a scandal of the highest order. Divorcing couples with custody issues are forced by the courts to buy services at top dollar ($120.00 to $200.00/ hr) from GALs who have only 16 hours training, no entry test, no supervised internship, no ongoing supervision, no oversight. Forced to buy lemons.<br /><br />It is banditry, a hold up, highway robbery carried out in broad daylight, in a democratic society. It should be stopped forthwith. The entire program should be re-thought and re-worked. <br /><br />Use of the courts for GAL bill collecting is unwarranted under the current situation. It uses the courts to force the public to buy lemons!<br /><br />It makes the courts a party to selling a product with no quality assurance and no consumer protection.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com