Bill Text: IN HCR0048 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Honoring Child Advocates Network for its service to Indiana.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2012-03-05 - Returned to the House [HCR0048 Detail]
Download: Indiana-2012-HCR0048-Introduced.html
RESOLUTION No. ________
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing the work of the Child
Advocates Network of volunteer Guardians ad Litem and Court
Appointed Special Advocates.
, read first time and referred to Committee on
RESOLUTION No. ________
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing the work of the
Child Advocates Network of volunteer Guardians ad Litem and Court
Appointed Special Advocates.
Whereas, The Child Advocates Network is composed of
Guardian ad Litem and Court Appointed Special Advocate
programs from 72 of Indiana's 92 counties;
Whereas, GAL/CASA programs recruit, screen, train and
supervise volunteers who advocate for abused and neglected
children in Child in Need of Services (CHINS) and
Termination of Parental Rights cases;
Whereas, GAL/CASA volunteers spend substantial time
with children in foster care to ascertain what is in the child's
best interests in court cases and make recommendations to
the courts about the child's needs and desires;
Whereas, GAL/CASA volunteers also serve as positive
role models for children who may not otherwise have
consistent, stable and meaningful relationships with adults in
their lives;
Whereas, GAL/CASA volunteers also ensure that services are offered and provided to children involved in the court system who otherwise might not receive needed services;
Whereas, GAL/CASA volunteers monitor the safety, well-being and permanence of children while they are wards of the court in child abuse and neglect cases;
Whereas, GAL/CASA volunteers are the only voice for
abused and neglected children in child abuse and neglect
and termination of parental rights cases;
Whereas, GAL/CASA volunteers donate over half a
million hours advocating for Indiana's children each year,
saving the State of Indiana at least $25,000,000 each year;
and,
Whereas, Indiana has over 3,000 GAL/CASA volunteers
who provided a voice for 18,613 children in child abuse and
neglect cases and for 2,568 children in termination of
parental rights cases in 2010: Therefore,
SECTION 1. That the Indiana House of Representatives commends and sincerely thanks the volunteers who donate their time and attention to advocate for abused and neglected children in Indiana communities, recognizing that such work is critical to the success and well-being of many disadvantaged and struggling children and their families across Indiana.
SECTION 2. That the Principal Clerk of the House of Representatives transmit a copy of this resolution to the State Office of GAL/CASA, which is part of State Court Administration, a division of the Indiana Supreme Court.
