CAA Training: Uniform Representation of Children in Abuse, Neglect and Custody Proceedings Act: Uniform Laws Commission

CAA Training: Uniform Representation of Children in Abuse, Neglect and Custody Proceedings Act: Uniform Laws Commission

Here’s the Family Court (Maricopa County) Bench Resource Book 2015 – Final that was referred to in the Court Appointed Advisor training on June 12.   Thanks to those who worked so hard to compile those resources and check that links and phone information are current. This Resource Guide includes resources for domestic violence/ abuse housing Shelters, domestic violence counseling for victims and offenders, drug testing, substance abuse counseling and meetings, service providers, family and children’ services, legal aide, housing assistance, divorce counseling and support groups, mediation and counseling services, parenting skills counseling and classes, child support enforcement, and financial counseling.

And here’s the HIPAA Compliance Release Form also mentioned in that training, courtesy of Gregg Woodnick.

Finally, the additional information about being a court-appointed advisor (CAA). Rule 10, Arizona Rules of Family Court Procedure, refers in its Comment (Amended 2007) to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform Laws, and its Representation of Children in Abuse and Neglect and Custody Proceedings as follows:

A court-appointed advisor shall not function as an attorney but shall independently investigate the case and make recommendations to the court.  The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws 2005 draft of the Representation of  Children in Abuse, Neglect and Custody Proceedings Act provides guidance to the court, court-appointed advisors and litigants about the appointment of court-appointed advisors, as well as their role and responsibilities.

A little updating is in order.  There no longer is a National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws; it’s now simply called the Uniform Law Commission. And you no longer need to review the “draft” of the Representation of Children Act — it was finalized in 2007. You can find the Uniform Law Commission Representation of Children at that uploaded document (PDF), and it is still a good guide for the role of court-appointed advisors (CAAs) in its Sections 4, 5, 6, 8, 14, 15 and 16, all of which refer to a “best interests advocate” as opposed to a “best interests attorney”. (The remainder of this document outlines responsibilities of best interests attorneys and a child’s attorney.)

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