Hurricane Katrina: Legal Issues - Columbus School of Law

Mississippi Volunteer Lawyer Project (A Joint Venture between Mississippi State Bar Association & Mississippi
Legal Services Program) Toll Free Number: 1-800-682-0047 http://www.mvlp.net/
http://www.msbar.org/ms_volunteer_lawyers_project.php
Does the American Bar Association Provide legal assistance for disaster victims?
The ABA has set up a disaster hotline for those seeking legal help because of Katrina: 1-866-255-4495. The ABA
has a website with information for lawyers affected by Katrina and those needing legal help as a result of Katrina at:
http://www.abanet.org/katrina/victims.html.
Where can I find additional information about children in Mississippi Foster Care?
National Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice and Permanency Planning has established a webpage with
numerous links related to child welfare in the Gulf region in the wake of Hurricane Katrina available at
http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/socwork/nrcfcpp/disaster_relief.html
Court Appointed Special Advocates of South Mississippi is a volunteer organization that represents children in the
foster care system. Their website has contact information and a fact sheet about the organization.
http://www.oceansprings-ms.com/casa.htm
Where can I find general information, statistics, and progress reports on child welfare in Mississippi?
The Child Welfare League of America fact sheet on Mississippi can be found at:
http://www.cwla.org/advocacy/statefactsheets/2004/mississippi.pdf. The United States Department of Health and
Human Services Administration for Children and Families’ child welfare review on Mississippi can be found at:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/cwrp/staterpt/ms/intro.htm.
The Role of a Guardian Ad Litem
What is a Guardian ad Litem (“GAL”)?
GAL literally means “guardian to the thing.”
1.
The role of a GAL is one of protecting the best interests of the child.
2.
The Mississippi Supreme Court has said that a GAL is charged with a duty to zealously represent the child’s
best interest. S.N.C. v. J.R.D., Jr., 755 So.2d 1077, 1082 (Miss. 2000)
3.
A GAL fulfills its role when the GAL “vigorously advances a position that the guardian believes to be in the
child’s best interest.” R.B.S. v. T.M.S., 765 So.2d 616, 620 (Miss. App. 2000)
4.
A GAL acts as the eyes and ears of the court. A GAL is not a decision-maker; rather the GAL serves the role
of investigator, adviser, and source of unbiased opinions for the youth court judge or chancellor that are
independent of the motivations that may affect the adult parties. P.K.C.G. v. M.K.G., 793 So.2d 669 (Miss.
App. 2001)
How does a Best Interests Attorney or GAL differ from a child’s attorney?
The role of a child’s attorney is to represent the child, which means to advocate the child’s personal preferences even
if it is contrary to the best interests of the child.