AUGUSTA – On Thursday, the Maine Legislature enacted a bill from Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham, to increase training for guardians ad litem to better protect children from domestic violence. An amended version of LD 1408, “An Act To Increase the Protection of Children from Domestic Abuse and Violence,” received a unanimous, bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate.
“It can be difficult for the untrained eye to spot the signs of domestic violence and abuse,” said Sen. Diamond. “But when you have responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of a child, as guardians ad litem do, it’s important to be able to see the reality of a situation, and to understand the effects this abuse can have on children. Better training will help guardians – who are a critical part of our legal system – protect our most vulnerable children.”
Guardians ad litem are trained, court-appointed individuals tasked with gathering information and making recommendations to the court regarding the best interest of the child in some family matters and child protection cases.
As amended, LD 1408 would require guardians ad litem to receive no less than six hours of core training on domestic abuse and violence, to be developed in collaboration with domestic violence resource centers. Training must include the impacts of domestic violence on children, best practices for recognizing and assessing abuse and its effects on the parenting relationship, and promoting child safety and security. In addition, guardians ad litem must have two hours of continuing education annually on the impact of domestic abuse and violence on children. Ongoing training must include the services available to adult and child victims of domestic abuse and violence, as well as interventions for those who commit domestic abuse. LD 1408 now goes to the desk of Gov. Janet Mills, who has 10 days to sign the bill into law, veto it or allow it to become law without her signature.