Press Release
Probate and Family Court Department

CONTACT:

Mark R. Quigley Administrative Attorney 617-788-6600

FOR RELEASE ON: April 14, 2003

PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT AWARDS CONTRACT FOR DEVELOPING STANDARDS FOR INVESTIGATIONS AND REPORT WRITING FOR GUARDIANS AD LITEM/INVESTIGATORS PURSUANT TO G.L. c. 215, § 56A

          The Probate and Family Court Administrative Office solicited bid responses from March 17, 2003 until April 4, 2003 from qualified vendors to serve as the Lead Agency, Person or Persons to develop comprehensive standards for investigations and report writing for guardians ad litem. Five responses were received from qualified vendors. The Project Advisory Committee who were appointed by Chief Justice Sean M. Dunphy reviewed all of the proposals and recommended that the Massachusetts Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts be awarded the contract.

          The contract between the Administrative Office of the Probate and Family Court of the Commonwealth and the Massachusetts Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts(AFCC) commenced on April 14, 2003 and will end on August 31, 2003. Pursuant to this contract, AFCC will develop comprehensive standards relating to the investigations and reports of particular allegations that are being investigated by guardians ad litem in child welfare cases. In addition, AFCC will develop a training module and curriculum materials incorporating the new standards for investigations and report writing to be used to orientate judges, court staff, attorneys and mental health professionals who are appointed as guardians ad litem to the use of the standards under Category F pursuant to Supreme Judicial Court Rule 1:07.