IN THE 25TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF MISSOURI

LOCAL COURT RULE 22.2
TRAINING OF GUARDIAN AD LITEM
(Effective 06/10/11)

Pursuant to the purpose and intent of the Family Court of the 25th Judicial Circuit,
Judge Tracy L. Storie, Presiding Judge, hereby makes the following orders.

WHEREAS, by authorization and action of the 25th Judicial Circuit acting En Banc,
In accordance with Standards with Comments for Guardian Ad Litem in Missouri
Juvenile and Family Court Matters Standard 16.0Su

No person shall be appointed as guardian ad litem without first completing twelve hours
of specialized training. Thereafter, to continue to be appointed as a guardian ad litem,
a person shall complete six hours of specialized training annually. Completion of the
training hours shall be evidenced by an affidavit filed with the appointing court by July
31 of each year. The court may accept, in lieu of the initial twelve hours of specialized
training, an equivalent number of hours of experience as a guardian ad litem prior to the
effective date of the adoption of these standards by the 25th Judicial Circuit en banc.
The specialized training shall include, but is not limited to, the following topics:
1. Dynamics of child abuse and neglect issues;
2. Factors to consider in the determining the best interests of the child, including
permanency planning;
3. Inter-relationships between family system, legal process and the child welfare system;
4. Mediation and negotiation skills;
5. Federal, state and local legislation and case law affecting children;
6. Cultural and ethnic diversity and gender-specific issues;
7. Family and domestic violence issues;
8. Available community resources and services;
9. Child development issues;
10. Guardian ad litem standards.
Programs providing guardian ad litem training to meet the provisions of this standard
shall be accredited by the Supreme Court of Missouri's judicial education committee.

This Order is effective June 10, 2011, by unanimous approval of the judges of the 25th
Circuit en bank and is to remain in effect until further order of this Court.

SO ORDERED this 10th day of June, 2011.

Tracy L. Storie, Presiding Judge