BENTON The courts in this county appoint independent counsel to represent children nine years old or older, and CASA volunteers to represent the younger children. If a petition for the termination of parental rights (TPR) is filed, the courts appoint independent counsel regardless of the child’s age; thus, the younger children in TPR proceedings have both types of representation. The county’s policy is that each child, at a minimum, shall have either a CASA volunteer or independent counsel, although in some cases, the CASA volunteer withdraws once a child enters a permanent guardianship and all issues are resolved. In those cases, if issues arise again, a CASA volunteer is re-appointed.

CHELAN Policy in this county is for each child to be appointed a GAL. Virtually all children in child abuse and neglect actions are represented by CASA volunteers. Dependent teen mothers are represented by independent counsel, and their children by CASA volunteers. Occasionally, when conflicts arise, attorney GALs are appointed. In some cases, the GAL withdraws once a child enters a permanent guardianship and all issues are resolved. In those cases, if issues arise again, a GAL is re-appointed.

CLALLAM All children in child abuse and neglect actions are represented by CASA volunteers. If a child is 12 years old or older, and has interests in conflict with the GAL’s expression of his or her best interest, that child may request the appointment of independent counsel, and the court will do so. Other parties may also request such an appointment for a child.

CLARK Many children in Clark county are represented by the CASA program (volunteers or program staff), but those children who are the subject of Type-C dependencies are not represented in court. Some children (mostly teens) are represented by attorney GALs, at the discretion of the court. Only rarely is independent counsel appointed to represent a child.

COLUMBIA Until September 1997, this county appointed attorneys to represent children in child abuse and neglect actions, and those attorneys functioned as a blend of GAL and attorney. Now all children are represented by the CASA program, with attorneys as backup when CASA volunteers are unavailable. If an older child requests independent counsel, the court may appoint one in addition to the GAL.

COWLITZ County policy is for every child to have a GAL or independent counsel. Children age 12 or older are served by attorney GALs; younger children are served by CASA volunteers. If conflicts arise between the attorney GALs view of the child’s best interest and the child’s expressed interest, the role of the attorney GAL is modified to advocate for the child’s expressed interest.

DOUGLAS Policy in this county is to appoint a GAL for each child. Virtually all children in child abuse and neglect actions are represented by CASA volunteers. Dependent teen mothers are represented by independent counsel, and their children by CASA volunteers. Occasionally, when conflicts arise, attorney GALs are appointed. In some cases, the GAL withdraws once a child enters a permanent guardianship and all issues are resolved. In those cases, if issues arise again, a GAL is re-appointed.

FERRY This county appoints an attorney GAL for each child.

FRANKLIN The courts in this county appoint independent counsel to represent children age nine or older, and CASA volunteers to represent the younger children. If a petition for the termination of parental rights (TPR) is filed, the courts appoint independent counsel regardless of the child’s age; thus, the younger children in TPR proceedings have both types of representation. The county’s policy is that each child, at a minimum, shall have either a CASA volunteer or independent counsel, although in some cases, the CASA volunteer withdraws once a child enters a permanent guardianship and all issues are resolved. In those cases, if issues arise again, a CASA volunteer is re-appointed.

GRANT This county appoints an attorney GAL for each child.

GRAYS HARBOR All children are represented by GALs, who are attorneys, social workers, educators, probation officers and psychologists. In addition, some children are represented by independent counsel, but the number of such dual appointments is unavailable.

ISLAND Most of the children in child abuse and neglect actions are represented by CASA volunteers, with the remainder being served by professional or attorney GALs. In addition, some older children are represented by independent counsel.

JEFFERSON Almost all children in child abuse and neglect actions in this county are represented by volunteers, with a few children represented by a professional GAL who is the county’s volunteer coordinator. The program is not denominated a CASA program, but follows the CASA model. In addition, some children are represented by independent counsel.

KING Children in child abuse and neglect actions in this county are served by CASA volunteers or independent counsel.

KITSAP All children in child abuse and neglect actions in this county are represented by either independent counsel or a GAL, who may be either a CASA volunteer or professional GAL (a member of the CASA program staff).

KITTITAS Every child in a child abuse and neglect action in this county is served by a CASA volunteer.

KLICKITAT In Klickitat County, an attorney is appointed to represent each child in a child abuse and neglect action. The attorney acts as independent counsel for children age 10 or older, and as attorney GAL for the younger children. A CASA program was just starting in this county when OFCO’s survey was conducted.

LEWIS Every child in a child abuse and neglect action in Lewis County is represented by a CASA volunteer, an attorney GAL, or independent counsel. Some children are represented by both a GAL and independent counsel.

LINCOLN An attorney GAL is appointed to represent each child in a child abuse and neglect action in Lincoln county.

MASON Probation officers serving as professional GALs represent all Mason county children in child abuse and neglect actions. Additionally, when a child becomes legally free, independent counsel is appointed to represent him or her. Finally, when a child age 12 or older so requests, independent counsel is appointed.

OKANOGAN Probation officers serving as professional GALs represent all Okanogan county children in child abuse and neglect actions. When the interests of a child age 12 or older conflict with the professional GAL’s perception of the child’s best interests, independent counsel is appointed. Additionally, independent counsel is appointed when complex legal issues are present. A CASA program has recently been established, with the first CASA volunteer appointed on September 1, 1998.

PACIFIC Probation officers serving as professional GALs represent all Pacific county children in child abuse and neglect actions, with some social workers and attorneys available to be a GAL as necessary. Rarely, independent counsel is also appointed to represent a child.

PEND OREILLE This county appoints an attorney GAL for each child.

PIERCE A combination of CASA volunteers and professional GALs represent Pierce county children in child abuse and neglect actions.

SAN JUAN Either CASA volunteers or their coordinator/professional GAL represent all children in child abuse and neglect proceedings in San Juan County.

SKAGIT One MSW-level social worker functions as professional GAL for all Skagit County’s children in child abuse and neglect actions

SKAMANIA An attorney is appointed to represent each child in a child abuse and neglect action; that attorney acts as independent counsel for children age 10 or older, and as an attorney GAL for the younger children. A CASA program was just starting in this county when OFCO’s survey was completed.

SNOHOMISH CASA volunteers represent many children in Snohomish county child abuse and neglect actions; occasionally, independent counsel is also appointed. In some instances, when no CASA volunteer is available, the court appoints an attorney GAL.

SPOKANE This county is undergoing change. CASA volunteers represent many children in Spokane County, and they will continue to do so. Prior to Fall of 1998, when a CASA volunteer was unavailable, one member of the juvenile court staff was appointed as periodic review guardian ad litem to attend review hearings. However, this person did not perform other guardian ad litem functions because several hundred children were involved and resources did not permit other activities. Accordingly, in Appendix D, children technically represented by the periodic review guardian ad litem are listed under Unrepresented, and "na" appears under "Non-attorney professional" guardian ad litem to denote the partial representation. In the Fall of 1998, the Spokane Juvenile Court began reassessing those cases to determine if good cause exists not to appoint a guardian ad litem for some children. If good cause was found, the child continued in the system without a GAL. For the others, either an attorney GAL or one of several staff members (professional GALs) was appointed. In some instances, independent counsel was appointed to replace a GAL.

STEVENS This county appoints an attorney GAL for each child.

THURSTON An attorney GAL is under contract to represent all children in Thurston County child abuse and neglect actions. Additionally, CASA volunteers represent many of the younger children. Rarely, independent counsel is appointed.

WAHKIAKUM Probation officers serving as professional GALs represent all Wahkiakum County children in child abuse and neglect actions, with some social workers and attorneys available to be a GAL as necessary. Rarely, independent counsel is also appointed to represent a child.

WALLA WALLA Until September 1997, this county appointed attorneys to represent children in child abuse and neglect actions, and those attorneys functioned as a blend of GAL and attorney. Now all children are represented by the CASA program, with attorneys as backup when CASA volunteers are unavailable. If an older child requests independent counsel, the court may appoint one in addition to the GAL.

WHATCOM MSW-level social workers functioning as professional GALs are under contract to represent all children in Whatcom County child abuse and neglect actions.

WHITMAN Almost all children in child abuse and neglect actions are represented by CASA volunteers. The remainder are represented by attorney GALs. Additionally, CASA-trained juvenile court staff are available to assist CASA volunteers in special cases.

YAKIMA CASA staff, functioning as professional GALs, and CASA volunteers represent all Yakima County children in child abuse and neglect actions. Additionally, children age 12 or older who express interests different from the GAL’s perception of best interests are appointed independent counsel.

Guardian ad litem representation occurs in three basic types: (1) attorney GALs, (2) CASA volunteers, and (3) non-attorney professional GALs. Combination models are widely used. The distribution of counties using these models, or combination of models, is described in the table below.