Rule 309. Education Requirements for Court-Appointed Attorneys and GALs

(a) Scope. This rule applies to an attorney or GAL appointed by the court in a proceeding under Part III of these rules, and who is or will be subject to the requirements of Rule 306, 307, or 308. (b) Generally. An attorney and GAL must be familiar with and stay current on substantive juvenile law, procedural rules, court decisions, regulations, and changes and developments in relevant federal and state laws--including laws concerning education and advocacy for children in schools. (c) Initial Training. An attorney or GAL must complete: (1) an introductory 6 hours of court-approved training before the first appointment, unless the presiding juvenile court judge in the county in which the attorney or GAL is practicing determines otherwise for good cause, and (2) an additional 2 hours within the first year of practice in juvenile court. (d) Later Training. Each year, an attorney or GAL must complete at least 8 hours of continuing education on the relevant state and federal juvenile laws described in section (b). This continuing education may include topics such as ICWA, child welfare policy, child and adolescent development (including infant/toddler mental health), bonding and attachment, behavioral health services, effects of parental incarceration, educational opportunities and challenges, parent and child immigration issues, the need for timely permanency, the impact of out-of-home placements, the traumatic effects of domestic violence, substance abuse and addiction, mental illness and treatment options, psychological evaluations and how to read them, the effects of trauma and trauma-informed practices, issues surrounding families involved in the dependency process, cultural awareness, issues in the child welfare system related to race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disproportionate involvement, implicit bias, and other topics and issues concerning abused or neglected children. (e) Affidavit of Completion. (1) Initial Training

rauma-informed practices, issues surrounding families involved in the dependency process, cultural awareness, issues in the child welfare system related to race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disproportionate involvement, implicit bias, and other topics and issues concerning abused or neglected children. (e) Affidavit of Completion. (1) Initial Training. An attorney or GAL must provide to the presiding juvenile court judge an affidavit of completion of the initial 6-hour, court-approved training requirement before appointment as an attorney or GAL, unless the juvenile court presiding judge in which the appointment is made waives this requirement. (2) Later Training. Concurrently with the annual affidavit of compliance required by Supreme Court Rule 45, an attorney or GAL must provide an affidavit of completion to the presiding juvenile court judge of the later training required by section (d). An initial and a later affidavit of completion must contain a list of courses, including the dates and number of hours for each course, and the name of the training provider.