The Guardian Ad Litem Training Seminar and Workshop that we sponsored jointly with the MoBar Family Law Committee on April 17-18, 1997, was a big success. The seminar registration was completely filled. Attendees heard presentations on "Family Violence and its Effects on Children"; "Ethical Considerations"; "Interviewing the Child Witness"; "Child Development"; "Dynamics of Abuse and Neglect"; "Factors in Permanency Planning"; "A View From the Bench"; "Conflict Resolution"; and "Cultural/ Ethnic/ Gender Issues". There was quite a bit of discussion of the Missouri GAL Standards and how they are to be applied in practice. Attendees received 12.0 MCLE credit hours, including 1.8 hours of ethics credit, and fulfilled the requirements of Missouri GAL Standard 16.0 for GAL training. (See report by Roya Hough.)

The Missouri Bar has scheduled video replays of the GAL Training Seminar and Workshop. Attending a video replay will allow GAL certification in compliance with Standard 16.0 and will provide the same MCLE credits as attendance at the original workshop. Video replays are now scheduled for Springfield (September 4); and Columbia (November 13). Tapes may also be available upon request for circuits or counties wishing to conduct their own video replay seminars. For more info call MoBar CLE at 573-635-4128.