BEMIDJI, Minn. — Traci Kapella Seelye will describe the Guardian ad Litem Program designed to advocate for children in the state judicial court system during a 10 a.m. Academy of Lifelong Learning Lecture Tuesday, March 24.

Open to the public at no charge, the 90-minute session will be held at the Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation, located at 3801 Bemidji Avenue North.

The federally mandated Guardian ad Litem Program provides advocacy for children by gathering information to make recommendations in court regarding the child’s best interest. In most proceedings, attorneys or other participants represent the family, social service agencies, and additional interested parties. The guardian ad litem assigned to the case has no interest other than that of the child.

“Several years ago, research showed that children were caught in a foster care drift, where there were no rules or laws to provide accountability,” said Seelye, who manages the program for the Ninth Judicial Court in Minnesota. “Children went from one home to another without resolution to their case. Foster homes were not intended to care for children forever and every child deserved a safe, permanent home.

“Two pieces of federal legislation established permanency guidelines — based on factors such as age of the child, foster care history and progress of the family – and mandated Guardian ad Litem Programs to give the child a chance to have a permanent resolution, whether that might be transfer of care to a relative, termination of parental rights, or adoption,” Seelye said.

In this capacity, a guardian ad litem researches each case through social service, medical, school, psychological, and criminal records or reports. After meeting other professionals involved with the children and their families, the guardian ad litem outlines options and makes recommendations in court on the short- and long-term interests of the children. They also monitor court ordered plans to ensure these interests are being met.

Seelye, who is based in Grand Rapids, has worked in child protection for nearly 20 years and has served for eight years overseeing Guardian ad Litem Program for the Ninth Judicial District Court, which covers 17 counties in northwest Minnesota, including Beltrami, Clearwater and Hubbard. She is a graduate of Bemidji State University with a degree in social work and earned a master’s from the University of Minnesota in Duluth.

Coming Up
The lecture in the series feature Jody Beaulieu, who will describe the Red Lake Archives on Tuesday, March 31.

The Academy of Lifelong Learning offers humanities-based programs made possible in part with private donations and support from Bemidji State University. Individuals who wish to be added to the ALL mailing list or have questions about this program should contact the Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation at (218) 755-4900; toll free, (888) 738-3224; e-mail, cri@bemidjistate.edu; or at http://www.cri-bsu.org.

FOR YOUR CALENDAR
March 24 – 10 a.m. – Bemidji State University Center for Research and Innovation hosts Academy of Lifelong Learning lecture on the Guardian ad Litem Program. Presenter: Traci Kapella Seelye, overseer of Guardian ad Litem program for the Ninth Judicial District. Location: CRI; 3801 Bemidji Ave. N., Bemidji, Minn. Cost: free. For information: (218) 755-4900; (888) 738-3224; http://www.cri-bsu.org.