Virtual Informational Briefing: Review of Guardian ad Litems in Lehigh County

Date: September 8, 2025
Hosted by: Dads’ Resource Center, PA Protect Kids, and other child welfare advocates

On September 8, 2025, the Dads’ Resource Center, PA Protect Kids, and a coalition of child welfare advocates will host a virtual informational briefing on Controller Mark Pinsley’s Special Report: A Review of Guardian ad Litems in Lehigh County.

Controller Pinsley’s report raises serious concerns about oversight, procedures, and fiduciary practices within the Guardian ad Litem (GAL) program. These issues have the potential to not only disrupt service delivery for children but also erode public confidence in the fairness and effectiveness of the program. Notably, similar concerns have been identified in several other Pennsylvania counties.

We Can Do Better
The message is clear: Pennsylvania’s child welfare and family court systems must adopt better procedures, practice and transparency to bolster public trust and help to ensure the best possible outcomes for the vulnerable children served by the child welfare, family court and other systems of care.

All resources mentioned during the briefing will be made available on this page:

§6311. Guardian ad Litem for Child in Court Proceedings
View Document

Rule 1915.11-2: Appointment of Guardian ad Litem
View Document

Pre-Service Training for Guardian ad Litems in Pennsylvania
View Resource

Special Report: A Review of Guardian ad Litems in Lehigh County (2025)
View Report

Lackawanna County Guardian ad Litem Program Review (2012)
View Report

Standards of Practice for Parents’ Lawyers, Guardians Ad Litem & Legal Counsel (2011)
View Document

N.W.M. through J.M. v. Langenbach, — A.3d — (Pa. 2024)
View Opinion

State of Maine GAL Rules
View Standards