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PROTECTIVE SERVICES
The Protective Services Department is responsible for screening all complaints alleging children to be dependent and neglected, abused, or abandoned. This department makes referrals to other departments of the court or to other child welfare or law enforcement agencies as necessary.
Contact Phone Numbers:
GUARDIAN AD LITEMS (GALs)
The Office of the Guardian Ad Litem is charged with assuring competent legal representation for children and parents in required Juvenile Court cases in compliance with Federal and State laws and Juvenile Court policy and procedure.
The Office is also charged with serving as a liaison between Guardian ad litem, appointed counsel, private attorneys, the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, departments within Juvenile Court and other stake holders to promote the best practices and policies in children’s cases. The Attorney Coordinator facilitates the appointment of a Guardian ad litem, an appropriately trained and licensed lawyer, to advocate for the best interests of a child in any proceeding in which:
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The child has no parent, guardian, or other custodian appearing on the child’s behalf
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The child’s interest may conflict with those of the parent, guardian, or custodian
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The child is alleged to be abused
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The allegation of harm falls within the mandatory child abuse reporting laws;
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The proceeding is a contested termination of parental rights case
The Attorney Coordinator also facilitates the appointment of counsel for qualified indigent parents in dependency and neglect and termination of parental rights cases and parents involving application of the Federal Civil Service Member Act.