b'Guardian ad Litem Multi-Disciplinary Teams give children a voice and help them use their own.The Guardian ad Litem Office uses a team approach to represent children using trained volunteers, certified Child Advocate Managers, and Guardian ad Litem Attorneys.The Offices multidisciplinary team model has been recognized as a best practicein child representation since 1993 and is recommended by many advocacy organizations, including the Quality Improvement Center on the Representation of Children in the Child Welfare System. The unique perspective and expertise of each multi-disciplinary team member complements the others. All are critical in advocating for the best interests of children. Guardian ad Litem volunteers bring a community-based, common-sense perspective to cases. They visit children regularly to understand their circumstances, wishes, and needs and explain the process so they can understand. Volunteers are supported and supervised by certified Child Advocate Managers who help them navigate the complex dependency system. In addition, Guardian ad Litem Attorneys provide essential legal counsel, attend hearings and depositions, negotiate outside the courtroom, and take on appeals.7'