(a) Explain the Role. An attorney or GAL appointed for a child must explain to the child and the child's caregivers the attorney or GAL's role and the ethical obligations associated with the attorney or GAL's role. A GAL must explain that the GAL has no attorney-client privilege with the child.

(b) Provide Information About Court Proceedings. An attorney and GAL must keep the child informed, in an age and developmentally appropriate manner, of the nature of each court proceeding, the child's right to attend hearings and speak with the judge, any benefits or consequences of the child's participation or lack of participation, the possible outcomes of each hearing, and other legal rights regarding the dependency proceeding, and must explain the outcome of each hearing to the child.

(c) Participate in the Proceeding. When appropriate, an attorney and GAL must participate in discovery, file pleadings, and subpoena witnesses. An attorney and GAL must develop a position for each hearing. The duties of an attorney and GAL include identifying appropriate family and professional resources for the child. The attorney and GAL must inquire of the child regarding potential placements and communicate this information to DCS and the court as appropriate.

(d) Meet with the Child. The attorney and GAL must meet in person with the child before the preliminary protective hearing, or if that is not possible, no later than 14 days after the preliminary protective hearing. Thereafter, the attorney and GAL must have meaningful in-person communication with the child before every substantive hearing. Substantive hearings include all preliminary protective hearings, all review hearings, permanency hearings, any hearings involving placement, visitation or services, or any hearing to adjudicate dependency, guardianship, or termination. Upon a showing of extraordinary circumstances, a judge may modify the requirements of this section for a particular substantive hearing. At each substantive hearing the attorney and the GAL must inform the court of the child's position concerning pending issues and the GAL must inform the court of what is in the child's best interests. If the child is not present, the attorney or GAL must provide an explanation for the child's absence.

(e) Observe Placements. In all cases, if practicable and appropriate, an attorney and GAL should observe the child's residential environment and the child's interaction with the caregiver.

(f) Confer with Others. To meet the obligation of informed representation, an attorney and GAL must maintain appropriate contact and communications with caregivers, child safety investigators and workers, service providers, childcare providers, CASAs, relatives, and any other significant persons in the child's life.

(g) Attend Meetings. To the extent possible, a child's attorney and GAL should attend or provide input at a DCS staffing, Foster Care Review Board review, and Child and Family Team meeting.

(h) Use Support Staff. Except for the initial meeting with the child, an attorney and GAL may use appropriately trained support staff to assist in the performance of the duties listed in this rule, unless the law requires otherwise. Support staff performing these duties must adhere to this rule.

(i) Possess General Knowledge. An attorney and GAL must have knowledge of the child welfare agencies, governmental programs, and community-based service providers and organizations serving children (e.g., behavioral health, developmental disability, health care, education, financial assistance, counseling support, family preservation, reunification, permanency services, and juvenile justice). An attorney and GAL must be knowledgeable about how to access these services and advocate for appropriate services for the child.