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Child and Family Advocates

of Cuyahoga County

9300 Quincy Avenue, 3rd Floor • Cleveland, Ohio 44106 cfacc also sponsors important community outreach programs
Phone (216) 443-3377 and fundraisers:
Fax (216) 443-3490 Books Galore provides new and gently used books donated by First
email info@cfadvocates.org Book, half Price Books, and community members to children served by
GAls and CASAs and also provides new, like-new, and used books at
mission statement supervised visitation centers, the Detention Center and Juvenile Court
Child and Family Advocates of Cuyahoga County improves the lives waiting areas.
of children and families involved in the juvenile justice, child welfare, Holiday GALa, Silent Auction, and Raffle raises funds for the
and family law systems through service as Guardians Ad litem and important work of CFACC and for the purchase of gifts and necessities
Court Appointed Special Advocates; education and training, advocacy, for the children GAls, CASAs, and the Juvenile Court serve.
practice, and policy development; and collaborative alliances with related Gallop for children, a 5k (3.1 miles) walk/run and ½ mile non-
organizations. competitive kids’ fun run, is held annually in late summer.

history and formation
Child and Family Advocates of Cuyahoga County (CFACC) has
developed into one of the most comprehensive advocacy programs of
its kind in the country. CFACC was formed in 2016 to incorporate the
Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Guardian ad Litem Project’s
attorney Guardian ad litem (GAl) services with the services of Court
Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).

rules and practice
Guardian ad litem practice and CASA are governed by the Juvenile
Court’s Local Rules, Superintendence Rule 48, RC 2151.281, and CASA
standards. Some attorneys serve as Guardian ad litem pro bono, while 2018 cfacc Board of Directors
others earn a fee, either paid by Cuyahoga County or the parties in Steven e. Wolkin, President Steven M. neuhaus, PhD
the case. CASA volunteers devote their time to only one or two cases
to enhance the quality of advocacy provided to children in abuse and James McCafferty, Vice President Kevin O’Boyle
neglect cases. William Kurtz, Secretary Douglas A. Smith
ian lucash, Treasurer Deborah Southerington
continuing legal education and training
CFACC provides GAl and CASA Pre-Service Training three times each William Denihan Annette Tucker Sutherland
year for GAL and CASA qualification to serve as advocates in Juvenile Frank R. DeSantis Jonathan Z. Wilbur
Court and Domestic Relations Court. Continuing education trainings, Donald e. howard hon. Denise n. Rini, Adviser
also provided by CFACC throughout the year, are required to continue
serving as a GAl or CASA. Attendees of the Juvenile and Family law eric R. laubacher Joseph C. young, Adviser
Symposium, held on the 2nd Friday in December every year, delve Steve C. letsky Rev. Dr. Kenneth W. Chalker
into provocative discussion of compelling juvenile and family law topics, Sandra B. McPherson, PhD Rhonda M. Janowski
including changes in law and practice and notable cases. Continuing legal
education credit is offered for all GAl and CASA trainings.

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