Page 48 - 2019-2020 CMBA Legal Directory

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
organizations.

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). 2019 CFACC Board of Directors

Rules and Practice
Guardian ad Litem practice and CASA are governed by the Juvenile Steven E. Wolkin, President Steven M. Neuhaus, PhD
Court’s Local Rules, Superintendence Rule 48, RC 2151.281, and CASA
standards. Some attorneys serve as Guardian ad Litem pro bono, while James McCafferty, Vice President Kevin O’Boyle
others earn a fee, either paid by Cuyahoga County or the parties in
the case. CASA volunteers devote their time to only one or two cases Annette Tucker Sutherland, Secretary Melissa Paruleski, BSN, Rn, CNOR
to enhance the quality of advocacy provided to children in abuse and
neglect cases. Jonathon Z. Willbur, Treasurer Lynnette Sequeira

Continuing Legal Education and Training Frank R. DeSantis Douglas A. Smith
CFACC provides GAL and CASA Pre-Service Training three times each Emily Geier Deborah Southerington
year for GAL and CASA qualification to serve as advocates in Juvenile
Court and Domestic Relations Court. Continuing Education trainings, Donald R. Howard Deidre Wilson
also provided by CFACC throughout the year, are required to continue
serving as a GAL or CASA. Continuing Legal Education credit is offered Tricia Kuivinen, LSW, MA, MNO Joseph C. Young, Adviser
for all GAL and CASA trainings.
Eric R. Laubacher

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