Self-report of Guardians Ad Litem: provision of information to judges in child abuse and neglect cases.

Reporting patterns of Guardians Ad Litem to judges in cases on child abuse and neglect were studied. Guardians indicated which information they had included in reports to judges in recently adjudicated cases of child abuse and neglect. Information reported in child abuse cases was compared with information reported in neglect cases, and the pattern of reporting was found to be the same in both types of cases. Guardians most frequently included information concerning the child's physical safety, the interaction between the parent(s) and the child, and personality characteristics of the parent(s). Less frequently reported was information regarding conflict in the home and family enmeshment.