Passaic Vicinage Seeking Volunteers for Child Placement Review Boards and Guardianship Monitoring

The Passaic Vicinage is seeking volunteers to serve on its Child Placement Review (CPR) boards and for its Guardianship Monitoring Program.

CPR board members monitor cases of children placed in foster care or residential placements by protective services to ensure that the placement serves the best interests of the child. Board members review case records and plans, interview interested parties, and make recommendations to the court.

All members are appointed by the court for a provisional term of one year and could be reappointed for additional three-year terms. Prospective board members must undergo a screening process that includes an application, interview, fingerprinting and criminal background check.

The Guardianship Monitoring Program is a statewide system that monitors guardians appointed to handle the affairs of incapacitated individuals. 

Guardianship monitoring volunteers help verify that guardians comply with reporting requirements and to ensure that the affairs of incapacitated adults under court-authorized guardianships are being handled properly and in their best interest. 

Volunteers could work flexible hours from home using their personal computers. Responsibilities include reviewing documents from guardians about the physical and/or financial well-being of the adult deemed incapacitated by the court. 

Guardianship monitoring volunteers must be comfortable using computers and should have some experience or interest in reading and understanding legal or financial documents. Individuals who can detect pertinent details of filings and integrate these into the court software, and those with a background or experience in accounting, budgeting, finance, or other related areas are encouraged to apply. Detailed training is provided. 

Guardianship monitoring volunteers must be at least 18 years old and must agree to comply with the Code of Conduct for Judiciary Volunteers. They are asked to commit to serve for at least one year. Candidates will be interviewed for details about their experience and background. Selected candidates will be fingerprinted and must satisfactorily pass a criminal history background check. 

Interested candidates can access the volunteer application at njcourts.gov. Applications can be emailed to PasVolunteer.Mailbox@njcourts.gov. Questions about the program can also be directed to Shantelle Anicito at 973-653-2910, ext. 24024 or Shantelle.Anicito@njcourts.gov.