At Juvenile Court hearings regarding abuse and neglect, a trained volunteer may be appointed by the court to advocate for the best interests of the child and to speak on behalf of the child for the duration of the court proceedings.   The Dependency Court Appointed Special Advocate investigates the child's situation, makes written recommendations to the court, attends court hearings and monitors court orders.   Volunteers must complete 30 hours of mandatory training before accepting a case. Additional 12 hours of training are required per year.