Guardians are community volunteers who are trained and then appointed by the court to represent the best interests of vulnerable children. They don't work for the courts. They don't work for the Department of Children and Families. They're there for the child. The parents have their attorneys looking out for their interests.
Guardians serve as the eyes of the judge.
They investigate a child's situation. They consult with medical, social and law-enforcement workers. They monitor the agencies and people providing services to the child. They protect the child from insensitive treatment in the adversary process. They report their recommendations for the judge to consider in determining the ruling.