California Foster Care Ombudsman Office
The word “Ombudsman” derives from a Swedish term
indicating a person who acts on behalf of another.
The American Bar Association has further defined an Ombudsman as “an independent governmental official who receives complaints against the government (and government-related agencies) and/or its officials from aggrieved persons, who investigates, and who, if the complaints are justified, makes recommendations to remedy the complaints.
In California, the Office of the Foster Care Ombudsman is an independent resource for reviewing issues concerning children and youth in foster care and those who care about them. Its purpose is to provide foster children and youth or citizens with a forum for voicing their concerns regarding the care, placement and services of children and youth in foster care.
The California Foster Care Ombudsman provides the following services:
- Maintains a statewide toll-free Foster Care Help-Line (1-877-846-1602).
- Conducts objective investigations and attempts to resolve complaints made by or on behalf of children or youth placed in foster care, related to their care, placement or services.
- Disseminates information to children and youth in foster care, and professionals regarding services of the Foster Care Ombudsman Office and foster youth rights.
- Compiles all data collected on a yearly basis and makes that information available to the Legislature.
The Ombudsman Office receives complaints and concerns from a wide range of individuals including foster youth, parents, relatives, CASAs, attorneys, social workers, and many other interested parties.
They have a detailed complaint and inquiry process, which includes inquiring if the complainant feels safe making a complaint and if there is any fear of retaliation, and will explore various approaches to address the concerns.
posted by LA County Foster Alumna at 5:27 PM
2 Comments:
I agree, that Chris Forte of the California State Ombudsman Office is to look into complaints, but why didn't she in the Perry Family Case of Chico & Butte County Ca?! Twice this family brought their concerns to her office. The mother with no criminal history or record of using any drugs or alcohol had her first baby unlawfully detained by CPS when only 13 days old. On day 2 CPS coerced this mildly disabled mother into a search of her & her parents home.....based on no evidence of any abuse or neglect. They had no right to violate Ms. Perry's or her parents 14th Amendment Rights under US Constitution of a illegal search & later unlawful detainment of her baby. All this and so much more was told to Ombudsman Office & this mother was told her baby is coming home, but it never happened. The grandfather of baby did tell everyone that this infants medical records prove there was never any "failure to thrive" or a "medically fragile baby" as CPS suggested. All this baby had was a mild case of jaundice, that's it. I say shame on all of those persons who were lazy & didn't advocate & who weren't impartial or objective.
i dont believe anyone is safe my children were hurt in foster care I was unable to be strong it weekended me more was less successfull in reunification process. first night in 4th placement's house there was a fire in the addic. Next placement sometime later my daught had bad injury to her head i heard the caretakers story did not match the injury so they were removed again, by this time i was not an option due to lack of completting services and jail violation. I always want to know are they safe now? i feel helpless i could not help them....what a country!, and were off in other countries destoring our enemies, is that what my children and i are? are we not American? on the intilal cps report spoke of them as father and I in "custody". Osanabinladens family were they treated in this manner or did we have respect while in another country.? They were taken from me while I was under the UTI son was hurt burn from hot soup do accidents not happen while moms completley sober preoccupied with the tv or on the phone? Im carefull now with the children I have I never want anyone to get hurt yet worse I never want anyones child to go to CPS (child destruction services).
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