State Ombudsman

The Office of the State Ombudsman for Foster Care is mandated to perform three primary functions:

• Disseminate information on the rights of children and youth in foster care and the services provided by the office. The information shall include notification that conversations with the Ombudsman may not be confidential, and that all reports of child abuse will be reported.
  
• Investigate and attempt to resolve complaints made by or on behalf of children placed in foster care, related to their care, placement and services. All fact-finding inquiries will be conducted in a neutral and objective manner.
  
• Compile and make available to the Legislature all data collected over the course of the year including, but not limited to, the number of contacts to the toll-free telephone number, the number of complaints made, the number of investigations performed by the Office, the number of referrals made, and the number of unresolved complaints.