Children's Ombudsman
Encyclopedia
The Children's Ombudsman, Children's Commissioner, Child Advocate, Children's Commission or equivalent body is a public authority in various countries charged with the protection and promotion of the rights
of children and young people, either in society at large, or in specific categories such as children in contact with the care system. The agencies usually have a substantial degree of independence from the executive, and generally operate as specialised ombudsman
offices or national human rights institutions, dealing with individual complaints, intervening with other public authorities, conducting research, and - where their mandate permits them to engage in advocacy
- generally promoting children's rights in public policy, law and practice. The creation of such institutions has been promoted by the United Nations
Committee on the Rights of the Child
.
Largely a European phenomenon, although some exist in other regions, many of the institutions belong to the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC). There are also sub-regional networks, including the Children's Rights Ombudspersons' Network in South and Eastern Europe (CRONSEE), created in 2006, and the British and Irish Network of Ombudsmen and Children’s Commissioners (BINOCC), which first met in 2005.
Other such offices, varying in remit, have been created at state and territorial level. In the Australian Capital Territory
, the ACT Human Rights Commission
includes a Children and Young People Commissioner. The office has a broad mandate to promote and protect the rights of all children and young people in the ACT.
In the Northern Territory
, the Office of the Children's Commissioner was established by the territorial Assembly's Care and Protection of Children Act 2007. Its initially restricted remit - including complaint handling, monitoring follow-up to the Inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse
, reduction of child mortality, and certain other matters - was significantly expanded by a legislative amendment in 2011 giving it the right to mount investigations on its own initiative. The current Commissioner is Howard Bath.
Other offices still have a limited remit, focussing on disadvantaged children such as those in government care, or children with no one to act on their behalf. These include Queensland
's Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian and the Office of the Guardian for Children and Young People, South Australia
;.
The remaining agencies are the Commissioner for Children and Young People, Western Australia
;; the Office of the Child Safety Commissioner, Victoria
; and the Commission for Children and Young People in New South Wales
..
, a former member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, has since March 2004 promoted the establishment of an Independent Children's Commissioner for Bangladesh. He led a Government delegation to France, Norway and Sweden in February 2004 to study the Children's Ombudsman institutions in those countries.
The Child Rights Commission was established by the Flemish Parliament
in June 1998. The Commission's services include mediation, information, complaints about possible violations of child rights and policy advice. It conducts public information and education campaigns, conducts and monitors research, and offers views on legislative initiatives that may affect minors. The Commission reports annually to the Flemish Parliament. The current Commissioner, Bruno Vanobbergen, was appointed in 2009.
Bernard De Vos is the Commissioner for Child Rights of the French Community
, which has a more or less identical range of functions but was created by, and reports to, the Parliament of the French Community
.
The Republika Srpska
has an Ombudsman for Children (Serbian: Ombudsmana za djecu), also an ENOC member. The office, established in 2008, promotes legislative compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; investigates alleged violations of the rights and interests of children; advocates the rights and interests of children, and conducts public information and education work.
. The office is a member of ENOC and CRONSEE.
.
was appointed to the office by the Council of State on the nomination of the Prime Minister, for a single six-year term.
, and the Children's Commissioner Act 2003
reformed the institution while bringing into domestic law the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
. The Commissioner promotes awareness and understanding of the views and interests of children, conducts research and inquiries, and can investigate individual cases. A Young People’s Reference Group (YPRG), comprising young people between 12 and 18, assists the Commissioner and other government agencies in strategic planning and consultation with children and youth. The Children's Commissioner is usually a senior paediatrician or academic. The current Commissioner is Russell Wills.
. It seeks incorporation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
into all areas of society, and is particularly attentive to vulnerable children. The current ombudsman is Reidar Hjermann
(appointed in 2004, and reappointed after a brief hiatus in 2008). He succeeded Trond Waage
(1996-2004), the founder of ENOC.
telephone line for children.
appointed to the post.
was established under the Children Act 2004
as a non-departmental public body, and the current office holder is Maggie Atkinson. Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People
is Tam Baillie. The office was established by the Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2003.
Keith Towler is the Children's Commissioner for Wales
, an office established under the Children's Commissioner for Wales Act 2001.
The Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People
is currently Patricia Lewsley
; the office was established in 2003.
All four UK agencies are members of the British and Irish Network of Ombudsmen and Children’s Commissioners (BINOCC).
Children's rights
Children's rights are the human rights of children with particular attention to the rights of special protection and care afforded to the young, including their right to association with both biological parents, human identity as well as the basic needs for food, universal state-paid education,...
of children and young people, either in society at large, or in specific categories such as children in contact with the care system. The agencies usually have a substantial degree of independence from the executive, and generally operate as specialised ombudsman
Ombudsman
An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests...
offices or national human rights institutions, dealing with individual complaints, intervening with other public authorities, conducting research, and - where their mandate permits them to engage in advocacy
Child advocacy
Child advocacy refers to a range of individuals, professionals and advocacy organizations who promote the optimal development of children. An individual or organization engaging in advocacy typically seeks to protect children's rights which may be abridged or abused in a number of areas.- Rights...
- generally promoting children's rights in public policy, law and practice. The creation of such institutions has been promoted by the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Committee on the Rights of the Child
Committee on the Rights of the Child
The Committee on the Rights of the Child is a body of independent experts that monitors and reports on implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child by governments that ratify the Convention...
.
Largely a European phenomenon, although some exist in other regions, many of the institutions belong to the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC). There are also sub-regional networks, including the Children's Rights Ombudspersons' Network in South and Eastern Europe (CRONSEE), created in 2006, and the British and Irish Network of Ombudsmen and Children’s Commissioners (BINOCC), which first met in 2005.
Australia
The Australian Human Rights Commission in 2010 proposed the creation of the office of a national Children’s Commissioner.Other such offices, varying in remit, have been created at state and territorial level. In the Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
, the ACT Human Rights Commission
Human rights commission
A Human Rights Commission is a body set up to investigate, promote or protect human rights.The term may refer to international, national or subnational bodies set up for this purpose, such as national human rights institutions or truth and reconciliation commissions.-International Human Rights...
includes a Children and Young People Commissioner. The office has a broad mandate to promote and protect the rights of all children and young people in the ACT.
In the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, the Office of the Children's Commissioner was established by the territorial Assembly's Care and Protection of Children Act 2007. Its initially restricted remit - including complaint handling, monitoring follow-up to the Inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse
Little Children are Sacred
Little Children are Sacred is the report of a Board of Inquiry into the Protection of Aboriginal Children from Sexual Abuse commissioned by the government of the Northern Territory, Australia, was publicly released on 15 June 2007...
, reduction of child mortality, and certain other matters - was significantly expanded by a legislative amendment in 2011 giving it the right to mount investigations on its own initiative. The current Commissioner is Howard Bath.
Other offices still have a limited remit, focussing on disadvantaged children such as those in government care, or children with no one to act on their behalf. These include Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
's Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian and the Office of the Guardian for Children and Young People, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
;.
The remaining agencies are the Commissioner for Children and Young People, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
;; the Office of the Child Safety Commissioner, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
; and the Commission for Children and Young People in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
..
Austria
The Federal Children’s Ombudsman was established by the Federal Youth Welfare Act 1989, since when each of the nine Bundesländer (states) have set up an Ombudsman for Children and Youth. The federal office is funded through the Federal Ministry for Social Security, Generations and Consumer Protection.Bangladesh
Although no office has yet been established, the social scientist Kamal Uddin SiddiquiKamal Uddin Siddiqui
Working as faculty at the Monash University, Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, popularly known as Kamal Siddiqui, is an economist and social scientist from Bangladesh....
, a former member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, has since March 2004 promoted the establishment of an Independent Children's Commissioner for Bangladesh. He led a Government delegation to France, Norway and Sweden in February 2004 to study the Children's Ombudsman institutions in those countries.
Belgium
Belgium has two agencies, both members of the ENOC network.The Child Rights Commission was established by the Flemish Parliament
Flemish Parliament
The Flemish Parliament constitutes the legislative power in Flanders, for matters which fall within the competence of Flanders, both as a geographic region and a cultural community of Belgium The Flemish Parliament (Dutch: , and formerly called Flemish Council or Vlaamse Raad) constitutes the...
in June 1998. The Commission's services include mediation, information, complaints about possible violations of child rights and policy advice. It conducts public information and education campaigns, conducts and monitors research, and offers views on legislative initiatives that may affect minors. The Commission reports annually to the Flemish Parliament. The current Commissioner, Bruno Vanobbergen, was appointed in 2009.
Bernard De Vos is the Commissioner for Child Rights of the French Community
French Community of Belgium
The French Community of Belgium is one of the three official communities in Belgium along with the Flemish Community and the German speaking Community. Although its name could suggest that it is a community of French citizens in Belgium, it is not...
, which has a more or less identical range of functions but was created by, and reports to, the Parliament of the French Community
Parliament of the French Community
The Parliament of the French Community is the legislative assembly of the French Community of Belgium based in the Quartier Royal....
.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Human Rights Ombudsman of Bosnia and Herzegovina has as one of its seven departments a Child Rights Section (Bosnian: Odjel za praćenje prava djece), and is a full member of ENOC.The Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska
Republika Srpska is one of two main political entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other being the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
has an Ombudsman for Children (Serbian: Ombudsmana za djecu), also an ENOC member. The office, established in 2008, promotes legislative compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; investigates alleged violations of the rights and interests of children; advocates the rights and interests of children, and conducts public information and education work.
Canada
The Canadian provinces have a variety of agencies that serve as more or less independent advocates of the rights of children, particularly those that have been clients of social services. They differ in mandate but share a commitment to child rights, and co-ordinate their activities through the Canadian Council of Child and Youth Advocates (CCPCYA).- In AlbertaAlbertaAlberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, the Ministry of Children’s Services created an office of Children's Advocate in September 1989; in 2004 this became the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate (OCYA). As an internal advocacy system, the Advocate's services can only be accessed by, or on behalf of, young people already served under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act (Enhancement Act) or the Protection of Sexually Exploited Children Act (PSECA). - In British ColumbiaBritish ColumbiaBritish Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, the Representative for Children and Youth (RCY) provides policy advice and advocacy services on behalf of all children and young people (under 19), and in particular, supports children, youth and families who need help in dealing with the care services provided by the Ministry of Children and Family Development. - In ManitobaManitobaManitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, although limited to dealing with children and young people who have been in contact with official childcare and adoption services, the Office of the Children's Advocate of Manitoba has a degree of independence, and complaint-handling and advisory functions, similar to those of an ombudsman. - The SaskatchewanSaskatchewanSaskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
Children's Advocate is Bob PringleBob PringleRobert Murray "Bob" Pringle is a former Canadian politician, who last served as a city councillor for Ward 7 on Saskatoon City Council in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He previously served as a New Democratic Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, representing the electoral district...
.
Croatia
The Ombudsperson for Children (Croatian: Pravobranitelj za djecu) aims to ensure protection of the rights of children; to influence the legislative and executive authorities to take child rights into consideration; to promote the acknowledgment of children’s opinions and attitudes, and to inform adults and children about child rights. The Ombudsperson, currently Mila Jelavić, has about 10 staff and submits annual reports to the Parliament of CroatiaParliament of Croatia
The Parliament of Croatia or the Sabor is the unicameral representative body of the citizens of the Republic of Croatia and legislature of the country. Under the terms of the Croatian Constitution, represents the people and is vested with the legislative power...
. The office is a member of ENOC and CRONSEE.
Cyprus
The Commissioner for Children’s Rights was established by the Commissioner for the Protection of Children’s Rights Law, 2007. Leda Koursoumba was appointed first Commissioner with effect from February 2008. The agency is full member of ENOC. In 2011 the Commissioner presented her fist parallel report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the ChildCommittee on the Rights of the Child
The Committee on the Rights of the Child is a body of independent experts that monitors and reports on implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child by governments that ratify the Convention...
.
Denmark
In February 2011 the Danish government turned down a request from a United Nations committee to create the position of Ombudsman for Children . There is, however, a National Council for Children , a statutory national institution which is politically independent although administratively linked with the Ministry of Family and Consumer Affairs. The Council works to safeguard the rights of children; it provides information on conditions for children in society and offers advice and consultancy to authorities on issues concerning children.Estonia
In December 2010, the Parliamentary Finance Committee appropriated 383,000 euros to the Chancellor of Justice, the approximate equivalent of a national ombudsman, to establish a children's ombudsman office.France
In May 2011, the French Government merged the office of the Children's Ombudsman (Défenseur des enfants) with the main ombudsman agency and other bodies, creating a new body named the Defender of Rights (Défenseur des droits). In July 2011 Dominique BaudisDominique Baudis
Dominique Baudis is the French ombudsman. Formerly a journalist, politician and Mayor of Toulouse, he had been a member of DL and later of the leading centre-right Union for a Popular Movement....
was appointed to the office by the Council of State on the nomination of the Prime Minister, for a single six-year term.
Greece
Although Greece does not have a stand-alone office, the Citizen's Advocate (Ombudsman) of Greece , created in 1998 as an Independent Authority, has in addition to the Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman posts six Assistant Advocates, one of whom coordinates the activities of the Department of Children's Rights, and is sometimes referred to as the Ombudsman for Children’s Rights. The Department was established in 2003, by law 3094/2003, to investigate alleged acts and omissions by individuals and legal entities that violate the rights of children or endanger their wellbeing.Ireland
Emily Logan became Ireland’s first Ombudsman for Children in March 2004, following the passahe of the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002. The main areas of work of the Office of the Children's Ombudsman (OCO) are complaints handling; communication and participation; and research and policy. The OCO is a member of the British and Irish Network of Ombudsmen and Children’s Commissioners (BINOCC).Italy
Law number 112 of 12 July 2011 set up an Ombudsman for childhood and adolescence as an independent institute.Lithuania
The Children’s Rights Ombudsman Institution of the Republic of Lithuania was established in September 2000. It seeks to improve legal protection of children, to defend the rights and interests of children, and to exercise supervision and control of the actions of public authorities in relation to children. The Ombudsman can conduct investigations, require the production of information and evidence, propose legislation and policy, and report to the President, the Seimas (Parliament), the Government or a municipal council on violations of legal acts or shortcomings in the law.Netherlands
As in Greece, the function of Ombudsman for Children is embedded in the National Ombudsman office. Under legislation enacted in June 2010, and effective from April 2011, a Deputy Ombudsman, Marc Dullaert, was designated the first Ombudsman for Children. Both the National Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children report directly and independently to the Dutch Parliament. The role of the Ombudsman for Children is to promote the rights of the child in the public and private spheres by providing advice and information; advising the government and Parliament on legislation and policy that affects the rights of the child; investigating complaints or conducting investigations on his own initiative, and monitoring how complaints by children or their representatives are dealt with by the relevant bodies.New Zealand
The Office of the Children's Commissioner was founded under the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989
The Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 is an Act of the New Zealand Parliament, passed in 1989. The Act provided for the care and protection of children as well as youth justice...
, and the Children's Commissioner Act 2003
Children's Commissioner Act 2003
The Children's Commissioner Act 2003 is an Act of the New Zealand Parliament. It reformed the office of the Children's Commissioner and implemented the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which is attached as schedule three of the act.Prior to the act Children's Commissioners...
reformed the institution while bringing into domestic law the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Convention on the Rights of the Child
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is a human rights treaty setting out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children...
. The Commissioner promotes awareness and understanding of the views and interests of children, conducts research and inquiries, and can investigate individual cases. A Young People’s Reference Group (YPRG), comprising young people between 12 and 18, assists the Commissioner and other government agencies in strategic planning and consultation with children and youth. The Children's Commissioner is usually a senior paediatrician or academic. The current Commissioner is Russell Wills.
Norway
In 1981 Norway was the first country in the world to establish an Ombudsman for Children . The office has statutory powers to investigate individual complaints; it also monitors legislation and policy, and engages in human rights educationHuman rights education
Human rights education is the teaching of the history, theory, and law of human rights in schools and educational institutions, as well as outreach to the general public.-Human rights education and the United Nations:...
. It seeks incorporation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Convention on the Rights of the Child
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is a human rights treaty setting out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children...
into all areas of society, and is particularly attentive to vulnerable children. The current ombudsman is Reidar Hjermann
Reidar Hjermann
Reidar Kvaal Hjermann is a Norwegian psychologist.The son of Ingvar Hjermann, Reidar Hjermann started working as a psychologist in 1998. In 2004 he was appointed Ombudsman for Children in Norway, succeeding fellow psychologist Trond Waage.When his four-year term ended in 2008, he applied for a...
(appointed in 2004, and reappointed after a brief hiatus in 2008). He succeeded Trond Waage
Trond Waage
Trond Waage is a child rights expert at the UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre in Florence, Italy. Previously, he was for eight years Norway's Ombudsman for Children. In this role he initiated the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children and was involved in setting up ombuds offices for...
(1996-2004), the founder of ENOC.
Portugal
The Portuguese Ombudsman offers a toll-freeToll-free telephone number
A toll-free, Freecall, Freephone, 800, 0800 or 1-800 number is a special telephone number which is free to the calling party, and instead the telephone carrier charges the called party the cost of the call...
telephone line for children.
Russia
The office of Children's Rights Commissioner for the President of the Russian Federation was created by decree on 30 December 2009, with Pavel AstakhovPavel Astakhov
Pavel Alekseevich Astakhov is a Russian statesman and lawyer, and became the Children Rights Commissioner for the President of the Russian Federation on 31 December 2009.-Education:...
appointed to the post.
Serbia
The Protector of Citizens of the Republic of Serbia (Ombudsman), an independent state authority with a broad mandate to protect human rights and freedoms, was created by law in 2005 and given constitutional status in 2006. The office is a full member of ENOC.Sweden
In Sweden the Children's Ombudsman ' onMouseout='HidePop("76248")' href="/topics/Children's_Commissioner_for_England">Children's Commissioner for EnglandChildren's Commissioner for England
The post of Children's Commissioner for England was established under the Children Act 2004 . The Children's Commissioner has a duty to promote awareness of the views and interests of all children in England, in particular those whose voices are least likely to be heard, to the people who make...
was established under the Children Act 2004
Children Act 2004
The Children Act 2004 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.The Act amended the Children Act 1989, largely in consequence of the Victoria Climbié inquiry....
as a non-departmental public body, and the current office holder is Maggie Atkinson.
Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People
Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People is a post in Scotland whose main task is to promote and safeguard the rights of children and young people. The position, equivalent to the Children's Ombudsman agencies of many other countries, was established by the Commissioner for Children...
is Tam Baillie. The office was established by the Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2003.
Children's Commissioner for Wales
The Children's Commissioner for Wales is a publicly funded post in Wales, with responsibility for protecting children's rights as set out in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Peter Clarke was the Commissioner from its introduction in 2001 until his death in 2007. The job interview process...
, an office established under the Children's Commissioner for Wales Act 2001.
Commissioner for Children and Young People, Northern Ireland
4 NationsThe Commissioner for Children and Young People, Northern Ireland is a publicly funded post, with responsibility for protecting children's rights as set out in the Convention on the Rights of the Child...
is currently Patricia Lewsley
Patricia Lewsley
Patricia Lewsley is the current Commissioner for Children and Young People for Northern Ireland. She was previously a member of the Northern Irish Assembly for Lagan Valley, and a councillor in Lisburn City Council....
; the office was established in 2003.
All four UK agencies are members of the British and Irish Network of Ombudsmen and Children’s Commissioners (BINOCC).
United States
There is no federal children's ombudsman agency, but some exist at state, city or county level. (In states where no children's ombudsman exists, similar work may be undertaken by a generic ombudsman office, by a social services advocacy service, or by a children's services oversight body.)- In ConnecticutConnecticutConnecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, the Office of the Child Advocate is an independent ombudsman agency monitoring and evaluating the public and private agencies involved in the protection of children, and reviewing state policies and procedures to ensure they protect children's rights and promote their best interest. - In DelawareDelawareDelaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, the Office of the Child Advocate aims to safeguard the welfare of children through educational advocacy, system reform, public awareness, training, and legal representation of children. - The GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
Office of the Child Advocate aims to provide a first point of contact for those in government and the private sector to turn for advice, assistance, and aid regarding at-risk families and foster children in the state. - The MaineMaineMaine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
Child Welfare Services Ombudsman, also known as the Children's Ombudsman, is an impartial office which specialises in assisting people with resolving concerns with the Child Protective Services Department of the State's Department of Health and Human Services. - In MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, the Office of the Child Advocate aims to ensure that every child involved with child welfare or juvenile justice agencies is protected from harm and receives appropriate and effective services delivered in a timely and respectful manner. - The MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
Department of Technology, Management, and Budget maintains an Office of Children’s Ombudsman (OCO). - Although not strictly a children's ombudsman, the MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
Office of the Ombudsperson for Families seeks to ensure that children and their families are guaranteed fair treatment, especially on racial grounds, by all agencies that provide child welfare services. There are four ombudspersons, working independently from but in collaboration with each of the following groups: the Indian Affairs Council, the Chicano Latino Affairs Council, the Council on Black Minnesotans, and the Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans. - In New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, an Office of the Child Advocate was created as an independent watchdog in 2003 in the wake of scandals affecting the Division of Youth and Family Services. In 2010 the RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Governor, Chris Christie, abolished the office. - There is no state-wide body in OhioOhioOhio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, but a similar body at the local level is the Lucas County Children Services Ombudsman, which mediates to resolve problems related to the Children Services delivery system; the ombudsman can investigate complaints and make recommendations, but has no authority to make or reverse decisions. - The Rhode IslandRhode IslandThe state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
Office of the Child Advocate aims to protect the legal rights of children in state care and to promote policies and practices which ensure that children are safe; that children have permanent and stable families; and that children in out of home placements have their physical, mental, medical, educational, emotional, and behavioural needs met.. - In South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, the Office of Children's Affairs within the Governor's Office provides ombudsman services on behalf of families and children by receiving inquiries, reviewing and responding to questions or problems involving or impacting children either directly or by referral, and providing information and referral to other services and resources. - The TennesseeTennesseeTennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
Commission on Children and Youth (TCCY) Ombudsman for Children, Youth and Families is an external problem resolution mechanism for children in the custody of the Department of Children's Services, relative caregiver program or Child Protective Services (CPS) system. TCCY has statutory authority to review children in the foster care system, kinship care or CPS and make recommendations for improvement. The Ombudsman helps to resolve problems mediating the concerns of each person involved in the child's or family's case. The Ombudsman may serve as an advocate for the family, the state, or the provider, but always works for the child's best interests. - In UtahUtahUtah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, the Office of Child Protection Ombudsman (OCPO) was established by the State Legislature to help resolve concerns about the protection of children receiving services from the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS). The Ombudsman receives and investigates complaints. - In Washington state, the Office of the Family and Children's Ombudsman investigates complaints about agency actions or inaction that involve any child at risk of abuse, neglect, or other harm and a child or parent involved with child protection or child welfare services. The Ombudsman can intervene in cases in which it has been determined that an agency's action or inaction is unauthorized or unreasonable. The office also works to identify system-wide issues and recommend appropriate changes to the Governor, the Legislature, and agency officials. An example of a local children's ombudsman service in Washington state is the Snohomish County Children's CommissionSnohomish County Children's CommissionThe Snohomish County Children’s Commission is a local Children's Ombudsman agency in the US state of Washington. It has 25 members, including two youth, appointed by Snohomish County Council to serve as advisors on issues of health, safety, and welfare of children. Commissioners are mandated by...
. - While there is no state-wide service in WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, the Office of the Milwaukee Ombudsman for Child Welfare (OMOCW) is a free, public service that reviews case-specific concerns regarding the safety, permanence, and well-being of children and families involved with the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare.