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.