hb``P```^T It outlines the personal rights and protections for individuals who are in outofhome care. Are you under the age of 27 and enrolled in a post-secondary education program? Family to Family; Kinship; Going to Court- for Kids; El ABC de Sueno Seguro para su Bebe; The ABC of You have the right to: You have the right to a CFT. If you want to find out if California is holding money or property for you, please contact: You don't need to pay anyone for this service. This agency may be contacted as follows: If you wish to file a claim for monetary damages you believe were caused by a state agency, please contact the Government ClaimsProgram. I am being prosecuted for a crime that I did not commit. WebOmbudsman (Complaints) Mental health. The Office of Foster Care Ombudsman, within the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), handles complaints against county Child Welfare Services (CWS) programs. If a youth calls to file a complaint, we will process it within. Do you feel like your rights are being violated? WebChild Care. was created due to the advocacy of youth in care, and its purpose is to protect children and youth in foster care, youth on probation and in out-of-home placement, and children living in any licensed or certified childrens facility or home in California. Victim Witness The California Office of Foster Care Ombudsperson's main goalis to advocate on behalf of foster children/youth regarding their care, placement, and services. Call: 877-846-1602. If you are not a designated public official and you wish to obtain a legal opinion, we suggest that you consult with a private attorney. WebRESPITE and CHILDCARE. They serve youth who have aged out of foster care, veterans, mentally & developmentally disabled persons, homeless persons, seniors, and addiction abusers. Make sure to click Add to calendar so that the Zoom link will be added to your online calendar. If this is your first time applying for an iFoster phone, click the link below to apply! The most in-demand types of foster care are Sibling foster carers & Mother & Baby foster carers to keep families together. Most importantly, we need foster carers to support older children and teenagers, and with your help, create better futures. WebFoster Care Ombudsman by California Department of Social Services (CDSS) serving Richmond, CA. Your countys Child Welfare Agency is responsible for the emergency response and investigation of child abuse and neglect allegations. You have the right to: You have sexual health rights too. h{ioG_m4. Individuals have the right to request a copy of their own criminal history summary record from our office to review the information for accuracy and completeness. If you are seeking a criminal case record that has been purged by a local court, you may have been referred to our office in error. I need to file a complaint against a state agency. Who should I contact? If a youth calls to file a complaint, we will process it withinonebusiness day.Any personcan file complaints on behalfofa child in foster care, as long asthe concern is about the rights, care, placement, or services of the foster child.We revieweach caseto determine if it needs further investigation. You may contact the Bar as follows: If you have a complaint against a mediator or evaluator with Family Court Services, talk to the Director of. 8-13-25 Sacramento, CA 95814 1-(877) 846-1602 fosteryouthhelp@dss.ca.gov. with the Probation Departments Ombudsman and Placement Permanency and Quality Assurance Unit to resolve issues. County Mobile Response and Stabilization Teams also available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For more information on how the WebInvestigate and resolve complaints made on behalf of children in foster care and make appropriate referrals Provide foster children and youth with information on their rights Maintain a statewide toll free Foster Care Helpline, (877) 846-1602, which anyone may call from anywhere in California to express their concerns and complaints To report a workplace accident, or to file a complaint, please contact the Cal/OSHA enforcement unit district office closest to the workplace where the accident occurred or the complaint conditions exist. Try to remember the event. Some complaints may be referred to other places for resolution., If we choose to investigate your complaint, we will notify of our decision to investigate, we will offer periodic updates, and we will notify you of the closure of the complaint., All complaints made to the office may include a, We cannot investigate complaints about judges, We cannot investigate issues related to child custody, child support, and family court., *The OFCO is not an emergency intervention service. I want to contact the Foster Care Ombudsmans Office. Are you a Medi-Cal member experiencing urgent problems with enrollment and dis-enrollment? The Attorney General has no jurisdiction in matters already before the court or in matters where the courts have already rendered a decision. WebAs Marylands appointed Foster Youth Ombudsman, Loney Nguyen (pronounced Lonnie Win) serves as a passionate advocate for youth in foster care across 24 local jurisdictions found in Maryland, including Baltimore City. WebThe California Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson is dedicated to serving foster youth in California by investigating and resolving complaints about foster youth rights, care, placement, and services. Every month the Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson (OFCO) provides instructor led virtual trainings about the Foster Youth Bill of Rights and Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard. I wish to report a violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). Neither our office nor any other State office routinely maintains copies of wills and trusts. Who can help me? PUB 339 (7/13) - Foster Care Ombudsman Brochure ; PUB 341 (4/16) - Adoptions Services Bureau Career Opportunities ; PUB 367 (4/13) - Reach For Your Are you a current or former foster youth? Head Start. The California Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson is dedicated to serving foster youth in California by investigating and resolving complaints about foster youth rights, care, placement, and services. If your complaint pertains to special education, please contact: If your complaint pertains to Federal or State civil rights violations, please contact: If your complaint pertains to categorical programs that are mandated by statute, such as No Child Left Behind or Limited English Proficiency, please contact: Other types of complaints against a school, district, principal, teacher, or school personnel may not be within the jurisdiction of the California Department of Education or any other state agency, and should be addressed at the local level. Loney works tirelessly to protect the rights of youth and works to ensure accountability in treatment and service delivery. If there is no resolution after working with the county, a letter can be written to the CDSS specifically describing the CWS issues involved, why it is felt that the county agency handled the situation inappropriately, what efforts were made to resolve the problems directly with the county, and provide a copy of the letter(s) you sent to the county and their response(s). The purpose of the training is to inform participants about the Foster Youth Bill of Rights and Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard (RPPS). These decisions are made through Family Law Court. Do you feel like they have engaged in judicial misconduct such as being rude, treating people improperly in Court, or delaying decision-making? There is a proverb that says, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.. This training will be an interactive experience that teaches participants about the Foster Youth Bill of Rights and Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard (RPPS). WebFoster Care Ombudsman Pamela M. Woodman-Kaehler Deputy Director Elizabeth M. Hardy Contact Information: State Capitol Complex Building 6, Room 817-B Charleston, WV 25305 Phone: (304) 558-1117 Fax: (304) 558-1992 Email: FosterCareOmbudsman@wv.gov And the OFCO provides free Foster Youth Bill of Rights publications to foster youth, county child welfare and probation offices, foster family agencies, and congregate care facilities (shelters, group homes, STRTPs). hb``c``6e```0D8!A2Sa 2RLb\813s6F&lb>qqKkU^Ok'+X:\# E" Law Enforcement Complaint Form. The Office of the Inspector General is responsible for independent oversight of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, which includes Adult Operations, Adult Programs, Juvenile Justice, the Corrections Standards Authority, the Board of Parole Hearings, the State Commission on Juvenile Justice, the Prison Industry Authority, and the Prison Industry Board. The decision whether or not to file charges calls for consideration of the prospects of obtaining a conviction against a particular defendant. If you are still dissatisfied, you can file a county grievance. WebCalifornia officials have named a longtime dependency attorney as the states next foster care ombudsperson, a watchdog for the nations largest child welfare system. Who can help me with legal research? How do I obtain a copy of a will or trust? You have the right to: Preparing for Adulthood &Money Management. Who should I contact? Who can help me? How do I file a complaint against a State licensed child care or residential facility? You may wish to consult with a private attorney to determine any civil remedies that may be available to you. Do you need a smartphone or tablet? The lawallows us to releasecertaininformationto certain peoplein the process ofconducting our duties; however, if we need to share this information we will tell you.. 510-658-7353 Main. State law requires businesses to turn over unclaimed money and property to the state Controller's Office. If you have knowledge of misconduct by a teacher or principal, please contact: Finally, you may wish to consult with an attorney to determine any civil remedies that may be available to you. While our Office cannot represent private individuals in personal matters nor provide you with individual assistance, we do review complaints to develop information about patterns or practices of activities which might indicate the need for formal investigation or law enforcement action by our office. The law that governs the OFCO is Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) 16164. [Spanish Form], State of California Department of Justice. Please consult with a translator for accuracy if you are relying on the translation or are using this site for official business. If you want to know if you are listed on the Child Abuse Central Index (CACI), send a self-inquiry requestto the Department of Justice. Cost: Free. You have the right to: You have school rights. File a complaint with the State Bar of California. This Google translation feature is provided for informational purposes only. I was divorced outside of the United States. The Office of the State Foster Care Ombudsperson shall be established as an autonomous entity within the department for the purpose of providing children who are placed in foster care, either voluntarily or pursuant You may wish to share your concerns with your representatives in the California Legislature. If you are a former foster youth, click here to request a letter., The OFCO provides trainings on the services provided by our office, the Foster Youth Bill of Rights, and the reasonable and prudent parent standards. Click here to request a training.. Those officials include constitutional officers, state legislators, state agencies, district attorneys, prosecuting city attorneys, county counsels, county sheriffs and judges. To do this, you must send the county agency a letter explaining your concerns with a request that they respond to you in writing. Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, & Expression (SOGIE). You may obtain a referral to a certified lawyer referral service by contacting the State Bar at (866)442-2529 (toll-free in California) or (415)538-2250 (from outside California), or via their website at: I was married outside of the United States. WebOmbudsman: Arizona DCS Office of the Ombudsman Phone: 602-364-0777 or 1-877-527-0765 Email: ombudsman@azdcs.gov https://dcs.az.gov/ombudsman-complaint Arizona Ombudsman-Citizens Aide 7878 N. 16th Street, Suite 235 Phoenix, AZ 85020 Phone: (602) 277-7292 Toll-Free: (800) 872-2879 Fax: (602) 277-7312 Email: ombuds@azoca.gov conducting our duties; however, if we need to share this information we will tell you. Statewide. If the situation is an emergency, please call 911. If you have any questions please contact: Bilingual Services Program at (916) 210-7580. Your correspondence must include specific information about misconduct that violates state law, the details of your efforts to resolve the complaint with the local authorities, copies of your complaint(s) to the local authorities and copies of their response(s). Are you concerned about how a foster parent is caring for a youth? %PDF-1.6 % We can also answer your questions about foster care, We have a confidentiality policy to protect the identity of people who call to make a complaint. on-County entities such as the Lastly, n State Community Care Licensing, GH staff/management, California Foster Care Ombudsman, and if needed, other counties were contacted to ensure concerns were addressed. They include the reunification issues, court If you are searching for a letter to prove you were in foster care, call our office at 877-846-1602. Contact the California Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson. Do you need help navigating the Medi-Cal system? This program covers residents of the following states: CA. WebThe California Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson is dedicated to serving foster youth in California by investigating and resolving complaints about foster youth rights, The agency with authority to investigate violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) is the U.S. Department of Justice. WebThe Office of Foster Care Ombudsman, within the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), handles complaints against county Child Welfare Services (CWS) programs. We provide former foster youth in California with Dependency Letters (also called Verification Letters or Ward of the Court Letters). 59 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[]/Index[11 84]/Info 10 0 R/Length 202/Prev 324902/Root 12 0 R/Size 95/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream Web(a) The Office of the State Foster Care Ombudsperson shall do all of the following: (1) Disseminate information on the rights of children and youth in foster care and the services provided by the office. If you feel safe, try to resolve it on your own. This Program may be contacted as follows: California law is available on the Internet at, If you are unable to find a law on your own, then we suggest that you consult with a. I think a law should be enacted, amended, or revoked. WebOmbudsman or Child Advocates were established within states and/or Child Welfare to investigate complaints, concerns, or violations of children right's while in foster care. These agencies may be contacted as follows: If your employer retaliates against you because of your efforts to report alleged wrongdoing, you may wish to seek whistleblower protection pursuant to California. Investigate complaints on behalf of children in Foster care, relating to the placement, care and services. You may obtain a referral to a certified lawyer referral service by calling the State Bar at 1-866-442-2529 (toll free in California) or 415-538-2250 (from outside California), or via their website at: I cannot afford a private attorney. Are you 13-26 years old and enrolled in a CA K-12 school? report to the appropriate agencies such as the countys Child Protective Services agency or the Community Care Licensing Division. To file a complaint, follow the link to a list ofoptions(linked) that will take you to the proper complaint form or information on who to contact. sheriff or police department, district attorney, and citizens review commission in the area of jurisdiction) be utilized for resolution of such complaints. Contact information is available at, In addition, please visit our Victims Services Unit website, at. Find out about the different programs and services offered through DHCS for individuals and stakeholders. 0 I am the victim of discrimination in services provided by a business such as a hotel, restaurant or store. The law that governs the OFCO is Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) 16164. WebContact an Ombudsman - Office of the Ombudsman Contact an Ombudsman 916-445-1773 or the Ombudsman Assistance Request Form Sara Smith, Chief Institutions covered: California Institution for Women (CIW) Richard J Donovan Correctional Facility (RJD) Central California Womens Facility (CCWF) cy Letters (also called Verification Letters or Ward of the Court Letters). Riverside County, California If you have immediate concerns about the safety of a child, call your county Child Protection Servicesor local law enforcement.. California Youth Connection; Foster Youth Resources; Wraparound; Parents. If you would like your full case records (child welfare or adoption), contact the dependency court that had jurisdiction of the case. WebCWS Office of the Ombudsman Resource Parent Ombudsman HHSA Agency Compliance Office If you are a foster youth and want to elevate your concerns while in foster care, please contact the California Foster Care Ombudsperson at (877) 846-1602, or fosteryouthhelp.ca.gov. If you do not receive a certificate, please email fosteryouthhelp@dss.ca.gov so our team can verify your attendance. Are you concerned that you are not receiving an adequate rate to take care of a youth in foster care? The Attorney General's role in legislative matters is limited to making recommendations to the California Legislature regarding needed changes in law and to enforcing the laws the Legislature enacts. If you have a complaint against the judge assigned to this case, contact the Commission on Judicial Performance. I have a complaint about a county child welfare services agency. For a referral, visit. WebRetired Judge, Superior Court of California, Santa Clara County 16 Janay Eustace Deputy Director, California Youth Connection; Former Foster Youth 17 Larry Fluharty Ombudsman, Foster Care 18 Bob Friend Director, National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness 19 Leticia Galyean Chief Executive Officer, Seneca Family of Agencies 20 For complaints against county employees or agencies, address your complaint to the head of the county agency, the county counsel's office and your representative on the county Board of Supervisors. Our office was created to serve foster youth., the care, placement, services or rights of, You can contact us about issues related to, foster youth rights, care, placement, and services. We can also answer your questions about foster care. delicensed), you may file an appeal through the State Hearing process. Once you register, you will automatically be redirected to a Zoom confirmation page. Los Angeles LA County Ombudsperson for DCFS Youth placed in STRTPs Phone: 1-888-445-1234 It is our general policy that local governments will be primarily responsible for citizen complaints against their employees or agencies, and that appropriate local resources will be utilized for the resolution of such complaints. Do you have concerns about the quality of a foster home or community care facility? Who should I contact? Please note that if you called in using a phone, you may have to email our team to verify your phone number since your email will not be listed in our participant report. I need information about resources available to victims. Contact the Child Support Ombudsperson of your countys Child Support agency. Who should I contact? 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