A copy of this disclaimer can also be found on our Disclaimer page. Court records are kept in the court clerk's office. WebOffice of the Foster Care Ombudsperson 744 P Street, M.S. Housing. You have the right to live in a safe, comfortable home where you are treated with respect and to have: Are you a member, or could you be a member, of a federally recognized Indian tribe? Services. Polinsky Children's Center WebFoster Care Ombudsman by California Department of Social Services (CDSS) serving Riverside, CA. You may also file a written complaint with our Office. Who do I contact? Where do I report concerns about an adoption facilitator? Ma'Khia Bryant death: Former foster-care kids say youth ombudsman in Ohio could make a difference. Who can help me with legal research? Contact the Medi-Cal Managed Care and Mental Health Office of the Ombudsman. This Discrimination Complaints Investigations Unit handles complaints from employees who are retaliated against by their employer for disclosing information to a government or law enforcement agency where the employee has reasonable cause to believe that the information discloses a violation of a state or federal statute, or violation or noncompliance with a state or federal regulation, including, laws enacted for the protection of corporate shareholders, investors, employees, and the general public. Your countys Child Welfare Agency is responsible for the emergency response and investigation of child abuse and neglect allegations. WebCalifornia officials have named a longtime dependency attorney as the states next foster care ombudsperson, a watchdog for the nations largest child welfare system. These trainings are available to anyone who works with or cares for youth in foster care in California, such as social workers, probation officers, resource parents, caregivers, CASA, STRTP and group home staff, and our CDSS Team. We suggest that you consult with your attorney. Who should I contact? Can you work it out with the people who were involved? I am the victim of discrimination in services provided by a business such as a hotel, restaurant or store. If you have immediate concerns about the safety of a child, call your county Child Protection Services, The California Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson is dedicated to serving. The areas in which the CDE has complaint oversight are explained below. 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. If your complaint involves alleged criminal misconduct and the local agencies do not act upon it, you may write to the Attorney General's Office. WebOmbudsman (Complaints) Mental health. College / Higher education. 8-13-25; Sacramento, The agency with authority to investigate violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) is the U.S. Department of Justice. The California DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES OMBUDSMAN FOR FOSTER CARE Information on the rights of children and youth who are placed in foster This program covers residents of the following states: CA. Wallet accordion brochures available in English & Espaol print versions only. Email: fosteryouthhelp@dss.ca.gov. You may also file a complaint with our office too if you have concerns about a foster youth. 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, You may contact this agency as follows: Office of Foster Care Ombudsman; California Department of Social Services; 744 P Street, M.S. Who can help me? Our office does not maintain court records. Victim/Witness Assistance Centers are located in every county, usually within the District Attorney's Office. If the situation is an emergency, please call 911. ", We understand it is not uncommon for members of the public to differ with the district attorney on the question of whether the filing of criminal charges is warranted. The Commission is responsible for investigating complaints of judicial misconduct and judicial incapacity and for disciplining judges. f|} gd\),$.Q F o! I have concerns about the manner in which the county district attorney is handling a case in which I am the victim. 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. Do you have complaints about your family law case? Life skills. First, file a complaint with the law enforcement agency and your countys district attorney. In addition, we are prohibited by law from representing private individuals or providing legal advice, legal research or legal analysis to private individuals under any circumstances. Cost: Free. complaints are our first priority. 1-833-99YOUTH (999-6884) Foster Care Ombudsman Advokids Victim If you believe you have information indicating criminal conduct on the part of a public employee, you should immediately contact the appropriate, If you feel your complaint about improper governmental activities has not been addressed satisfactorily by the local government agency, consider submitting your complaint to the county grand jury. County Ombuds Contact Info 18. hb``c``6e```0D8!A2Sa 2RLb\813s6F&lb>qqKkU^Ok'+X:\# E" %%EOF endstream endobj 12 0 obj <>/OCGs[61 0 R]>>/Pages 9 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences<>>> endobj 13 0 obj <. In addition, we recommend that you consult with a private attorney. Are you 13-26 years old and enrolled in a CA K-12 school? This training will be an interactive experience that teaches participants about the Foster Youth Bill of Rights and Reasonable and Prudent Parent Standard (RPPS). The Attorney General's Office is unable to assist you, because we are required by law to provide legal representation to state agencies in disputes rising out of their actions. WebCHDP Foster Care Program. (PDF) Brochure for People Who Use Medicaid: Need Help with Medicaid? Report your concerns to your countys Child Protective Services hotline. Do you believe that additional resources are needed? You have the right to: You have rights at court too. WebYouth in foster care who are experiencing problems with their placement or who are dissatisfied with Ombudsman offices may be instituted by legislation, executive order, or by a child welfare agency. Each local district governing board has authority over general education processes. For additional information, please see our. Every law enforcement agency in California is required to establish a procedure to investigate citizens' complaints (Penal Code Section 832.5). File a complaint with the Community Care Licensing Division. You have the right to: You have the right to a CFT. There are no 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) Overall, the ombudsmans office has seen an increase in complaints and, most notably, Covid-19 related complaints. Do you need a smartphone or tablet? Apply below! 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. We appreciate the time and effort it has taken to contact our office. As a young person in foster care, you have: The right to be treated with respect. Who should I contact? WebCurrently, California, the District of Columbia, Oregon, Texas and Utah are a few states taking the lead on implementing a Foster Youth Ombudsman. Letters with the above information should be mailed to the CDSS at the physical address or e-mail address shown above. Who should I contact? Participants will receive an email with the attached .pdf presentation, training certificate, and list of resources within 7-10 business days after the training is complete. Do you have complaints about your child support case? Please contact your local school district administration to determine what local processes govern the resolution of complaints. pleadings, exhibits, transcripts)? In addition, individuals who experience violations of law can often file a lawsuit in court. Do you need a, We provide former foster youth in California with Dependen, cy Letters (also called Verification Letters or Ward of the Court, care have rights! An attorney would directly represent your interests and is the one whose advice would be most helpful to you. Extended foster care (age 18+) Emergency support. You have the right to: Preparing for Adulthood &Money Management. 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). Please visit the State of California website. Who do I contact? Do you feel like the judge is not being ethical or professional? We suggest that you contact the attorney who prepared the will or trust. An ombudsperson (also called ombudsman) is an impartial, independent person with the authority and responsibility to receive, investigate, and/or informally address and resolve complaints about government actions, and when appropriate, make systemic recommendations based on findings. Your local district attorney has jurisdiction over alleged violations of the Brown Act when the members of a body meet and take action with the intent to deprive the public of information to which the members know the public is entitled. (Government Code section 54959.) 510-658-7353 Main. Explain the type of discrimination, what happened, when it happened, who was involved, and the resolution you want. Contact the countys Resource Family Approval Point of Contact. The Attorney Generals Office cannot assist you with a child custody or visitation matter. The Challenge-The Children; Foster Care FAQ; Foster Youth. I need to contact a state agency. Health care. They include the reunification issues, court Remember: You have the right to speak to our office confidentially, and you cannot be threatened, punishedor retaliated against for making complaints. Are you under the age of 27 and enrolled in a post-secondary education program? Our office does not handle constituent complaints against federal government agencies. If you suspect that you may have unclaimed property being held in another state, there are additional resources to assist you. Head Start. California Provider Helpline (For Foster & Kinship Parents!) 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. If you feel safe, try to resolve it with the people who were involved. I was divorced outside of the United States. The office does not represent individual defendants and cannot provide legal advice. Generally, those issues handled at the local level may include hiring and evaluation of staff, classroom assignments, student advancement and retention, selection/provision of textbooks and materials, student discipline, provision of core curricula subjects, facilities, graduation requirements, homework policies and practices, use of general education funds, dress codes, and school uniforms. Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, & Expression (SOGIE). Thank you to everyone who attended. The OFCO is a neutral and independent office that helps solve problems and complaints about the care, placement, and services of children and youth in foster care., 1-877-846-1602 fosteryouthhelp@dss.ca.gov. Who should I notify? Do you feel like a county agency discriminated against you based on your race, color, religion, sex, national origin (including language, political affiliation, disability, marital status, age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other protected class? 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. If you have any questions or need any further information, please consult with your County Clerk or County Recorder's Office and/or a private family law attorney. These decisions are made through Family Law Court. I have a discrimination complaint against a county welfare department or county welfare department staff worker. Do you feel like your rights are being violated? Once you register, you will automatically be redirected to a Zoom confirmation page. I am the victim of a crime. If your complaint is against a principal, teacher, or school personnel, you may want to ask your local district for information on their employee grievance process. You have the right to: You have school rights. 94 0 obj <>stream Who should I contact? 1-877-846-1602 fosteryouthhelp@dss.ca.gov Our team will answer as many as we can in the Q&A section. Does your complaint relate to customer service, the timeliness of service, payment and billing problems, and decisions to close your case? The Office of Foster Care Ombudsman, within the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), handles complaints against county Child Welfare Services (CWS) programs. 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 sexual health rights too. Access any record of a state or local agency that is necessary to Contact information for county district attorneys is available from the California District Attorneys Association. Ombudsman 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. To receive credit, you will have to be actively participating for 85% of the training. %%EOF Do you feel like they are not representing your best interest in Court? Loney works tirelessly to protect the rights of youth and works to ensure accountability in treatment and service delivery. Health care. WebThe office of the State Ombudsman for Foster Care is mandated to perform three main functions: (1) Disseminate information on the rights of children and youth in Foster Care If you are still dissatisfied, you can file a county grievance. 8-13-25 Sacramento, CA 95814 1-(877) 846-1602 fosteryouthhelp@dss.ca.gov. Are you not getting the help and support you need? 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. 0 You have the right to: You have health rights. This Google translation feature is provided for informational purposes only. Contact Karen de S at 408-920-5781. An attorney would directly represent your interests and is the one whose advice would be most helpful to you. 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