With deep roots in the criminal justice system, Colorado's newly hired child welfare ombudsman brings significant experience to a vital oversight job.
Showing posts with label ombudsman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ombudsman. Show all posts
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Independent eye on Colorado's child welfare system
Independent eye on Colorado's child welfare system
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Colorado selects next child welfare ombudsman
Colorado selects next child welfare ombudsman
A child abuse detective and investigator "committed to righting wrongs" will become Colorado's next child protection ombudsman, tasked with digging into complaints against child welfare workers at a time when the relationship between state officials and the ombudsman's office is strained.
A child abuse detective and investigator "committed to righting wrongs" will become Colorado's next child protection ombudsman, tasked with digging into complaints against child welfare workers at a time when the relationship between state officials and the ombudsman's office is strained.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Ombudsman probing Colorado child-welfare complaints leaving job after 2 years
Ombudsman probing Colorado child-welfare complaints leaving job after 2 years
The ombudsman who investigates complaints against Colorado's child protection workers is leaving the job two years after it was created, much of that time spent pushing for more independence from the state child welfare system.
Note: I've never had much faith in ombudsman's programs. If she's anything like Maine's Ombudsman, than her favorite line is, "Sorry, there's nothing I can do for ya." And for whatever reason, it seems like this is a case of more of the same.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Ombudsman should oversee CAS, sex victim urges
Ombudsman should oversee CAS, sex victim urges
The victim of child-molesting stepdad Mac Bool Hassan is calling on the province to enable the ombudsman to oversee the Children's Aid Society (CAS) to prevent other kids from being abused in the future.
Thursday, August 09, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
Ombudsman: State rules thwart child welfare complainants
Ombudsman: State rules thwart child welfare complainants
The process for filing complaints with the state Office of Children's Services, or OCS, is cumbersome and ineffective and should be rewritten, an investigative arm of the Alaska Legislature has found.
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Calls to child ombudsman up sharply
Calls to child ombudsman up sharply
Calls for help to the state's child ombudsman increased by 42 percent from 2010 to 2011.
Calls for help to the state's child ombudsman increased by 42 percent from 2010 to 2011.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Independent eyes on at-risk children
Independent eyes on at-risk children
Somebody’s watching the agencies that monitor families in the child protection system.
Somebody’s watching the agencies that monitor families in the child protection system.
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
Ombudsman's report exposes child protection failure
Ombudsman's report exposes child protection failure
The Northern Territory ombudsman's long-awaited child protection report has found workers were instructed to use dummy documents to cut down the backlog of cases that had not been investigated.
The Northern Territory ombudsman's long-awaited child protection report has found workers were instructed to use dummy documents to cut down the backlog of cases that had not been investigated.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Protesters demand ombud oversight of children’s aid societies
Protesters demand ombud oversight of children’s aid societies
Child advocates are frustrated with what they say is a lack of accountability within the children’s aid societies in Ontario.
Child advocates are frustrated with what they say is a lack of accountability within the children’s aid societies in Ontario.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Who oversees children’s aid societies?
Who oversees children’s aid societies?
Just over five years ago, I was granted the opportunity in these very pages in the Star to argue for something I care strongly about: the need for independent oversight of Ontario’s children’s aid societies. Specifically, the need for that oversight to be conducted by my office, the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario.
Just over five years ago, I was granted the opportunity in these very pages in the Star to argue for something I care strongly about: the need for independent oversight of Ontario’s children’s aid societies. Specifically, the need for that oversight to be conducted by my office, the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario.
Wednesday, May 04, 2011
Ontario ombud needs wider authority over public institutions
Ontario ombud needs wider authority over public institutions
In an ideal, democratic society, when a citizen has a problem with a governmental agency, there should be somewhere for citizens to turn to resolve their issue. An ombud is able to provide this service to citizens.
In an ideal, democratic society, when a citizen has a problem with a governmental agency, there should be somewhere for citizens to turn to resolve their issue. An ombud is able to provide this service to citizens.
Sunday, March 06, 2011
Ombudsman could investigate child 'snatching' by courts
Ombudsman could investigate child 'snatching' by courts
An independent Ombudsman could be appointed to investigate cases in which social workers and the courts are accused of taking children from their homes without justification.
An independent Ombudsman could be appointed to investigate cases in which social workers and the courts are accused of taking children from their homes without justification.
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Group rallies for change to Ombudsman power
Group rallies for change to Ombudsman power
A small group of men and women gathered in downtown Sudbury during the morning of Dec. 1 to raise awareness and support for Bill 131.
A small group of men and women gathered in downtown Sudbury during the morning of Dec. 1 to raise awareness and support for Bill 131.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Keep him busy people!!!
Press Release
Ontario Ombudsman now has the power to investigate Huron-Perth Children’s Aid Society
TORONTO (October 15, 2010) – Ontario Ombudsman André Marin now has the jurisdiction to investigate complaints about Huron-Perth Children’s Aid Society, following the provincial government’s appointment of a supervisor for the agency.
Children and Youth Services Minister Laurel Broten announced this week that she has appointed Mr. Vince Tedesco to manage the society on an interim basis in place of its board of directors. While normally the Ombudsman does not have jurisdiction over children’s aid societies in Ontario, that changes when the provincial government takes direct control, since the Ombudsman does have jurisdiction over the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.
Ontario is the only province in Canada whose Ombudsman does not have a mandate to oversee child protection services. Despite this, the Ombudsman’s office receives many serious complaints about these agencies every year that cannot be investigated. A total of 296 complaints about children’s aid societies were received in fiscal 2009-2010.
Complaints about the Huron-Perth Children’s Aid Society or any provincial government service or agency may be made to the Ombudsman’s Office at 1-800-263-1830, or via the online complaint form available at www.ombudsman.on.ca/en/make-a-complaint/complaint-form.aspx
Ontario Ombudsman now has the power to investigate Huron-Perth Children’s Aid Society
TORONTO (October 15, 2010) – Ontario Ombudsman André Marin now has the jurisdiction to investigate complaints about Huron-Perth Children’s Aid Society, following the provincial government’s appointment of a supervisor for the agency.
Children and Youth Services Minister Laurel Broten announced this week that she has appointed Mr. Vince Tedesco to manage the society on an interim basis in place of its board of directors. While normally the Ombudsman does not have jurisdiction over children’s aid societies in Ontario, that changes when the provincial government takes direct control, since the Ombudsman does have jurisdiction over the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.
Ontario is the only province in Canada whose Ombudsman does not have a mandate to oversee child protection services. Despite this, the Ombudsman’s office receives many serious complaints about these agencies every year that cannot be investigated. A total of 296 complaints about children’s aid societies were received in fiscal 2009-2010.
Complaints about the Huron-Perth Children’s Aid Society or any provincial government service or agency may be made to the Ombudsman’s Office at 1-800-263-1830, or via the online complaint form available at www.ombudsman.on.ca/en/make-a-complaint/complaint-form.aspx
Friday, October 15, 2010
Ont. ombudsman probes Children's Aid Society
Ont. ombudsman probes Children's Aid Society
The provincial ombudsman will now be able to look into any complaints about a cash-strapped Children's Aid Society in southwestern Ontario.
The provincial ombudsman will now be able to look into any complaints about a cash-strapped Children's Aid Society in southwestern Ontario.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
A Letter to the Michigan Ombudsman, and the response from the Michigan Omsbudsman
Dear Charlotte
These girls were MOLESTED in your state. please help these children per direction of your office .. I believe Federal Gov. orders, if you can not personally help in your office...then send me to someone who can resolve this case of the girls being FORCED by MI. courts to visit their bio-dad who has substantiated charges on this molestation and also MI. courts ordered my girls overnight in the residence of H***** J****** (a registered pedophile in YOUR state).
PLEASE ASSIST IN THESE TWO LITTLE GIRLS WHO HAVE BEEN IN PARENTAL LIMBO GOING ON 7 YRS NOW AND SUBJECTED TO ADDITIONAL TRAUMA AT THE HANDS OF MI. COURTS BY MISTAKES AND OVER SITE.
Allow the girls to grow and mature!
I don't fully understand the laws and need your help in keeping these girls from their perpetrators. Please don't abandon these little girls, they need your protection.
As with all other emails in the past requesting your office to save these girls, this is printed and saved in my personal file (and a few others).
Sincerely
A Victim of CPS
And here's the response
Dear Ms. Parent Victim,
As has been explained to you in the past, our office will not conduct an investigation into your concerns about CPS actions back in 2004. We realize that you have been dealing with complex and difficult custody issues involving the girls for a number of years. Our office does not have the legal authority to investigate or otherwise become involved in custody issues. If a decision is made to conduct an investigation into DHS actions, we focus our investigations on children's cases who are involved in Michigan's child welfare system (CPS, foster care, adoption and juvenile justice). We hope that our intervention (reading agency case file documents, interviewing agency staff and collateral sources) will benefit the children and make a difference in their case. As previously stated, your complaint does not fall within these parameters.
Charlotte J. Smith, J.D.
Supervisor
Office of Children's Ombudsman
P.O. Box 30026
Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: (517) 373-3077 or (800) 642-4326
Fax: (517) 335-4471
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:
The information contained in this message may be privileged and confidential, protected from disclosure under the Child Protection Law (Public Act 238 of 1975), and is intended only for use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited, and may be subject to civil and/or criminal penalties. If you received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by calling 517-373-3077, delete it from your computer and destroy any copies of the original message. Thank you.
These girls were MOLESTED in your state. please help these children per direction of your office .. I believe Federal Gov. orders, if you can not personally help in your office...then send me to someone who can resolve this case of the girls being FORCED by MI. courts to visit their bio-dad who has substantiated charges on this molestation and also MI. courts ordered my girls overnight in the residence of H***** J****** (a registered pedophile in YOUR state).
PLEASE ASSIST IN THESE TWO LITTLE GIRLS WHO HAVE BEEN IN PARENTAL LIMBO GOING ON 7 YRS NOW AND SUBJECTED TO ADDITIONAL TRAUMA AT THE HANDS OF MI. COURTS BY MISTAKES AND OVER SITE.
Allow the girls to grow and mature!
I don't fully understand the laws and need your help in keeping these girls from their perpetrators. Please don't abandon these little girls, they need your protection.
As with all other emails in the past requesting your office to save these girls, this is printed and saved in my personal file (and a few others).
Sincerely
A Victim of CPS
And here's the response
Dear Ms. Parent Victim,
As has been explained to you in the past, our office will not conduct an investigation into your concerns about CPS actions back in 2004. We realize that you have been dealing with complex and difficult custody issues involving the girls for a number of years. Our office does not have the legal authority to investigate or otherwise become involved in custody issues. If a decision is made to conduct an investigation into DHS actions, we focus our investigations on children's cases who are involved in Michigan's child welfare system (CPS, foster care, adoption and juvenile justice). We hope that our intervention (reading agency case file documents, interviewing agency staff and collateral sources) will benefit the children and make a difference in their case. As previously stated, your complaint does not fall within these parameters.
Charlotte J. Smith, J.D.
Supervisor
Office of Children's Ombudsman
P.O. Box 30026
Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: (517) 373-3077 or (800) 642-4326
Fax: (517) 335-4471
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:
The information contained in this message may be privileged and confidential, protected from disclosure under the Child Protection Law (Public Act 238 of 1975), and is intended only for use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited, and may be subject to civil and/or criminal penalties. If you received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by calling 517-373-3077, delete it from your computer and destroy any copies of the original message. Thank you.
Friday, September 17, 2010
And you thought the Republicans were on your side...
Bill draft for family ombudsman program fails to advance
Parents gave tearful testimony today as they told state lawmakers about social services taking their children away and the battles they’ve faced with the system ever since.
Parents gave tearful testimony today as they told state lawmakers about social services taking their children away and the battles they’ve faced with the system ever since.
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Will child welfare monitor help?
Will child welfare monitor help?
A national group dedicated to reforming child welfare systems has its doubts about a new program in Colorado that will create an independent monitor to review complaints about lapses in Colorado’s state and local child welfare systems.
A national group dedicated to reforming child welfare systems has its doubts about a new program in Colorado that will create an independent monitor to review complaints about lapses in Colorado’s state and local child welfare systems.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Child welfare ombudsman: Panel looking to prevent deaths like Chandler Grafner's
Child welfare ombudsman: Panel looking to prevent deaths like Chandler Grafner's
Today, a fifteen-member panel is meeting for the first time to hammer out the details of Colorado's forthcoming child welfare ombudsman office. The office will provide parents, caregivers, neighbors and others with a place to be heard if they have concerns about a child's welfare -- and they feel those concerns aren't being addressed by the county's child welfare workers.
Today, a fifteen-member panel is meeting for the first time to hammer out the details of Colorado's forthcoming child welfare ombudsman office. The office will provide parents, caregivers, neighbors and others with a place to be heard if they have concerns about a child's welfare -- and they feel those concerns aren't being addressed by the county's child welfare workers.
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