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Enabling Legislation for Children’s Ombudsman Services

Nearly every state offers ombuds services for children. Because they have all passed enabling legislation for children’s ombudsman services, unique to their political landscape, state agency structures, and regulatory requirements, there are many examples of legislation.

Hopefully, this directory of enabling legislation and state statutes regarding ombudsman services for children in other states will be a helpful resource to Louisiana’s officials who are considering the creation of an Office of Children’s Ombudsman for Louisiana’s children and families.

State-level Legislation

The Children’s Ombudsman services in most states operate at the state level, are created by acts of the state legislatures, and are offices or departments in state government. This table identifies the states’ ombuds services and provides links to the Ombudsman websites and enabling legislation that created the services in the respective states.

StateOffice
Website
Enabling Legislation
AlaskaAlaska Office of Ombudsman
https://ombud.alaska.gov
Alaska Stat. 24.55.010-340
ArizonaArizona Office of Ombudsman Citizens Aide
https://www.azoca.gov
Ariz. Rev. Stat. 41-1371 through 41-1383
ArkansasArkansas Public Defender’s Commission’s Juvenile Ombudsman
https://humanservices.arkansas.gov/divisions-shared-services/youth-services/juvenile-justice-ombudsman/
Ark. Code Ann. § 16-87-216
ArkansasArkansas Child Welfare Ombudsman Division
https://accardv.uams.edu/child-welfare-ombudsman/
AR Code § 20-82-211 (2020)
CaliforniaOffice of the State Foster Care Ombudsperson
https://fosteryouthhelp.ca.gov
Cal. Welfare And Institutions Code § 16160-16167
ColoradoOffice of Colorado’s Child Protection Ombudsman
www.coloradocpo.org
Colo. Rev. Stat. § 19-3.3-101 to -109
ConnecticutConnecticut Office of the Child Advocate
https://portal.ct.gov/oca
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46a-13k
DelawareDelaware Office of the Child Advocate
https://courts.delaware.gov/childadvocate/
Del. Code Ann. tit. 29 §  9001A – 9009A
GeorgiaOffice of the Child Advocate for the Protection of Children
https://oca.georgia.gov
Ga. Code Ann, § 15-11-740 et. Seq.
HawaiiOffice of the Ombudsman
www.ombudsman.hawaii.gov
Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 96-1 to 96-19
IllinoisIllinois DCFS Office of the Inspector General
www2.illinois.gov/dcfs/aboutus/OIG/Pages/oig_faqs.aspx
Ch. 20 Ill. Comp. Stat. § 505/35.5
IndianaIndiana Ombudsman Bureaus
www.in.gov/idoa/ombudsman-bureaus/
Ind. Code §  4-13-19
IowaIowa Office of Ombudsman
www.legis.iowa.gov/Ombudsman/
Iowa Code § 2C-1 et.seq.
KentuckyKentucky Office of Ombudsman
www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/os/omb/Pages/default.aspx
Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 194A.030(A)
MaineMaine Children’s Ombudsman
www.cwombudsman.org
Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22 § 4087-A
MassachusettsMassachusetts Office of the Child Advocate
www.mass.gov/orgs/office-of-the-child-advocate
Mass Gen. Laws ch. 18 § 1-13
MichiganMichigan Office of the Children’s Ombudsman
www.michigan.gov/oco
Act 204 of 1994, Michigan Compiled Laws, Section (§§) 722.921-932.
MinnesotaMinnesota Office of Ombudsperson for Families
www.mn.gov/ombudfam/
Minn. Stat. § 257.0755 et. seq.
MissouriMissouri Office of Child Advocate
https://oca.mo.gov
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 37.705
MontanaMontana Office of the Child and Family Ombudsman
www.dojmt.gov/enforcement/specialservices/ocfo-home/
Montana Code Annotated, Title 41, Chapter 3, Part 12. (Montana Legislature, 2013 Session)
NebraskaNebraska Office of Public Counsel
https://nebraskalegislature.gov/divisions/ombud.php
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81-8,240 to 8-8,254
New HampshireNew Hampshire Office of the Child Advocate
www.childadvocate.nh.gov
NH Rev. Stat. § 21-V:1-10
New YorkNew York Office of the Ombudsman
https://ocfs.ny.gov/main/ombudsman/
N.Y. Exec. Law § 523b
OregonThe Office of Children’s Advocate
www.oregon.gov/dhs/aboutdhs/pages/gao.aspx
Or. Rev. Stat. § 417.810
Rhode IslandRhode Island Office of the Child Advocate
www.child-advocate.ri.gov
R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-73-1 et seq.
South CarolinaThe South Carolina Department of Children’s Advocacy
https://childadvocate.sc.gov
S.C. Code of Laws Ann. Sections 63-11-2210, et.seq.
TennesseeTennessee Ombudsman for Children and Families
www.tn.gov/tccy/programs0/ombuds.html
Tenn. Code Ann. § 37-3-101, et. seq.
TexasOmbudsman for the Department of Family and Protective Services
www.hhs.texas.gov/services/your-rights/hhs-office-ombudsman
Tex. Govt Code § 531.992, et. seq.
TexasHHS Office of the Ombudsman
www.hhs.texas.gov/services/your-rights/hhs-office-ombudsman
Tex Adm Code Title 26, Part 1, Chapter 87, Subchapter A, Rule § 87.101
TexasOmbudsman for Managed Care Assistance
www.hhs.texas.gov/services/your-rights/hhs-office-ombudsman
Tex Adm Code Title 26, Part 1, Chapter 87, Subchapter B, Rule § 87.201
TexasOmbudsman for Children and Youth in Foster Care
www.hhs.texas.gov/services/your-rights/hhs-office-ombudsman
Tex Adm Code Title 26, Part 1, Chapter 87, Subchapter C, Rule § 87.301
TexasIntellectual or Developmental Disability Ombudsman
www.hhs.texas.gov/services/your-rights/hhs-office-ombudsman
Tex Adm Code Title 26, Part 1, Chapter 87, Subchapter E, Rule § 87.501
TexasIndependent Ombudsman for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department
www.tjjd.texas.gov/index.php/independent-ombudsman
Tex Adm Code Title 37, Part 14, Chapter 601, Rule § 87.501
UtahUtah Office of Child Protection Ombudsman
https://hs.utah.gov/services/care-concerns
Utah Code. Ann. 62A-4a-208
VirginiaOffice of the Children’s Ombudsman
www.oco.virginia.gov
Code of Virginia, Chapter 4.4, Sections (§§) 2.2-439
WashingtonWashington State Office of the Family and Children’s Ombudsman
https://ofco.wa.gov
Wash. Rev. Code § 43.06A
West VirginiaFoster Care Ombudsman
www.wvdhhr.org/oig/fco.html
W. Va. Code §49-9-101

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