FosterClub is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization:EIN 93-1287234 CFC #76187, 620 S. Holladay Dr. Ste. The decision whether or not to file charges calls for consideration of the prospects of obtaining a conviction against a particular defendant. Our office does maintain criminal history summary records. Both were developed with the intention of supporting youth in care via personal rights and parenting practices. Who do I contact? WebState of California Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson Phone: 877-846-1602 Email: fosteryouthhelp@dss.ca.gov Mail: 744 P St., MS 8-13-25 Sacramento, CA 95814 or California Department of Social Services State Hearings Division Phone: 800-743-8525 or 855-795-0634 Mail: P.O. If you were decertified (i.e. 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, Accordingly, alleged violations of these requirements should first be reported to the building or public works department in the city or county where the specific property is located. If you feel safe, try to resolve it with the people who were involved. They serve youth who have aged out of foster care, veterans, mentally & developmentally disabled persons, homeless persons, seniors, and addiction abusers. Are you not getting the help and support you need? Are you a current or former foster youth or KinGap youth? In addition, individuals who experience discrimination or other violations of law can often file a lawsuit in court. College / Higher education. Please visit the State of California website. 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. Try to remember the event. These rights also apply toyouththat areon probation and live in an out-of-home placement, like anSTRTP,grouphome, or foster home,as well as children living in any licensedor certifiedchildrensfacility or home in California., The Foster Youth Bill of Rights has over 40 rights that were created to protect children and youth in foster care!, If you want to learn more aboutthe Foster Youth Bill of Rightsoryou are concerned about therightsof a foster child,you can call our office at 877-846-1602.You can alsofile a complaint online., . Click each icon to learn about your rights. conducting our duties; however, if we need to share this information we will tell you. endstream endobj 12 0 obj <>/OCGs[61 0 R]>>/Pages 9 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences<>>> endobj 13 0 obj <. However, at this time we are unable to assist you. 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. College / Higher education. The The Commission has exclusive jurisdiction over complaints against judges. (PDF) Wallet accordion brochures available in English & Espaol print versions only. The law that governs the OFCO is Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) 16164. Ongoing support services beyond the initial mobile response. WebThe mission of the California Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson (OFCO) is to advocate on behalf of foster children and youth regarding their care, placement, I need to reach the Social Worker Hotline. Did you talk to the caregiver or agency/facility staff member? If you cannot afford a private attorney, you may consider contacting your local legal aid office. Family to Family; Kinship; Going to Court- for Kids; El ABC de Sueno Seguro para su Bebe; The ABC of Are you a youth in foster care, a youth who is on probation and in out-of-home care, or a non-minor dependent? An attorney would directly represent your interests and is the one whose advice would be most helpful to you. 510-834-4766 East Bay Respite Program Direct Line. 94 0 obj <>stream Contact information is available at, In addition, please visit our Victims Services Unit website, at. Life skills. Who should I contact? %%EOF Writing it down can help. 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. Helping children and youth in foster care get the care, placement, and services they need. Ma'Khia Bryant death: Former foster-care kids say youth ombudsman in Ohio could make a difference. treat you unfairly because of your race, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, mental or physical disability, HIV status, or membership in a federally recognized Indian tribe, live in a home or STRTP that maintains the social and cultural standards of your Tribe and tribal community, live in a home of your relatives or extended family or a home that is licensed, approved, or specified by your Tribe, live in an Indian foster home that is licensed or approved, or a facility that is approved by your Tribe or an Indian organization that meets your needs, live in a place that reflects and keeps you connected to the cultural and social standards of your Tribe and/or tribal community, contact your ICWA advocate and have them attend court, contact your Tribe, tribal members, and Indian community, have a social worker/probation officer, and lawyer who is trained in ICWA, participate in traditional Native American religious practices, get help becoming a member of an Indian tribe or Alaskan village, get all the benefits that come from being a member of an Indian tribe or Alaskan village, be free from discrimination and be recognized for your relationship with an Indian Tribe or Alaskan village, have protections for your tribal relationship in your case plan, live in a home or STRTP based on your gender identity, be called by your chosen name and gender pronouns, see a doctor or counselor who is gender affirming, have clothing, grooming, and hygiene products that respect your gender identity and expression, have a caregiver, social worker/probation officer, and lawyer that have been trained on SOGIE and how to care for LGBTQ+ youth, stay at your same school if its best for you, get partial credits for all classes you were passing if you change schools, have priority enrollment in pre-school and after-school programs, have priority enrollment at California State Universities and community colleges, access information about college and career education programs, get information about your sexual health in a way that you understand, use or refuse services for birth control, condoms, other types of protection, and pregnancy care, including abortion, without telling an adult, get healthcare services for sexual assault without telling an adult, if you are 12 years or older, choose your own doctor or counselor and make decisions about preventing, testing, or treating STIs and HIV without permission from any adult, get gender affirming mental health treatment, work with your doctor to safely stop taking psychotropic medication, refuse to take psychotropic medication, and no one can punish you for it, know about your diagnosis and understand treatment options, get help with an alcohol or drug problem without permission, get mental health services in a place that meets your needs, if you are 12 years or older, choose your own doctor or counselor and make decisions, see a doctor, dentist, eye doctor, or talk to a counselor when you need to, refuse to take any medicines, vitamins, or herbs, and no one can punish you for it, have the risks/benefits of treatment explained to you in a way that is easy to understand, tell the judge what you want to have happen in your case, tell the judge how you feel about your psychotropic medications, ask the judge for visits with your siblings, request a hearing if you feel like your lawyer is not acting in your best interest, ask for people to be in the courtroom or ask for people to leave, keep your court records private (unless the law says otherwise), tell the judge how you feel about your family, lawyer, and social worker/probation officer, a lawyer, separate from your parents and the county, make sure you are safe and have the services and supports you need, tell the judge what you want to have happen, answer questions you have about court, foster care, and other laws, have a case plan within 60 days of being in foster care, have your case plan updated at least every 6 months, get a copy of it if you are age 10 and older, have your Tribe involved in case plan decisions, plans for visitation with your parents and siblings, transition to independent living plan (TILP), if you are 16 or older, a CFT meeting within 60 days of entering foster care, a CFT meeting at least every 90 days if you are in an STRTP or in a therapeutic foster home, a CFT meeting at least every 90 days if you are getting certain types of services, a CFT meeting when any changes are going to be made to your case plan, visit and contact your parents, siblings, and other family members in private (unless a judge says you cannot), contact people who are not in the foster care system (like friends, church members, teachers, and others), unless a judge says you cannot, your own bank account (unless your case plan says you cannot), work (unless the law says you are too young), earn, save, and manage your money (unless your case plan says you cannot), go to Independent Living Program (if you are old enough), beginning at age 14, get a credit report every year from 3 major reporting agencies and have help fixing any issues, use a phone to make and get confidential (private) calls, privately use email, text messages, or other electronic communication, foster youth advocates and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs), Office of Foster Care Ombudsperson (OFCO). I have a complaint about the attorney and/or judge involved in my case. We provide former foster youth in California with Dependency Letters (also called Verification Letters or Ward of the Court Letters). Are you having problems with your care, placement, or services? 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 We suggest that you send a written request for assistance to your representatives in the U.S. Senate. I have a discrimination complaint against a county welfare department or county welfare department staff worker. Get help for children in foster care, children with special medical conditions and seniors needing Who can help me? You may contact the Inspector General as follows: I need legal advice or representation. 1, Seaside, OR 97138. We provide free Foster Youth Bill of Rights publications to foster youth, county child welfare and probation offices, and more. These remedies include the right to seek injunctive or declaratory relief or a writ of mandate in the Superior Court. Do you feel like you are not receiving the same benefits and services as others? Who should I contact? This was in response to concerns regarding the need for an autonomous and Are you 13-26 years old and enrolled in a CA K-12 school? Our team will answer as many as we can in the Q&A section. A list of DLSE district offices and their contact information is available at, The Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) is responsible for enforcing California laws and regulations pertaining to workplace safety and health. This Google translation feature is provided for informational purposes only. File a complaint with the State Bar of California. Contact information for county district attorneys is available from the California District Attorneys Association. Who can help me? The office does not represent individual defendants and cannot provide legal advice. Loney works tirelessly to protect the rights of youth and works to ensure accountability in treatment and service delivery. 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. If a youth calls to file a complaint, we will process it within. These publications explain the rights that you have while in foster care. The Commission is responsible for investigating complaints of judicial misconduct and judicial incapacity and for disciplining judges. Participation is encouraged! Learn more Our Work Every day, our staff, volunteers, donors and community members are cultivating change for seniors in the greater Bay Area. the concern is about the rights, care, placement, or services of the foster child. 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. Owners or heirs may claim their property directly from the state Controller's Office without any service charges or fees. You should first direct your complaint to the local law enforcement agency. 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 The Commission may be contacted as follows: If you have a complaint against an attorney involved with this case, contact the State Bar. Please contact your local school district administration to determine what local processes govern the resolution of complaints. Our office was created to serve foster youth.Foster youthcalls are our first priority.Anyone who is concerned aboutthe care, placement, services or rights ofa child or youth in foster care cancontact our office. Hotline and mobile response staff trained in working with children and families who have experienced trauma. Email: fosteryouthhelp@dss.ca.gov. California Provider Helpline (For Foster & Kinship Parents!) This agency may be contacted as follows: The Board of Psychology licenses and regulates psychologists. The law that governs the OFCO is Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) 16164. ) I have a complaint about a county child welfare services agency. Webfoster care. Do you believe that additional resources are needed? Are you concerned about how a foster parent is caring for a youth? Activities will primarily be via polls. County Ombuds Contact Info 18. I am the victim of a crime. We provide trainings on the services provided by our office, the Foster Youth Bill of Rights, and the reasonable and prudent parent standards. 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. Weboct-22 nov-22 dec-22 oct-22 nov-22 dec-22 Non-Ombudsman Selection Interactive Voice Response (IVR 1-8) Category Selections Non-Ombudsman Selection You can contact us at the California Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson (OFCO)! There is a proverb that says, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.. 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. Remember: You have the right to speak to our office confidentially, and you cannot be threatened, punishedor retaliated against for making complaints. delicensed), you may file an appeal through the State Hearing process. If you have any questions please contact: Bilingual Services Program at (916) 210-7580. The California Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson is dedicated to serving, Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) 16164. Four days after MaKhias April 30 funeral, former foster youth Deanna Jones testified in the Ohio statehouse that help from a foster care expert could have saved the girls life. %PDF-1.6 % California Ombudsman for Foster Care Page 33-2 Update #08-02 Meet or communicate with any foster child in his or her placement or elsewhere. How do I obtain records of complaints against businesses? Thank you to everyone who attended. If you wish to report alleged improper governmental activity by a state employee or agency, please contact the Bureau of State Audits. I want to contact the Foster Care Ombudsmans Office. &" Did you contact your social worker/probation officer and lawyer? Does your complaint relate to customer service, the timeliness of service, payment and billing problems, and decisions to close your case? This duty precludes the Attorney General from representing individual citizens in their disagreements with state agencies or providing advice to any individual regarding the disputed activity. If there is an immediatesafety issue, we may alsomake areport to the appropriate agencies such as the countys Child Protective Services agency or the Community Care Licensing Division.If this happens, we will discuss this with you. California law gives discretionary authority to a locally elected prosecutor in filing criminal actions. A list of Cal/OSHA district offices and their contact information is available at. 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.. Head Start. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is responsible for providing statewide oversight of county Child Welfare Services (CWS) programs. Contact the social workers supervisor and the program manager. Information about how to obtain your own state summary criminal history record is available at. I was divorced outside of the United States. Call us at 877-846-1602 or file a complaint online. County Mobile Response and Stabilization Teams also available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Board of Behavioral Sciences licenses and regulates Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT), Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), and Licensed Educational Psychologists (LEP). You have the right to do some things on your own. Who should I notify? Find out how a physician can enroll you in Medi-Cal, how to receive free health screenings, and family planning services. Apply below! Do you feel like they are not representing your best interest in Court? An attorney would directly represent your interests and is the one whose advice would be most helpful to you. WebChild Care. Are you under the age of 27 and enrolled in a post-secondary education program? Extended foster care (age 18+) Emergency support. 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. Find out about the different programs and services offered through DHCS for individuals and stakeholders. The California Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson is dedicated to serving, send a request to CDSS or the adoption agency, Resource Family Approval Point of Contact, File a Complaint with the State Attorney General, File a Complaint with the Commission of Judicial Performance, Contact Your County's Family Law Facilitator, File a Complaint with the Child Support Ombudsperson, Medi-Cal Managed Care and Mental Health Office of the Ombudsman, Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) 16164. 0 WebCHDP Foster Care Program. Your attorney directly represents your interests and is the one whose advice would be most helpful to you. The purpose of the Public Records Act is to provide access to government records so that members of the public can monitor the performance of government agencies. If the situation is an emergency, please call 911. Examples of possible wage claims include the nonpayment of wages, overtime, or vacation. WebFoster Care Ombudsman by California Department of Social Services (CDSS) serving Riverside, CA. 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! Are you a first time iFoster phone user? You may wish to consult with a private attorney to determine any civil remedies that may be available to you. Copyright 2020 FosterClub, Inc. All rights reserved. 510-834-2443 Main Phone. Access any record of a state or local agency that is necessary to endstream endobj startxref 8-13-25 Sacramento, CA 95814 1-(877) 846-1602 fosteryouthhelp@dss.ca.gov. ", 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. 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. Where do I report concerns about an adoption facilitator? 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. This program covers residents of the following states: CA. Jones said in her own case, without a rescue from a sympathetic case worker, her trajectory might have been far worse. 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. 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