Office of Child Advocate
We are independent.
The Office of Child Advocate is part of the Office of
Administration. We operate independently from the Department of Social Services (DSS)
Children's Division and other agencies.
We are impartial. The Office of Child Advocate acts as
an impartial fact-finder. We step in when an agency action or failure to act is in question.
We protect confidentiality.
The Office of Child Advocate will not disclose your identity to the agency
without your permission. Our records are confidential.
We work to improve services.
The Office of Child Advocate examines laws, policies, procedures, and practices regarding effective delivery of services to families and children. We identify issues and offer appropriate recommendations.
The Office of Child Advocate investigates
complaints about an agency action or failure to act and is authorized to make recommendations in cases involving:
- Any child at risk of abuse, neglect, or other harm.
- A child or family involved with child protection or child welfare services.
The Office of Child Advocate can provide or coordinate mediation services between school districts and parents when allegations of child abuse arise in a school setting. A link to a list of mediators can be found in the mediators section of this website.
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