This agency may be contacted as follows: If you wish to file a claim for monetary damages you believe were caused by a state agency, please contact the Government ClaimsProgram. 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, 11 0 obj
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Where can I obtain information about the California Public Records Act? Do you feel like you are not receiving the same benefits and services as others? Contact information for county district attorneys is available from the California District Attorneys Association. You may obtain a referral to a certified lawyer referral service by contacting the State Bar at (866)442-2529 (toll-free in California) or (415)538-2250 (from outside California), or via their website at: I am the victim of housing discrimination? Do you need a, Are you a current or former foster youth? Is your complaint related to the amount of a child support order, custody orders, visitation orders, or spousal support orders? Are you concerned about a child being abused or neglected? 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. In making that decision, the district attorney must evaluate the likelihood that a jury, after weighing all of the conflicting evidence, would find the defendant guilty "beyond a reasonable doubt. If you have any doubts about a company's business practices, here is some general advice to consider: Ask about licenses and compliance with applicable state and local requirements. The Attorney General's role in legislative matters is limited to making recommendations to the California Legislature regarding needed changes in law and to enforcing the laws the Legislature enacts. Is my marriage legal or recognized in California? 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). The law. The Commission may be contacted as follows: If you have a complaint against an attorney involved with this case, contact the State Bar. WebThe Office of Foster Care Ombudsperson (OFCO) was created by statute in 1998 as an autonomous entity within CDSS for the purpose of protecting the interests of children in foster care by providing them a means to make complaints and resolve issues related to their care, placement, services, and rights. If you would like your adoption records, such as non-identifying background Information about your adoption and about your birth parents, send a request to CDSS or the adoption agency. Under Government Code section 12519, the Attorney General's Office has statutory authority to prepare an opinion only for designated public officials on questions of law relating to their respective offices. 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. They serve youth who have aged out of foster care, veterans, mentally & developmentally disabled persons, homeless persons, seniors, and addiction abusers. Our team will answer as many as we can in the Q&A section. We provide free Foster Youth Bill of Rights publications to foster youth, county child welfare and probation offices, and more. Childrens Home Society Resource & Referral. You have the right to: You have health rights. You may contact the Bar as follows: If you have a complaint against a mediator or evaluator with Family Court Services, talk to the Director of. The Commission on Judicial Performance is the independent state agency responsible for investigating complaints of judicial misconduct and judicial incapacity and for disciplining judges. Webfoster care. I need to know what law pertains to my situation. Correspondence that does not contain this information cannot be acted upon. The Office of the Attorney General is unable to guarantee the accuracy of this translation and is therefore not liable for any inaccurate information resulting from the translation application tool. WebOmbudsman services are confidential and free of charge. PUB 339 (7/13) - Foster Care Ombudsman Brochure ; PUB 341 (4/16) - Adoptions Services Bureau Career Opportunities ; PUB 367 (4/13) - Reach For Your You may contact them as follows: If you are interested in researching or tracking legislative proposals, we suggest that you contact your representatives in the Legislature and/or visit the Legislative Counsel's website at: I need to file a complaint against a federal government agency. The The law that governs the OFCO is Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) 16164. ) Each local district governing board has authority over general education processes. If you feel safe, try to resolve it with the people who were involved. These decisions are made through Family Law Court. 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. Family to Family; Kinship; Going to Court- for Kids; El ABC de Sueno Seguro para su Bebe; The ABC of You can contact us at the California Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson (OFCO)! First, file a complaint with the law enforcement agency and your countys district attorney. How do I obtain records of complaints against businesses? 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. California Youth Connection; Foster Youth Resources; Wraparound; Parents. You may contact this agency as follows: Office of Foster Care Ombudsman; California Department of Social Services; 744 P Street, M.S. Copyright 2020 FosterClub, Inc. All rights reserved. 0
Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, & Expression (SOGIE). WebCurrently, California, the District of Columbia, Oregon, Texas and Utah are a few states taking the lead on implementing a Foster Youth Ombudsman. sheriff or police department, district attorney, and citizens review commission in the area of jurisdiction) be utilized for resolution of such complaints. 59 0 obj
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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. You may obtain a referral to a certified lawyer referral service by contacting the State Bar at (866)442-2529 (toll-free in California) or (415)538-2250 (from outside California), or via their website at: I need help with an international child custody issue. These remedies include the right to seek injunctive or declaratory relief or a writ of mandate in the Superior Court. To register for a training, locate your preferred training date below and click the Register Here link. Who can help me? Do you need help accessing appropriate mental health services? Contact the countys Resource Family Approval Point of Contact. 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, care, placement, and services. 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. WebThe Office of the Foster Care Ombudsman is an independent resource for reviewing issues concerning children and youth in the foster care system in California. 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) Are you a current or former foster youth or KinGap youth? The state agency with the authority to adjudicate wage claims and enforce labor laws is the Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE). 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. WebAs Marylands appointed Foster Youth Ombudsman, Loney Nguyen (pronounced Lonnie Win) serves as a passionate advocate for youth in foster care across 24 local jurisdictions found in Maryland, including Baltimore City. The California Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson is dedicated to serving, Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) 16164. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is responsible for providing statewide oversight of county Child Welfare Services (CWS) programs. The office does not represent individual defendants and cannot provide legal advice. Is there a directory available? If a youth calls to file a complaint, we will process it within. You have the right to: Preparing for Adulthood &Money Management. Our office was created to serve foster youth., the care, placement, services or rights of, You can contact us about issues related to, foster youth rights, care, placement, and services. If you have information that an employer is committing tax evasion, please contact the appropriate state and/or federal tax enforcement agencies. The Secretary of State's Office provides access to corporate, limited liability company and limited partnership information. If after taking these steps you continue to doubt the legality of an action taken by your local officials, consult a private attorney who can represent your interests in a dispute. Who should I contact? WebCall 209-468-1104 to complete a referral by phone. The agency with authority to investigate violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) is the U.S. Department of Justice. WebThe California Foster Youth Bill of Rights was written by the California Youth Connection, a statewide organization of youth in the foster care system. We have a confidentiality policy to protect the identity of people who call to make a complaint. Advokids. Victim Witness Head Start. If you have any questions or need any further information, please consult with your County Clerk or County Recorder's Office, the. Do you believe that additional resources are needed? 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). 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