Children's Ombudsman Information

 

Throuhout the country, there are government programs, or programs run by private organizations under government contract, that provide opportunities for parents, family members, children themselves, or others to report concerns with the operation of state or local child protective and child welfare services.  These programs are most commonly titled "Children's Ombudsman" or "Office of the Child Advocate" programs.  Most of these are agencies independent of the government child welfare or juvenile justice agency.
The ABA Center on Children and the Law has long been interested in the development and operation of these programs, and how they can be effective in receiving, investigating, and helping resolve complaints about government services to children and families.  Their reports can also address systemic problems that help lead to significant law and policy change. 
In 1993 we published a book on this topic, "Establishing Ombudsman Programs for Children and Youth: How Government's Responsiveness to Its Young Citizens Can be Improved."  We continue to follow the evolution of these programs with great interest.
On July 14, 2011 the Center hosted a meeting/webinar on Children's Ombudsman Programs.  Materials from that, including an audio file of the 3-hour meeting, will be posted on this page.  We are also working on refining a directory of child ombudsman programs and other materials that will be available on this page.
If you are interested in this topic, we encourage you to return here regularly.  And if you have information about one or more of these programs, please contact us at ctrchildlaw@americanbar.org

 

Children’s Ombudsman Book

In 1993 the ABA Center on Children and the Law published a 220-page book, Establishing Ombudsman Programs for Children and Youth: How Government's Responsiveness to Its Young Citizens Can be Improved. The authors are Howard Davidson, Cynthia Price Cohen, and Linda Girdner. Although the book is now out of print, a copy of the entire book with appendices can be accessed for free below.

 

Children's Ombudsman Program Listings

The content of this list is a product of dissertation research conducted by Moira O'Neill, PhD with updates thanks to ABA Center on Chilren and the Law Legal Fellow, ClaireVanTil. It was last updated in September 2011. It may not be entirely accurate due to changes in appointments and budget cuts.

Please contact Center director, Howard Davidson, with any corrections/additions at howard.davidson@americanbar.org

 

Pulling Back the Curtain: Children’s Ombudsmen at Work A Doctoral Dissertation

We are pleased, with consent of the author, to post here a doctoral dissertation defended in January 2011 by Moira O’Neill at Yale University.  The study, in the qualitative paradigm, employed situational analysis to examine the structure and function of state children’s ombudsmen in the U.S.  It includes an exhaustive literature review of the evolution of these public sector oversight mechanisms as well as an inventory of children’s ombudsmen or ombudsmen-like offices across the country.  Major themes uncovered included the strategic use of data and relationships, opportunities through networking, models of practice and a need for a national voice. 

Moira O’Neill, PhD, RN served as an Assistant Child Advocate to the State of Connecticut for 11 years doing ombudsman work for children.  She currently teaches inter-professional health sciences at the University of New England, Department of Nursing.

Advertisement

ABA Center on Children and the Law hosts National Webinar-Teleconference on Children's Ombudsman Programs

 

On Wednesday, July 14, 2011, the ABA Center for Children and the Law hosted a national webinar-teleconference, Children’s Ombudsmen in the 21st Century: Time to Build Alliances (and Improve the Protection of Children’s Rights. With over 25 participants from around the country, including State Children’s Ombudsmen and their staffs, the webinar provided a constructive forum for identifying and addressing pertinent issues facing Ombudsmen offices around the country.  Under the leadership of Center Director, Howard Davidson, and Moira O’Neill PhD, of the Connecticut Office of the Child Advocate, participants articulated the role of children’s ombudsmen offices, outlined useful systems of support and technical assistance, and identified potential government, non-profit, academic and citizen partners and resources to promote and preserve children’s ombudsman offices.

 

Listen to an MP3 audio recording of this 3-hour program. Children’s Ombudsmen in the 21st Century: Time to Build Alliances (and Improve the Protection of Children’s Rights (20 MB)