16160. The Legislature finds and declares that the people of California have benefited from the establishment of a long-term care ombudsperson pursuant to Section 9710 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and a childcare ombudsperson program pursuant to Section 1596.872a of the Health and Safety Code. The Legislature further finds it is essential to maintain […]
16161. (a) The Office of the State Foster Care Ombudsperson shall be established as an autonomous entity within the department for the purpose of providing children who are placed in foster care, either voluntarily or pursuant to Section 300 and Sections 600 and following, with a means to resolve issues related to their care, placement, or […]
16162. (a) The Director of Social Services, in consultation with, and after receiving a list of possible nominees from, a committee of at least five interested individuals that are described in this subdivision, and after obtaining the committee’s input, shall appoint an ombudsperson who is qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the […]
16163. The department shall hire the necessary personnel to perform the functions of the office. Priority shall be given to former foster youth in hiring decisions. (Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 311, Sec. 66. Effective August 19, 1998.)
16164. (a) The Office of the State Foster Care Ombudsperson shall do all of the following: (1) (A) Disseminate information and provide training and technical assistance to foster youth, social workers, probation officers, tribes’ child welfare agencies, child welfare organizations, children’s advocacy groups, consumer and service provider organizations, and other interested parties on the rights of children and […]
16165. As part of the office’s efforts to resolve complaints related to foster care, the ombudsperson may do all of the following: (a) Establish policies and procedures for receiving and processing complaints, conducting investigations, and reporting findings. (b) Conduct whatever investigation reasonably related to the complaint and to foster care that the ombudsperson deems necessary, including, but […]
16166. In order to encourage candor during the ombudsperson’s investigation of complaints made by or on behalf of foster youth and to facilitate the ombudsperson’s ability to resolve complaints, all of the following shall apply: (a) The ombudsperson and staff of the ombudsperson shall not be compelled to testify or be deposed in a judicial or […]
16167. (a) A toll-free number shall be established for the office. (b) Social workers and probation officers shall provide foster children with the toll-free telephone number for the office and verbal or written information regarding the existence and purpose of the office. (Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 293, Sec. 7. (AB 317) Effective January 1, 2022.)
