Establishing Ombudsman Programs for Children and Youth: How Government's Response to Its Young Citizens Can Be Improved

• NCJ Number: 149917
• Author(s): H A Davidson; C P Cohen; L K Girdner
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 226 pages
• Grant Number(s): 90PD-103/01
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Sale Source: American Bar Assoc
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This book studies the development and operation of so- called child welfare ombudsmen, taken here to mean the wide range of government employees and offices that address consumer complaints related to government services for children and youth.

Abstract

These agencies include not only child protective service agencies and foster care and adoption programs, but also the work of juvenile justice, youth services, and youth corrections agencies. Following a chapter introducing the concept and evolution of ombudsman services, the book discusses the development of ombudswork for children around the world, and includes an international children's ombudsman bibliography. Subsequent chapters explore the legislative development of ombudswork in the U.S. through an examination of State laws that are related to ombudswork for children and that created other specific types of ombudsman programs. Two chapters provide a comparative analysis of the status of ombudswork for children in the U.S. and other nations as well as some case studies of what ombudswork for children actually accomplishes. The final chapter outlines steps to take in advocating for the creation of children and youth ombudsman programs. 12 appendixes