16160-16167
WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS CODE
SECTION 16160-16167
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 child care ombudsperson program pursuant to Section 1596.872a of the Health and Safety Code. It is the intent of the Legislature to provide similar protections for foster children by establishing a foster care ombudsperson program within the State Department of Social Services. 16161. 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 services. 16162. The director, in consultation with a committee of interested individuals, shall appoint an ombudsperson qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the office for a term of four years. The director may reappoint the ombudsperson for consecutive terms. The director shall select the committee members, the majority of whom shall be representatives of children's advocacy organizations and current or former foster youth. 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. 16164. (a) The Office of the State Foster Care Ombudsperson shall do all of the following: (1) Disseminate information on the rights of children and youth in foster care and the services provided by the office. The rights of children and youths in foster care are listed in Section 16001.9. The information shall include notification that conversations with the office may not be confidential. (2) Investigate and attempt to resolve complaints made by or on behalf of children placed in foster care, related to their care, placement, or services. (3) Decide, in its discretion, whether to investigate a complaint, or refer complaints to another agency for investigation. (4) Upon rendering a decision to investigate a complaint from a complainant, notify the complainant of the intention to investigate. If the office declines to investigate a complaint or continue an investigation, the office shall notify the complainant of the reason for the action of the office. (5) Update the complainant on the progress of the investigation and notify the complainant of the final outcome. (6) Document the number, source, origin, location, and nature of complaints. (7) (A) Compile and make available to the Legislature all data collected over the course of the year including, but not limited to, the number of contacts to the toll-free telephone number, the number of complaints made, including the type and source of those complaints, the number of investigations performed by the office, the trends and issues that arose in the course of investigating complaints, the number of referrals made, and the number of pending complaints. (B) Present this compiled data, on an annual basis, at appropriate child welfare conferences, forums, and other events, as determined by the department, that may include presentations to, but are not limited to, representatives of the Legislature, the County Welfare Directors Association, child welfare organizations, children's advocacy groups, consumer and service provider organizations, and other interested parties. (C) It is the intent of the Legislature that representatives of the organizations described in subparagraph (B) consider this data in the development of any recommendations offered toward improving the child welfare system. (D) The compiled data shall be posted so that it is available to the public on the existing Web site of the State Foster Care Ombudsperson. (8) Have access to any record of a state or local agency that is necessary to carry out his or her responsibilities, and may meet or communicate with any foster child in his or her placement or elsewhere. (b) The office may establish, in consultation with a committee of interested individuals, regional or local foster care ombudsperson offices for the purposes of expediting investigations and resolving complaints, subject to appropriations in the annual Budget Act. (c) (1) The office, in consultation with the California Welfare Directors Association, Chief Probation Officers of California, foster youth advocate and support groups, groups representing children, families, foster parents, children's facilities, and other interested parties, shall develop, no later than July 1, 2002, standardized information explaining the rights specified in Section 16001.9. The information shall be developed in an age-appropriate manner, and shall reflect any relevant licensing requirements with respect to foster care providers' responsibilities to adequately supervise children in care. (2) The office, counties, foster care providers, and others may use the information developed in paragraph (1) in carrying out their responsibilities to inform foster children and youth of their rights pursuant to Section 1530.91 of the Health and Safety Code, Sections 27 and 16501.1, and this section. 16165. In his or her efforts to resolve complaints related to foster care, the ombudsperson may do all of the following: (a) Conduct whatever investigation he or she deems necessary. (b) Attempt to resolve the complaint informally. (c) Submit a written plan to the relevant state or county agency recommending a course of action to resolve the complaint. If the ombudsperson makes a written recommendation, the state or county agency shall submit a written response to the ombudsperson within 30 business days. 16167. (a) A toll-free number shall be established for the office. (b) Social workers shall provide foster children with the toll-free number for the office and verbal or written information regarding the existence and purpose of the office.