CT SB00397

Establishes the Office of the Department of Children and Families Ombudsman within the Office of Governmental Accountability, effective October 1, 2017.

Ombudsman shall respond to inquiries and complaints from DCF clients, personnel, foster and adoptive parents, legislators, and service providers; serve as an information and referral source; and resolve disputes using neutral and collaborative processes.

Director of the ombudsman office shall be appointed by the Governor with approval of the General Assembly.

Director must submit monthly reports to the Child Advocate starting January 1, 2018, including the number of inquiries and complaints received (categorized by type and source) and disputes resolved, without personally identifying information.

Director must submit annual reports to the joint standing committee on children starting January 31, 2019, with monthly data on inquiries, complaints, and dispute resolutions from the previous calendar year.