NC H665

Establishes the Foster Parent Ombudsman Office within the Department of Health and Human Services, reporting directly to the Secretary, to assist foster parents with licensing, placement, adoption, and related issues.

Office duties include disseminating foster parent rights information, investigating licensing hindrances, assisting with waiver applications, offering educational classes, identifying support resources, and mediating disputes between parties.

All communications between the Office and foster parents are confidential and exempt from public records disclosure under North Carolina law.

Office must submit annual reports to the Department of Health and Human Services by October 1 detailing inquiry and complaint data without identifying individuals, with the Department reporting findings to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services by November 1.

Appropriates $137,000 for fiscal year 2023-2024 and $145,000 for fiscal year 2024-2025 to establish the Office and hire one full-time employee, with the Office operational by January 1, 2024.