Child Welfare State Complaint Offices
Series: Related Organizations Lists
Author(s): Child Welfare Information Gateway
Includes contact information for child welfare State complaint offices, when available. If a State does not have an office dedicated to addressing child welfare-related grievances, there may be other avenues for recourse. Please refer to our publication From Complaint to Resolution: Understanding the Child Welfare Grievance Process for more information. Decisions involving child welfare issues are governed by State statutes and policy, as defined by each individual State. The Federal Government and Child Welfare Information Gateway do not have the authority to intervene in individual child welfare cases.
Alabama
Alabama Department of Human Resources
50 North Ripley Street
Gordon Persons Building, Suite 2104
Center for Communications
Montgomery, Alabama 36130
Phone: (334) 242-1310
Phone: (334) 242-1325
Email: fsd@dhr.alabama.gov
nadid: 10170
Alaska
Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
130 Seward Street
Suite 400
Juneau, Alaska 99811
Phone: (907) 465-3548
nadid: 26813
Alaska Office of the Ombudsman
1500 West Benson Boulevard
Anchorage, Alaska 99503
Phone: (907) 269-5290
Fax: (907) 269-5291
Email: ombudsman@akleg.gov
nadid: 24893
Arizona
Arizona Department of Child Services Ombudsman's Office
Arizona
Phone: (602) 255-2500
nadid: 27442
DCF Family Advocate
Arizona
Phone: (602) 364-0777
Toll-Free: (877) 527-0765
nadid: 30623
Arizona Ombudsman-Citizens' Aide
7878 N. 16th Street
Suite 235
Phoenix, Arizona 85020
Phone: (602) 277-7292
Toll-Free: (800) 872-2879
Fax: (602) 277-7312
Email: ombuds@azoca.gov
nadid: 24895
Arkansas
Arkansas Child Welfare Ombudsman Division
Arkansas
Phone: (501) 661-7974
nadid: 24896
California
California Department of Social Services
744 P Street, M/S 3-90
Sacramento, California 95814
Phone: (916) 651-8100
nadid: 10173
California Ombudsperson for Foster Care
744 P Street, MS 8-13-25
Sacramento, California 95814
Toll-Free: (877) 846-1602
Email: fosteryouthhelp@dss.ca.gov
nadid: 26811
Social Worker Empowerment Hotline
California
Toll-Free: (844) 796-6283
Email: AB1978Hotline@dss.ca.gov
nadid: 30421
Colorado
Colorado Office of the Child Protection Ombudsman
1575 Sherman St.
8th Floor
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: (303) 866-5700
Phone: (720) 625-8640
nadid: 26817
Connecticut
Office of the Ombudsman
505 Hudson Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06106
Phone: (860) 550-6301
Toll-Free: (866) 637-4737
Email: Commissioner.DCF@ct.gov
nadid: 30297
Delaware
Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families
1825 Faulkland Road
Wilmington, Delaware 19805-1195
Email: info.dscyf@state.de.us
nadid: 29360
District of Columbia
District of Columbia Child and Family Services Agency Youth Ombudsperson
200 I Street, SE
Washington, District of Columbia 20003
Phone: (202) 442-6100
Fax: (202) 727-6505
Email: cfsa@dc.gov
nadid: 24901
Florida
Florida Children's Ombudsman
P.O. Box 1770
ACCESS Central Mail Center
Ocala, Florida 34478-1770
Phone: (850) 717-4505
TDD: (800) 955-8771
Email: kidsfla@myflfamilies.com
nadid: 27463
Florida Department of Children and Families
County Client Relations Coordinators
Florida
Phone: (850) 487-1111
nadid: 24902
Georgia
Georgia Office of Child Advocate
7 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SE
#347
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
Phone: (404) 656-4200
Fax: (404) 656-5200
nadid: 10179
Hawaii
Hawaii Office of the Ombudsman
465 South King Street, 4th Floor
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Phone: (808) 587-0770
Fax: (808) 587-0773
nadid: 24904
Illinois
Illinois Advocacy Office for Children and Families
406 East Monroe Street
Springfield, Illinois 62701
Phone: (217) 524-2029
Toll-Free: (800) 232-3798
TTY: (800) 513-4980
Email: dcfs.advocacy@illinois.gov
nadid: 10184
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
2240 West Ogden Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60612
Phone: (312) 433-3000
Fax: (312) 433-3032
nadid: 30084
Indiana
Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) Ombudsman Bureau
402 W. Washington, W479
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
Toll-Free: (877) 682-0101
Email: DCSOmbudsman@idoa.in.gov
nadid: 25374
Iowa
Iowa Office of Ombudsman
Ola Babcock Miller Building
1112 East Grand
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Phone: (515) 281-3592
Toll-Free: (888) 426-6283
Email: ombudsman@legis.iowa.gov
nadid: 10182
Kansas
Kansas Department of Children and Families' Office of Client Services
Kansas
Toll-Free: (833) 765-2003
Email: DCF.CustomerService@ks.gov
nadid: 26549
Kentucky
Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Office of the Ombudsman
275 East Main Street, 1E-B
Frankfort, Kentucky 40621
Phone: (502) 564-5497
Toll-Free: (800) 372-2973
Email: CHFS.Listens@ky.gov
nadid: 10187
Louisiana
Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services
150 Third Street, 3rd Floor
Office of State Inspector General
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70801
Phone: (225) 342-4262
Toll-Free: (866) 801-2549
nadid: 24911
Maine
Maine Ombudsman Program
Maine
Phone: (207) 213-4773
Toll-Free: (866) 621-0758
Email: ombudsman@cwombudsman.com
nadid: 24912
Maryland
Maryland Department of Human Services
State Constituent Services
311 West Saratoga Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201-3521
Toll-Free: (800) 332-6347
nadid: 24913
Resource Parent Ombudsman
Maryland
Phone: (410) 767-9672
nadid: 30301
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Department of Children and Families Ombudsman
24 Farnsworth Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02210
Phone: (617) 748-2444
nadid: 10189
Office of the Child Advocate
One Ashburton Place
5th Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02108
Phone: (617) 979-8360
Toll-Free: (866) 790-3690
Email: childadvocate@mass.gov
nadid: 30261
Michigan
Michigan Office of Children's Ombudsman
P.O. Box 30026
Lansing, Michigan 48909
Phone: (517) 240-0400
Toll-Free: (800) 642-4326
Fax: (517) 335-4471
Email: childombud@michigan.gov
nadid: 10192
Minnesota
Minnesota - The Office of the Ombudsperson for Families
1450 Energy Drive
Suite 106
St. Paul, Minnesota 55108
Phone: (651) 603-0058
Toll-Free: 1-888-234-4939
Fax: (651) 643-2539
Email: obff.info@state.mn.us
nadid: 10193
Office of Ombudsperson for American Indian Families
Minnesota
Phone: (651) 643-2523
Email: Jill.Esch@state.mn.us
nadid: 30382
Mississippi
Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services
Office of Consumer Services
750 North State Street
Jackson, Mississippi 39202
Phone: (601) 359-4500
Toll-Free: (800) 345-6347
nadid: 24917
Missouri
Missouri Office of Child Advocate
PO Box 809
Jefferson City, Missouri 65102
Phone: (573) 522-8683
Toll-Free: (866) 457-2302
Fax: (573) 522-6870
Email: oca@oca.mo.gov
nadid: 24918
Montana
Montana Governor's Office
State Capitol, Room 204
PO Box 200801
Helena, Montana 59620-0801
Toll-Free: (888) 444-9669
Email: citizensadvocate@mt.gov
nadid: 24919
Nebraska
Nebraska Public Counsel (Ombudsman's Office)
Public Counsel (Ombudsman's Office)
PO Box 94604
Room 807, State Capitol
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509-4604
Phone: (402) 471-2035
Toll-Free: (800) 742-7690
Email: ombud@leg.ne.gov
nadid: 24920
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
Nebraska
nadid: 30749
Nevada
Nevada Division of Child and Family Services
Systems Advocate
4126 Technology Way, 3rd Floor
Carson City, Nevada 89706
Phone: (775) 684-4453
Email: systems.advocate@dcfs.nv.gov
nadid: 24921
New Hampshire
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Office of the Ombudsman
129 Pleasant Street
Concord, New Hampshire 03301-3857
Phone: (603) 271-6941
Toll-Free: (800) 852-3345
Fax: (603) 271-4632
nadid: 24922
New Jersey
Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit
New Jersey
nadid: 30799
New Jersey Department of Children and Families
Office of Advocacy
PO Box 729
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0729
Toll-Free: (877) 543-7864
Email: askDCF@dcf.state.nj.us
nadid: 10201
New Mexico
New Mexico Children, Youth & Families
Office of Constituent Affairs
4359 Jager Dr NE
Suite D
Rio Rancho, New Mexico 87144
Phone: (505) 681-2486
nadid: 24924
New York
New York City Only
Office of Advocacy/ACS Parents' and Children's Rights Unit
150 William Street - 1st Floor
New York, New York 10038
Phone: (212) 676-9421
nadid: 24926
Erie County Foster Care Ombudsperson
95 Franklin Street, 8th floor
Buffalo, New York 14202
Phone: (716) 858-8000
Email: fostercarehelp@erie.gov
nadid: 29804
New York State Office of Children and Families
New York
Toll-Free: (800) 342-3720
nadid: 24925
North Carolina
North Carolina Division of Social Services
Child Welfare Services Constituent Concerns Office
North Carolina
Phone: (919) 527-6340
nadid: 30366
North Dakota
North Dakota Client Rights and Appeals
Appeals Supervisor, Legal Advisory Unit
600 E Boulevard Avenue, Dept. 325
Bismarck, North Dakota 58505-0250
Phone: (701) 328-2311
Toll-Free: (800) 472-2622
Email: dhslau@nd.gov
nadid: 25375
Ohio
Youth and Family Ombudsmen
Ohio
Toll-Free: (877) 649-6884
The office investigates and resolves concerns made by or on behalf of children and families involved with PCSAs,Title IV-E agencies, or private provider agencies that administer or oversee foster care or placement services for the children services system. The office ensures the independent and impartial review of youth, family, and community complaints or concerns.
nadid: 30757
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
Office of Legislation - Constituent Affairs
Ohio
Phone: (614) 466-9280
Email: Ethan.Wittkorn@jfs.ohio.gov
nadid: 10205
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth
2915 N. Classen Boulevard
Suite 300
Cameron Building
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73106
Phone: (405) 606-4900
Toll-Free: 1-866-335-9288
nadid: 30768
Oklahoma Foster Parent Voices
Oklahoma
nadid: 30769
Oklahoma Department of Human Services
Office of Client Advocacy
PO Box 25352
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73125-0352
Phone: (405) 522-2720
nadid: 24930
Oregon
Oregon Foster Care Ombudsman
500 Summer St. NE E-17
Salem, Oregon 97301
Phone: (855) 840-6036
Fax: (855) 840-6036
Email: fco.info@state.or.us
nadid: 26812
Oregon Governor's Advocacy/Ombudsman Office
500 Summer St, NE E-15
Salem, Oregon 97301
Phone: (503) 945-6904
Toll-Free: (800) 442-5238
nadid: 10207
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
Pennsylvania
nadid: 24932
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Ombudsman - Ombudsman Gobierno de Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Phone: (787) 724-7373
Email: despendez@opc.gobierno.pr
nadid: 29480
Rhode Island
Rhode Island Office of the Child Advocate
6 Cherrydale Court. Cottage 43
57 Howard Avenue
Cranston, Rhode Island 02920
Phone: (401) 462-4300
Fax: (401) 462-4305
nadid: 10210
South Carolina
South Carolina Department of Children’s Advocacy
1205 Pendleton Street
Suite 471
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
Phone: (803) 734-3176
Toll-Free: 1-800-206-1957
nadid: 30269
South Dakota
South Dakota Department of Social Services
Constituent Liaison
700 Governor's Drive
Pierre, South Dakota 57501
Phone: (605) 773-3165
Toll-Free: (800) 597-1603
nadid: 24935
Tennessee
Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth
Andrew Johnson Building, 9th Floor
502 Deaderick St
Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0800
Phone: (615) 741-2633
Toll-Free: (800) 264-0904
Fax: (615) 532-1591
Email: tccy.info@tn.gov
nadid: 24936
Texas
Texas Foster Care Ombudsman
PO Box 13247
Austin, Texas 78711-3247
Toll-Free: (844) 286-0769
Fax: (888) 780-8099
nadid: 25134
Office of Consumer Relations/Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
PO BOX 149030
MC: Y946
Austin, Texas 78714-9030
Toll-Free: (800) 720-7777
Fax: (512) 339-5892
Email: oca@dfps.texas.gov
nadid: 24937
Utah
The Office of Child Protection Ombudsman
195 N. 1950 W.
Salt Lake City, Utah 84116
Phone: (801) 538-4589
Toll-Free: (800) 868-6413
Fax: (801) 538-3942
Email: ocpo@utah.gov
nadid: 24938
Vermont
Vermont Department for Children and Families
DCF Commissioner's Office
280 State Drive, HC 1 North
Waterbury, Vermont 05671-1080
Phone: (802) 241-0925
nadid: 24939
Virginia
Virginia Office of the Children's Ombudsman
Eric J. Reynolds, Esq., Director
1111 E. Broad Street, Suite B042
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Phone: (804) 225-4823
Email: complaints@oco.virginia.gov
nadid: 10216
Washington
Washington State Office of the Family & Children's Ombuds
6840 Fort Dent Way, Suite 125
Mail Stop TT-99
Tukwila, Washington 98188
Phone: (206) 439-3870
Toll-Free: (800) 571-7321
Fax: (206) 439-3877
nadid: 10219
West Virginia
West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources
Office of Client Services
350 Capital Street - Room 513
Charleston, West Virginia 25301
Toll-Free: (800) 642-8589
nadid: 24942
Foster Care Ombudsman
State Capitol Complex
Building 6, Room 817-B
Charleston, West Virginia 25305
Phone: (304) 558-1117
Fax: (304) 558-1992
Email: FosterCareOmbudsman@wv.gov
nadid: 30392
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Department of Children and Families
201 East Washington Avenue, Second Floor
PO Box 8916
Madison, Wisconsin 53708-8916
Phone: (608) 422-7000
Email: dcfweb@wisconsin.gov
nadid: 24943
Wyoming
Wyoming Department of Family Services
Complaint Resolution/Ombudsman
Hathaway Building - 2300 Capitol Avenue, 3rd Floor
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002
Phone: (307) 777-7564
Toll-Free: (800) 457-3659
Email: clint.hanes1@wyo.gov
nadid: 24944