2000 Annual Report - Table of Contents

2000 Annual Report
Activities and Recommendations

Covering the period
through December 31, 2000

"It's disturbing to know that children who are already in the state's care, need protection at times from the system designed to alleviate their suffering. I suppose one reveals a certain naivet� to be surprised by this. As a citizen, I am grateful to you and your staff for the efforts you make to hold a much-needed system accountable."

-Community Leader, Walla Walla

"Thank you for fulfilling the promise of the Ombudsman's office. You clearly are providing much needed policy direction, and the necessary background information and research, to help policy makers actually change how the system works. Your thorough and diligent work is greatly appreciated."

-Washington State Legislator, Olympia

Table of Contents

Letter To the Residents of Washington State

Ombudsman-An independent voice for citizens

Regional advisory committees and mission statement
Features of the Family and Children's Ombudsman
Making an inquiry
Filing a complaint
Ombudsman criteria for taking action

2000 Summary-September 1, 1999 to August 31, 2000

Inquiry and complaint summary
Who complained
Complaints involving DSHS Children's Administration
Complaint issues
Complaint investigations
   Completed investigations with no adverse findings
   Completed investigations with adverse findings
   Investigations closed prior to completion

Fatality review-Three year-old Zy'Nyia Nobles

Child safety recommendations

State law issues System resource issues
DSHS administration issues

Foster care-What young people in the system say is working

The Ombudsman appreciative inquiry interviews
First theme: feeling normal
Second theme: feeling cared about
Third theme: feeling my opinions matter
Findings and recommendation
Young peoples' ideas to improve foster care
The young people interviewed by the Ombudsman

The Ombudsman takes immediate action-to protect an infant from harm

Contacting the Ombudsman

This document is available in alternative formats to accommodate persons with disabilities, and can be obtained by contacting:

The Office of the Family and Children's Ombudsman:
Phone (206) 439-3870 Toll Free (800) 571-7321
TTY (206) 439-3789 Fax (206) 439-3877

The 2000 Annual Report is also presented in Portable Document Format (pdf). In order to view these files, you must have the (pdf) reader. If you do not have it, you can download it for free from the Adobe Web site. This is your best printable option.

  Section 1 (File size 235KB)
  Section 2 (File size 244KB)
  Section 3 (File size 199KB)
  Section 4 (File size 185KB)
  Section 5 (File size 72KB)