1999 Annual Report
Vickie Wallen
Director Ombudsman
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CONTENTS
OFCO Report Cover
OFCO Advisory Committee Members
Letter to the Governor
Executive Summary
- OFCO Role and Structure
- OFCO Complaint Review Process
- 1999 Inquiry and Complaint Profile
- 1999 Intervention and Investigation Summary
- Issues of Concern 1997-1999
- Response to OFCO's Systemic Recommendations 1997-1999
OFCO Role and Structure
- Role of Ombudsman
- Role of OFCO
- Neutrality v. Advocacy
- Independence
- Access to Information
- Confidentiality
- Staff and Budget
- Legislative Children's Oversight Committee
- OFCO Advisory Committees
OFCO Complaint Review Process
- Who May File a Complaint with OFCO?
- How a Complaint is Filed
- Confidentiality
- Automated Database
- Complaint Review Process
- Decisions Not to Take Further Action
- Decisions to Take Further Action
1999 Inquiry and Complaint Profile
- Inquiries
- Complaints
Source of Complaints
Affected Children
Issues Identified by Complainants
Where Complaints Were Directed
1999 Intervention and Investigation Summary
- Complaint Disposition Process
- Complaint Disposition Summary
- Interventions
- Decisions to Intervene
- Issues and Complainants Prompting an Intervention
- OFCO-Initiated Intervention
- Decisions Not to Intervene
- Intervention Results
- Administrative/Systemic Investigations
Investigation Decisions
Investigation Results
Issues of Concern 1997-1999
- Lack of Timely and Appropriate Intervention in Chronic Child Neglect Cases
- Professionals' Failure to Report Child Abuse and Neglect
- Lack of Sufficient and Appropriate State-Licensed Foster and Group Care Placements
Response to OFCO's Systemic Recommendations 1997-1999
- Overview
- 1997 Annual Report
Placement Resource Conflict of Interest Policy
Complaint Procedure Information
Complaint Tracking and Client Satisfaction
OFCO Shield Law
- Review of the Wenatchee Child Sexual Abuse Investigations
Interview Documentation
Investigation and Interview Training
Cross-Discipline Collaborative Protocols
- Guardian Ad Litem Representation
Increase the Number of GALs
Remove the "Good Cause" Exception
Review Existing GAL caseloads
- 1998 Annual Report
School Districts' Reporting Policies and Procedures
Appendices
A. Criteria for Selecting Issues for Systemic Investigations
B. Children's Administration "Tell Us" Brochure
C. Media Clippings
Comments and Suggestions
