Office of the Child Advocate

Web Site:

www.mass.gov/childadvocate/

Organization Chart

Mission:

OCA Mission Statement
The mission of the OCA is to ensure all children in the Commonwealth receive appropriate, timely and quality services with full respect for their human rights. Through collaboration with public and private stakeholders, the OCA examines services to children to identify gaps and trends, and makes recommendations to improve the quality of those services. The OCA also serves as a resource for families who are receiving, or are eligible to receive, services from the Commonwealth.

OCA Responsibilities: The OCA's mandated statutory responsibilities include serving as an ombudsman assisting families and other persons with individual service issues. The majority of the complaints received concern cases with the involvement of the Department of Children and Families. The OCA is also mandated to review certain situations where children have died or were seriously injured. The purpose of these reviews is to identify problems or gaps in the service delivery, or other impacts that prevent children from achieving their full potential, and for the OCA to develop and make recommendations for policies, practice and statutes.

Complaint Line: Anyone with concerns about a child or youth receiving services from a state agency can contact the OCA. Our staff tries to help people resolve their problems directly with the agency and identify appropriate resources. The OCA has a special responsibility toward children in foster care. Our office responds to calls from children and youth in the custody of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and tries to help them with problems related to their care.

Critical Incident Reports: When a child receiving services from a state agency under the Executive Office of Health and Human Services dies or is seriously injured, the agency involved is required to report the critical incident to the OCA. OCA staff carefully reviews each critical incident report and to assess whether the situation was properly handled. In many instances, OCA staff follows up with the agency to learn from the situation and promote accountability.

Reports of Abuse and Neglect in Out-of-Home Settings: The OCA receives reports that have been investigated and supported by DCF regarding abuse and neglect of children in out-of-home settings connected to certain state agencies. These settings include licensed preschool and day care, foster care, group homes, residential treatment programs, elementary and secondary schools, and youth correctional facilities. OCA staff reviews every report to identify trends that relate to treatment of children in out-of-home settings. and obtain more information from agencies when needed.
Connecting the Dots for Children and Families: Hearing from callers and reviewing reports, as described above, help the OCA to identify trends and opportunities for system improvements. In addition, OCA staff review laws, policies, and procedures, and participate on many boards and councils concerning the delivery of services to children and families. OCA staff uses all this information to provide recommendations for improving and identifying gaps in services for children. The OCA works to promote system integration among state agencies, courts, schools, and health and human service providers so that children and families can connect to resources in their communities.

Governing Laws:

Statutes

MGL C. 18C S. 1-13	Office of the Child Advocate

Reports:

• The Office of the Child Advocate's Review of the Death of Bella Bond
  


• Office of the Child Advocate Annual Report Fiscal Year 2015
  


• Third Interim Report From the OCA Regarding Review of DCF Management
  


• All Recent Publications for The Office of the Child Advocate
  


• The OCA has convened an inter agency and inter-secretariat Working Group on Residential Schools (Executive Office of Education, Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Disabled Persons Protection Commission, the Departments of Children and Families, Early Education and Care, Elementary and Secondary Education, and Mental Health) to make improvements to the business processes for licensing and monitoring of special education residential schools. OCA engaged PCG to assist in the research and evaluation effort. A final report with recommendations to the Governor and the General Court is expected in January 2017


• The OCA in collaboration with the Department of Public Health and the MA District Attorney's Association has initiated a comprehensive review of the State Child Fatality Review Process. A report is expected by the close of FY2017.


• The OCA is co-chairing the State Sexual Abuse Prevention Task Force - the Task Force's recommendations will be presented to the General Court in late Spring.