The Office listens to youth who are in the care of the state about where you live, your care and services. We may look at paperwork or speak to others to help you make things better. We listen to any concerns from youth and young adults in foster care, or other adults involved in Minnesota’s child welfare system.
We provide information or resources. We will do our best to answer questions about your rights and treatment in foster care. In many cases, we can provide the information you need to solve the problem yourself. We may also be able to serve as a neutral mediator that helps negotiate a solution.
In some cases, we will investigate your complaint. We may review records or talk to other people as part of our investigation. As an independent agency, our job is to consider all sides of a question in a neutral and objective way.
As a part of our investigations, we may write reports or make recommendations. It is our job to work collaboratively towards solutions.
What we do:
- Listen to people in foster care about concerns and complaints.
- Consider all sides of a question in an impartial way.
- Provide information and resources.
- Help to answer questions about rights in foster care.
- Investigate complaints in a fair and neutral manner.
- Make recommendations to agencies and workers.
- Write reports to the governor, legislature, and the public.
- Follow requirements for confidentiality and data privacy.
- Communicate what happens after a complaint is submitted.
What we don't do:
- Respond to emergencies.
- Provide legal advice.
- Investigate abuse or neglect.
- Investigate complaints against attorneys, judges, or Guardians ad Litem.
- Change court orders or case plans.
- Fire or change a social worker.
- Act as an advocate or someone who will automatically take one side in a conflict.
- Investigate issues that do not involve someone in foster care in Minnesota.