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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 17, 2023 09:07 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Michele Brooks and Sen. Judith L. Schwank, Sen. Maria Collett, Sen. John I. Kane |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Recognizing the Office of Child Advocate as a Permanent Office and Creating the Position of a Statewide Children’s Mental Health Ombudsman |
| The Child Advocate serves as a liaison and resource to connect children and families with available government resources, and recommends system-wide improvements, including changes in laws, regulations and policies to benefit the health, safety and welfare of children. The office triages complaints regarding government services for children and families, including child protective services, foster care, adoption, mental health and substance use services, child development and early learning. This legislation will fulfill one of the recommendations made by the interbranch Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice Task Force, requesting that the PA General Assembly make the Office of Child Advocate (OCA) a permanent office recognized in state statute. Since 2019, the Commonwealth has funded and operationalized the OCA, which was created by executive order. The Child Advocate plays an essential role in Pennsylvania, and should continue to be able to do so without fear of a future Administration dissolving the office and its duties. The Child Advocate will be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate of PA. Creating a permanent OCA is not a new concept. Bipartisan legislation was first introduced 20 years ago, and in 2002 a Joint State Government Commission Advisory Committee on Services to Children and Youth established by the PA General Assembly recommended this office be created. In 2008, the PA Department of Human Services Secretary also convened a working group. This legislation would also create a statewide Children’s Mental Health Ombudsman position within the Office of Child Advocate, who would have the authority to advocate on behalf of children with mental health issues, identify barriers to effective mental health treatment, and monitor compliance with laws pertaining to children’s behavior health services. Thank you for your consideration of cosponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as SB1036