Bill > SF251

This bill establishes a new role of an ombudsman assistant specifically focused on investigating complaints related to child foster care in Iowa. The bill requires this assistant to have at least 10 years of experience as a foster parent, with at least 5 of those years spent as a foster parent in Iowa. The legislation mandates that the ombudsman's office create a direct communication process allowing individual foster care licensees to file complaints, and requires the Department of Health and Human Services to include information about the ombudsman assistant in all public materials related to child foster care. By providing contact information and describing the assistant's duties in public materials, the bill aims to increase transparency and accessibility for those involved in the foster care system. The new ombudsman assistant will have the authority to investigate complaints but cannot make formal recommendations to agencies, which remains a duty of the primary ombudsman. This bill represents an effort to provide additional oversight and support for the child foster care system by creating a specialized role dedicated to addressing concerns and investigating potential issues within the foster care environment.

Health and Social Services

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=SF251