Bill > H165

This bill establishes the Child and Family Welfare Ombudsman Office within the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to support and advocate for individuals involved in the child welfare system, including foster parents, birth families, and youth. The office will be led by an Ombuds with lived or professional experience in foster care, and will have the power to gather information, investigate issues, and provide resources for foster parents seeking licensure or navigating compliance with state and federal regulations. The Ombudsman Office will operate neutrally, maintaining confidentiality and providing whistleblower protections for individuals reporting concerns. The office will have specific duties such as disseminating information about foster parent rights, offering educational resources, facilitating mediation, and conducting outreach with local social services departments. The bill includes an annual reporting requirement, where the office will compile and submit data about inquiries and complaints to the Governor and the Department of Health and Human Services, with a separate report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee. The legislation appropriates $137,000 for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and $145,000 for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to establish the office and hire one full-time equivalent employee, with a requirement that the office become operational by January 1, 2026.

Budget and Finance

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H165