(a) The Office of the Child Welfare Ombudsman shall:(1) Work independently of the:(A) Department of Human Services;(B) Division of Arkansas State Police;(C) Administrative Office of the Courts;(D) Attorney Ad Litem Program;(E) Commission for Parent Counsel;(F) Arkansas Public Defender Commission; and(G) Arkansas Court Appointed Special Advocates program;(2) Review and recommend necessary changes to procedures under the Arkansas Juvenile Code, § 9-35-101 et seq., the Child Maltreatment Act, § 12-18-101 et seq., and other laws relevant to the operation of the child welfare system that are applicable to the:(A) Department of Human Services;(B) Division of Arkansas State Police;(C) Administrative Office of the Courts;(D) Attorney Ad Litem Program;(E) Commission for Parent Counsel;(F) Arkansas Public Defender Commission; and(G) Arkansas Court Appointed Special Advocates program;(3) Review an issue or concern related to a court case or investigation related to a juvenile if it appears that the juvenile, parent of the juvenile, foster parent of the juvenile, relative of the juvenile, or fictive kin of the juvenile may need assistance from the Child Welfare Ombudsman;(4) Inform the public of the Office of the Child Welfare Ombudsman and the contact information for the Office of the Child Welfare Ombudsman; and(5) (A) Prepare one (1) annual report per year concerning the work of the Office of the Child Welfare Ombudsman, the operation of the child welfare system, and any recommendations related to the operation of the child welfare system.(B) The Office of the Child Welfare Ombudsman shall submit the annual report under subdivision (a)(5)(A) of this section to the:(i) Governor;(ii) House Committee on Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs;(iii) Senate Interim Committee on Children and Youth;(iv) Secretary of the Department of Human Services;(v) Director of the Division of Children and Family Services;(vi) Director of the Division of Arkansas State Police;(vii) Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts;(viii) Attorney Ad Litem Program;(ix) Commission for Parent Counsel;(x) Arkansas Public Defender Commission; and(xi) Arkansas Court Appointed Special Advocates program.(C) The annual report under subdivision (a)(5)(A) of this section shall not contain information that would identify a juvenile or the family of a juvenile.
(1) Work independently of the:(A) Department of Human Services;(B) Division of Arkansas State Police;(C) Administrative Office of the Courts;(D) Attorney Ad Litem Program;(E) Commission for Parent Counsel;(F) Arkansas Public Defender Commission; and(G) Arkansas Court Appointed Special Advocates program;
(A) Department of Human Services;
(B) Division of Arkansas State Police;
(C) Administrative Office of the Courts;
(D) Attorney Ad Litem Program;
(E) Commission for Parent Counsel;
(F) Arkansas Public Defender Commission; and
(G) Arkansas Court Appointed Special Advocates program;
(2) Review and recommend necessary changes to procedures under the Arkansas Juvenile Code, § 9-35-101 et seq., the Child Maltreatment Act, § 12-18-101 et seq., and other laws relevant to the operation of the child welfare system that are applicable to the:(A) Department of Human Services;(B) Division of Arkansas State Police;(C) Administrative Office of the Courts;(D) Attorney Ad Litem Program;(E) Commission for Parent Counsel;(F) Arkansas Public Defender Commission; and(G) Arkansas Court Appointed Special Advocates program;
(A) Department of Human Services;
(B) Division of Arkansas State Police;
(C) Administrative Office of the Courts;
(D) Attorney Ad Litem Program;
(E) Commission for Parent Counsel;
(F) Arkansas Public Defender Commission; and
(G) Arkansas Court Appointed Special Advocates program;
(3) Review an issue or concern related to a court case or investigation related to a juvenile if it appears that the juvenile, parent of the juvenile, foster parent of the juvenile, relative of the juvenile, or fictive kin of the juvenile may need assistance from the Child Welfare Ombudsman;
(4) Inform the public of the Office of the Child Welfare Ombudsman and the contact information for the Office of the Child Welfare Ombudsman; and
(5) (A) Prepare one (1) annual report per year concerning the work of the Office of the Child Welfare Ombudsman, the operation of the child welfare system, and any recommendations related to the operation of the child welfare system.(B) The Office of the Child Welfare Ombudsman shall submit the annual report under subdivision (a)(5)(A) of this section to the:(i) Governor;(ii) House Committee on Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs;(iii) Senate Interim Committee on Children and Youth;(iv) Secretary of the Department of Human Services;(v) Director of the Division of Children and Family Services;(vi) Director of the Division of Arkansas State Police;(vii) Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts;(viii) Attorney Ad Litem Program;(ix) Commission for Parent Counsel;(x) Arkansas Public Defender Commission; and(xi) Arkansas Court Appointed Special Advocates program.(C) The annual report under subdivision (a)(5)(A) of this section shall not contain information that would identify a juvenile or the family of a juvenile.
(A) Prepare one (1) annual report per year concerning the work of the Office of the Child Welfare Ombudsman, the operation of the child welfare system, and any recommendations related to the operation of the child welfare system.
(B) The Office of the Child Welfare Ombudsman shall submit the annual report under subdivision (a)(5)(A) of this section to the:(i) Governor;(ii) House Committee on Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs;(iii) Senate Interim Committee on Children and Youth;(iv) Secretary of the Department of Human Services;(v) Director of the Division of Children and Family Services;(vi) Director of the Division of Arkansas State Police;(vii) Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts;(viii) Attorney Ad Litem Program;(ix) Commission for Parent Counsel;(x) Arkansas Public Defender Commission; and(xi) Arkansas Court Appointed Special Advocates program.
(i) Governor;
(ii) House Committee on Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs;
(iii) Senate Interim Committee on Children and Youth;
(iv) Secretary of the Department of Human Services;
(v) Director of the Division of Children and Family Services;
(vi) Director of the Division of Arkansas State Police;
(vii) Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts;
(viii) Attorney Ad Litem Program;
(ix) Commission for Parent Counsel;
(x) Arkansas Public Defender Commission; and
(xi) Arkansas Court Appointed Special Advocates program.
(C) The annual report under subdivision (a)(5)(A) of this section shall not contain information that would identify a juvenile or the family of a juvenile.
(b) The Office of the Child Welfare Ombudsman may:(1) Communicate with a:(A) Juvenile after the approval of, and subject to the conditions set by, the:(i) Dependency-neglect attorney ad litem appointed to represent the juvenile; or(ii) Attorney for the juvenile if the juvenile has an attorney other than a dependency-neglect attorney ad litem; and(B) Parent of a juvenile after the approval of, and subject to the conditions set by, the parent's attorney if the parent has an attorney; and(2) Access juvenile cases within the court system database of the Administrative Office of the Courts to directly view all court-related documents related to matters under review by the Child Welfare Ombudsman.
(1) Communicate with a:(A) Juvenile after the approval of, and subject to the conditions set by, the:(i) Dependency-neglect attorney ad litem appointed to represent the juvenile; or(ii) Attorney for the juvenile if the juvenile has an attorney other than a dependency-neglect attorney ad litem; and(B) Parent of a juvenile after the approval of, and subject to the conditions set by, the parent's attorney if the parent has an attorney; and
(A) Juvenile after the approval of, and subject to the conditions set by, the:(i) Dependency-neglect attorney ad litem appointed to represent the juvenile; or(ii) Attorney for the juvenile if the juvenile has an attorney other than a dependency-neglect attorney ad litem; and
(i) Dependency-neglect attorney ad litem appointed to represent the juvenile; or
(ii) Attorney for the juvenile if the juvenile has an attorney other than a dependency-neglect attorney ad litem; and
(B) Parent of a juvenile after the approval of, and subject to the conditions set by, the parent's attorney if the parent has an attorney; and
(2) Access juvenile cases within the court system database of the Administrative Office of the Courts to directly view all court-related documents related to matters under review by the Child Welfare Ombudsman.