Office of Child Advocate

Vermont’s child protection system depends on maintaining public trust, and that trust is undermined by the lack of an independent oversight body.  An Office of Child Advocate (OCA) is needed to provide independent and impartial oversight of the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, and to promote effective reform that meets the best interests of children and youth. This office would bring a voice to Vermont’s constituents, catch individual transgressions before they cause permanent harm, and give the state an independent view of where to invest its time and resources. The office can also educate policymakers and the public on what children need and best practices.

Continue reading for more information on this priority issue, including a legislative update, data and talking points, connections to the lead organizations and other partners, and advocacy tools.

Legislative Update

The current Office of Child Advocate bill was referred to the House Human Services Committee. All parties saw it as an imperfect bill. While the need to create systemic oversight is clear, the best structure for Vermont has yet to be determined. On Wednesday, the committee decided to re-write the bill to task the Joint Legislative Child Protection Oversight Committee with resolving the outstanding policy questions and introducing legislation to create an Office of Child Advocate next year. 

Forward progress is positive and this is a definitely a step forward.  We thank the Human Services Committee for moving this concept in the right direction.

Data and Talking Points

• Vermont consistently ranks among the highest rates of out-of-home placement in the United States, as well as having a higher than average rate of children being placed in two or more foster homes (39% in VT vs 35% nationally in 2016).
• Low-income families in Vermont are much more likely to come in contact with the child protection system here, despite the fact that poverty is not an allowable cause for a child protection investigation.

Oversight for the Child Protection System

Vermont is the only state in New England without an Office of Child Advocate. When it comes to child protection, we can't access the data we need to understand whether the system is working as intended, and the limited information we do have is worrisome at best. Without adequate tools and independent, objective oversight, we are setting everyone up to fail - especially children and youth, who often report that they feel their input isn't requested, valued, or considered in their process.

Resources and Advocacy Tools

• Bill H.215, Establishing an Office of Child Advocate
• Office of the Child Advocate Policy Brief
• Children in Vermont Deserve an Office of Child Advocate
• Pulling Back the Curtain: State Children’s Ombudsmen at Work
• Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance 2020 Legislative Agenda
• Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance Issue Page – Office of Child Advocate

Get Involved

• Join the Voices for Vermont’s Children email list.
• Voices for Vermont’s Children is gathering testimony in support of establishing an Office of Child Advocate (OCA), and we want to hear from you. Please consider sharing your experience with the child protection system or your support for an OCA through our web portal. We are especially interested in how an OCA might have intersected with your experience and led to more positive outcomes. If you’d rather share your story over the phone or in person, or if you have additional questions, please contact Amy Brady at amyb@voicesforvtkids.org, 802-239-6377.

Schedule an Advocacy Training

Schedule an Alliance training for a group of early childhood professionals, providers, parents, or employers interested in strengthening their advocacy skills or learning more about the issues on the Alliance’s Legislative Agenda. Be informed and ensure your voice is heard on issues impacting Vermont's young children and families.