The Division of Ombudsman includes the Office of the Child Welfare Ombudsman (CWO) and the Office of the Juvenile Ombudsman (JO).
The CWO was created to work independently from other child welfare agencies in Arkansas. The Ombudsman reviews issues or concerns related to a court case or investigation related to a juvenile when the juvenile or a family member requests assistance. CWO has the duty to review and recommend changes to procedures under laws relevant to the operation of the child welfare system.
The JO was created to ensure that juveniles who are in the custody of the Division of Youth Services (DYS) of the Department of Human Services are provided necessary services with respect to the safety, health, education, and rehabilitation of the juvenile. The Ombudsman may review history and treatment records; attend meetings or reviews of juvenile intake, program progress, and aftercare planning; and make unannounced visits to DYS facilities, to ensure the safety and well-being of juveniles in DYS custody.