Virginia: Office of the Children's Ombudsman

About this resource

The Virginia Office of the Children’s Ombudsman (OCO) investigates complaints involving child welfare services, including concerns from youth who are or were in foster care. Anyone can file a complaint, and you cannot be penalized by any agency for doing so.

When a complaint is submitted, the OCO will:

• Review the concern and determine if it meets criteria for action
• Respond by providing resources, referring you to another agency, or requesting assistance from VDSS
• Investigate, if appropriate, and issue a report with findings and recommendations

Even if the OCO cannot investigate your complaint, they may still provide helpful information or referrals.