Our office
The Office of the Youth Ombudsperson was established by executive order on November 30, 2022. Our office is charged with promoting the safety and well-being of youth in residential placements.
Our vision statement
Our office envisions a city where youth are free to live, learn, and grow. This means that they have stable access to:
- Livable housing.
- Wages for their families.
- A free and appropriate education.
- Resources and social safety nets.
We envision a transformative world where we’ve eliminated the systemic issues that cause youth to become involved with the child welfare, juvenile justice, and behavioral health systems.
Our race equity statement
We envision a city that meets the unique needs of young people and their families by:
- Reducing the use of youth residential placement facilities.
- Eliminating the underlying reasons that Black and Latinx youth are more often sent into placement.
- Promoting health, safety, and well-being for youth in placement.
- Addressing the biases and stereotypes that put Black and Latinx youth at greater risk of abuse while in placement.
We will partner with youth, advocates, and City leaders to put in place evidence-based solutions that allow youth to be safe and successful in their communities. Our collective action will ensure that all youth in our city have access to the rights, opportunities, and advantages that every Philadelphian deserves, regardless of their background or life experiences.