Guest column: State Office of Child Advocate should be created
For years, Pennsylvania has been trying to create a permanent statewide Office of the Child Advocate. Creating this office is a first step toward better protecting youth in Pennsylvania.
Juvenile justice facilities were supposedly created for youth to be rehabilitated but that never happens. When youth enter the system, they’re being exposed to harms and dangers they could avoid if kept in their community. In many instances, their safety is forgotten.
Youth have been mentally, physically, and sexually abused, and even died in these facilities. When will society realize that these facilities are unsafe and need to go?
Opening this office could help solve some of these problems by tracking issues of abuse in facilities and making recommendations for reform.
Idaho recently passed legislation to create a similar office, but more importantly, empowered it so it actually creates meaningful change for youth.
Idaho’s office will be independent of their Department of Health, will receive/investigate complaints from youth and families, and will make recommendations for reforms to laws and state agency practices. Pennsylvania should make sure its office has similar powers.
First, Pennsylvania’s Office of the Child Advocate must be independent from DHS or any other state agencies. This will allow the office to make recommendations and take action for system reform without any barriers. Staff in the office should never face roadblocks when trying to do their jobs.
Importantly, the office should be able to receive complaints directly from youth and their families. Youth don’t feel safe in these facilities, and we need to know why.
