Alaska State Ombudsman Kate Burkhart made seven recommendations to the Alaska Department of Family and Community Services, Office of Children’s Services (OCS), after an ombudsman investigation. The investigation was prompted by a complaint from a foster parent, who alleged OCS conducted an unfair investigation into a Protective Services Report, failed to seek timely mental health services or placement for a child, and made an inappropriate placement decision. The investigation revealed that OCS struggled to find effective solutions for a youth with complex needs and challenging behaviors.

The Alaska State Ombudsman investigated six allegations and made the following findings:

1. Investigation of Protective Service Report: The allegation that OCS unfairly investigated a report about the foster parent was found to be not supported by the evidence.

• In-Person Visits to Foster Placements: The allegation that OCS did not conduct the required in-person visits to foster placements was supported by the evidence.

• Mental Health Interventions for Child: The allegation that OCS did not provide appropriate mental health interventions for a child with complex needs was partially supported by the evidence.

• Policy Adherence in Placement Decisions: The allegation that OCS did not follow policy when making a placement decision was supported by the evidence.

• Explanation of Child’s Behaviors: The allegation that OCS did not fully explain a child’s behaviors to a foster parent was supported by the evidence.

• Handling of Protective Services Reports: The allegation that OCS mishandled Protective Services Reports about child maltreatment was supported by the evidence.

The evidence showed that OCS did not provide the resources or services needed to care for a foster child with complex needs due to multiple disabilities. When the youth’s behaviors escalated, OCS offered no resources for crisis intervention, intensive mental health treatment, or stabilization. The safety and well-being of children in state custody was jeopardized, and the foster parents were frustrated and angry with OCS’s inaction. Some of the issues identified in the complaint were due to mistakes by OCS staff, while others are part of a systemic problem: service gaps for children with co-occurring intellectual and/or physical disabilities. Children with complex needs have been taken to hospital emergency rooms, monitored by private contractors in hotels, and endured stopgap living arrangements that do not address the child’s underlying trauma or behavioral concerns.

Read the Public Report.