ACF Announces New Best Practices to Strengthen Ombudsman Offices and Improve Child Welfare Outcomes

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has released six best practices to help states strengthen child welfare ombudsman offices and use feedback from children, youth, and families to improve services. The recommendations include clarifying the office’s role and authority, protecting its independence, building relationships before concerns escalate, using complaint data to identify systemwide patterns, centering youth and family voices, and tracking follow-up on recommendations. The guidance emphasizes that ombudsman offices can offer an independent perspective on challenges within child welfare systems and help agencies turn individual concerns into broader improvements. The guidance also notes that certain ombudsman activities may qualify for federal reimbursement under Title IV-E when included in an approved cost allocation plan.

These practices may offer useful lessons for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) agencies seeking to strengthen how they gather and respond to participant feedback. Clear complaint processes, consistent review of concerns, and follow-through on identified issues can help agencies spot service barriers and make informed improvements.