The mission of the Office of the Child Advocate is to safeguard the right that all Kansas children have to be cherished, the opportunity to thrive, and are safe from abuse, neglect, and harm.

The purpose of the Office of the Child Advocate is to ensure that children and families receive adequate coordination of child welfare services for child protection and care through services offered by Department for Children and Families or the department’s contracting entities, Department for Aging and Disability Services, Department of Corrections, Department of Health and Environment, and juvenile courts. The Office of the Child Advocate serves as an independent voice for the safety, health, and well-being of children and families who are involved with the State child welfare and juvenile justice systems. 

OCA acts on complaints made by or on behalf of any child under 18 years of age and who is in the custody of the Secretary for the Department for Children and Families (DCF), alleged to be a Child In Need of Care, or is currently receiving services or treatment from the Department of Corrections that relate to state agencies, service providers, including contractors, subcontractors and any juvenile court, that may adversely affect the health, safety, and welfare of such child.

The Office of the Child Advocate has the responsibility to establish and implement procedures to resolve complaints.  Resolution may involve providing information and resources, case specific advocacy, as well as making recommendations that could include requesting that a department or contracting entity consider a matter further, modify or cancel a particular course of action, alter a rule, order or policy, and provide further explanation as to an action.  Furthermore, OCA has the responsibility to assist the legislature in oversight of the child welfare system in reviewing relevant statutes, rules, and regulations, policies and procedures that impact the health, safety and welfare of children, including the effectiveness of agency, law enforcement, and court providers.  Additionally, OCA shall submit an annual report to the Governor, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the Office of Judicial Administration, the Department for Children and Families, and the Legislature.

The Office of the Child Advocate strives to meet the delineated mandates through the following goals:

• OCA will fairly and without bias consider the allegations of citizens who bring a complaint to OCA.
• OCA staff will endeavor to give citizens a timely response to their requests for assistance.
• Agencies and government employees will receive courteous and unbiased consideration of their positions during OCA inquiries.
• OCA will protect confidential information provided to OCA staff to the extent provided by law. This includes confidences expressed by agency staff.
• OCA staff will provide complete and accurate information to citizens and agencies as reasonably possible to the extent permissible under the law. 
• OCA staff will help empower citizens by informing and educating them of their rights and entitlements under state and federal laws and how to pursue or resolve disputes.

The Office of the Child Advocate does not act as a direct advocate for the complainant or on behalf of a governmental agency, but rather as a neutral investigator and advocate for Kansas children and family well-being.  The ability to objectively review and analyze complaints, make findings and recommendations free of partisan agendas, political bias and influence, gives OCA the necessary foundation to operate with integrity and impartiality.

The Office of the Child Advocate’s most important foundational component is its independence.  OCA is an independent state agency.  The work of OCA is conducted independently from DCF, KDADS, KDOC, KDHE, the Governor, OJA, and the Legislature.

The Office of the Child Advocate maintains the confidentiality of its complainants unless this is waived in writing by the complainant and such waiver is deemed necessary to carry out OCA's work or as disclosure may be required by law.  The confidential nature of OCA's work is designed to encourage individuals to report problems or concerns, thereby enabling OCA to perform its duties more effectively.  OCA maintains the confidentiality of all records as set out by applicable state and federal laws.