Subsection A of Va. Code ยง 2.2-439 provides the mission of the OCO:
There is hereby created the Office of the Children's Ombudsman as a means of:
The OCO has statutory authority to receive complaints regarding cases involving children who (i) have been alleged to have been abused or neglected, (ii) are receiving child protective services, (iii) are in foster care, or (iv) are awaiting adoption. The OCO can investigate complaints alleging that an agency’s action was:
In addition, the OCO can:
The OCO cannot address complaints related to:
The OCO is dedicated to engaging best practices in fulfilling its statutory responsibilities and to abiding by the following standards:
Independence โ The OCO is to be free from interference in the legitimate performance of its duties and not subject to outside control, limitation, or influence allowing it to conduct its investigations, report its findings, and make its recommendations based solely on a review of the facts and law, in light of reason and fairness.
Impartiality โ The OCO will receive and review each complaint and conduct its inquiries and investigations in an objective and fair manner free from bias and conflicts of interest, and treat all parties without favor or prejudice. This impartiality does not preclude the OCO from developing an interest in securing changes that are deemed necessary as a result of the process, nor from otherwise being an advocate on behalf of the constituency of children established by statute where the process demonstrates a need for it.
Confidentiality โ The OCO shall maintain confidentiality of all information and records obtained in the performance of its duties and limit disclosure in accordance with applicable law.
In addition, the OCO recognizes and respects the primacy of the parent-child relationship as well as the good faith efforts and intent of child-serving and child-placing agencies to act in the best interests of children and strives to respect the proper balance between family preservation and child safety in performing its duties.
Eric Reynolds is the Director of the Office of the Children’s Ombudsman within the Office of the Governor. Previously, he served as staff attorney for the Court Improvement Program in the Office of the Executive Secretary for the Supreme Court of Virginia and was an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Office of the Attorney General in Richmond, representing and advising the Virginia Department of Social Services, the State Executive Council for Children’s Services and the Office of Children’s Services, the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services, and the Department of Medical Assistance Services. Prior to working for the state, he was in private practice, focusing on family law and serving as a court-appointed guardian ad litem for children and as counsel for parents in child custody and child welfare cases in the Metro-Richmond area. He is a graduate of the University of Richmond School of Law.
Jane Lissenden is the Policy Analyst for the Office of the Children's Ombudsman within the Office of the Governor. Prior to this role, she served for 15 years as Training Coordinator with the Court Improvement Program in the Office of the Executive Secretary at the Supreme Court of Virginia. Jane is a graduate of James Madison University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration and a minor in Criminal Justice.
Destiny Allen is an Investigations Analyst of the Office of the Children’s Ombudsman within the Office of the Governor. Prior to this role, Destiny served as a School Social Worker for Chesterfield County Public Schools where she worked closely with students and their families, school personnel, and community partners to meet students' academic needs, issues or concerns. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia's College at Wise, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology, and a minor in Administration of Justice. Destiny earned her Master of Social Work degree, with a concentration in Administration, Planning, and Policy from Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Social Work.
Frank L. Green II is an Investigation Analyst for the Office of Children’s Ombudsman within the Office of the Governor. Prior to this role, Frank served as a Management Analyst with the City of Richmond Department of Social Services in the Child, Families, and Adults Division. In this role, he ensured that families and children were safe, and stable in their own homes, while promoting family reunification and support for youth in foster care, and the community. He accomplished this critical mission by managing state and federal grants to ensure compliance with funding regulations, while also developing, interpreting, and maintaining policies and guidelines to ensure the effective oversight and implementation of recipient grant programs. Frank has over 16 years of experience in the Child Welfare field in areas therapeutic treatment, counseling, and conducting behavioral assessments. Frank is certified in Trauma Informed Advocacy through Mitchell Hamline School of Law, and a Certified Fatherhood Group Facilitator. He is a graduate of Virginia State University with a Bachelor of Art in Political Science. Frank has also earned his Master of Business with a concentration of Public Administration from Strayer University.
Denise Dickerson is the Intake Analyst for the Office of the Children’s Ombudsman. Prior to coming to this office, she was the Program Manager for the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) and the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance (ICAMA) at the Virginia Department of Social Services. Prior to this position, she was the Director of Operations at the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority; the Director of Social Services in the City of Petersburg, VA.; the Assistant Director of Administration at the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority; and Assistant to the Deputy City Manager in the City of Richmond. She has a BA in Sociology from Iona College in New Rochelle, New York and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.
