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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Kids Help with Hiring of OR's First Foster Care Ombudsman

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Monday, February 3, 2014   

SALEM, Ore. - Interviews are under way to select Oregon's first ombudsman for youth in foster care - and who better to ask the tough questions than people with firsthand experience in the system? The Oregon Foster Youth Connection is a group of current and former foster children, ages 14 to 25, that spent the past few years convincing the legislature of the need for a clear Bill of Rights for foster children.

Representatives of that group are now participating on the interview teams. Former foster youth Zach Miller, 20, Eugene, described some of what he expects from the new ombudsman.

"I'd like to see passion for foster youth - passion to see the right thing done. I think one of the most important things is to ask them what inspired them to apply for the position, and to see what sort of experience they have with foster youth and care," Miller said.

The new position has attracted a wide variety of applicants from across the country, with backgrounds in fields such as social work, law and juvenile corrections. The Governor's Advocacy Office has noted that in this job, an applicant's personality and character could matter more than their formal employment or academic credentials.

Once the right person is hired, explained Pamela Butler, child welfare policy manager, Children First for Oregon, he or she will have a lot of responsibility, coordinating a system for foster kids and parents to voice concerns.

"Their job is going to be to come in and set up a hotline youth can call, to set up a formal grievance procedure - and all of that is going to be happening with youth input from the Oregon Foster Youth Connection," Butler said.

The new ombudsman position is part of legislation that went into effect Jan. 1. It also requires the Foster Children's Bill of Rights be explained to kids in age-appropriate terms by their caseworkers and posted in every foster home in Oregon. About 10,000 children are in foster care in Oregon.

The legislation (SB 123) that created the Bill of Rights is available at http://legiscan.com/OR/text/SB123/id/866738.




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