PHILADELPHIA – Today, City Council approved a ballot measure that would make the City of Philadelphia’s Youth Ombudsperson & the Office of the Youth Ombudsperson permanent.
The ballot measure is expected to appear on the May 2026 ballot for consideration by Philadelphia voters. If approved by a majority of voters, the Office of the Youth Ombudsperson, headed by the Youth Ombudsperson, would become a required office and position enshrined in Philadelphia’s Home Rule Charter.
“City Council is giving Philadelphia voters the power to decide whether to make the Office of the Youth Ombudsperson permanent,” said charter change sponsor Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District). “Young people in detention, foster group homes, and psychiatric facilities deserve an independent voice that stands up for their safety and rights. No one cares about our kids as much as we do, and I am confident that Philadelphians will vote to protect young people.”
Tracie Johnson, Youth Ombudsperson for the City of Philadelphia, said, “Today, City Council made it crystal clear that our young people are worth protecting. Making the Office of the Youth Ombudsperson permanent is about one simple promise: no child in care should ever feel unheard, unseen, or unsafe. City dollars must be spent to help youth heal, not to endure more harm. In May, Philadelphia voters will decide whether that promise becomes permanent. I urge every resident to stand with our youth and vote yes, because accountability for children’s rights in congregate care should never be temporary.”
Created through an Executive Order issued by Mayor Kenney, the Office of the Youth Ombudsperson works to improve the safety and quality of services for youth in residential placements. The Youth Ombudsperson and her staff monitor child welfare, juvenile justice, and behavioral health residential placement facilities in Philadelphia, provide Know Your Rights trainings to young people, and advise on ways to improve the quality of services for our young people in placements.
One example of the Youth Ombudsperson’s work is a report issued in 2024 that revealed staff at the Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center were using seclusion out of compliance with state law.
Making the Youth Ombudsperson and the Office of the Youth Ombudsperson required in Philadelphia’s Home Rule Charter will give them the autonomy, authority, and stability they need to protect at-risk young people.
Keisha Hudson, Chief Defender with the Defender Association of Philadelphia, said, “This resolution reflects our commitment to stand beside Philadelphia’s youth not only in the courtroom, but wherever their safety and well-being are at stake. Enshrining the Office of the Youth Ombudspeople in the City Charter ensures independent oversight and helps make sure young people and their families are heard, while building a system that truly supports and protects every child.”
Stefanie Arbutina, Vulnerable Youth Policy Director at Children First, said, “Executive orders are temporary. Our children’s safety should not be. Making the Office of the Youth Ombudsperson permanent will strengthen independent oversight and protections for the hundreds of Philadelphia youth placed in institutional settings across the child welfare, juvenile justice, and behavioral health systems.”
Bree Hood, youth advocate with the Juvenile Law Center, said, “The Office of the Youth Ombudsperson is useful because it is a way for kids who are in the system to have somebody outside of DHS and the facility staff whom kids can trust and talk to about ongoing issues they are having with being in the system. Looking back at my experience being in the system and experiencing all the trauma I faced, I wish we had this office sooner.”
“I plan to work with OYO in the future and continue my work with Children First to ensure birth families and foster and adoptive families don’t have to endure the needless suffering, trauma, and grief that families like mine have endured. I want us to work together to prevent recidivism and negative statistics of our most vulnerable youth, and OYO, combined with Children First and families, may be able to make that meaningful difference,” said Jazmin Banks, a parent advocate with Children First.”
“The Office of the Youth Ombudsperson will work tirelessly to ensure the safety of and advocate for the families of the city of Philadelphia,” said Geneva Williams, an advocate with Children First.
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