ON MAY 19TH, VOTE YES ON BALLOT QUESTION #2
And tell your family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors to vote yes too!
Background
The City of Philadelphia’s Office of the Youth Ombudsperson is an independent office housed within the Inspector General’s office. It works to improve the safety and quality of services for youth placed in juvenile justice, child welfare, and behavioral health residential care facilities.
The Office of the Youth Ombudsperson promotes the health, welfare, education, safety, wellbeing, and successful reentry of Philadelphia youth in residential placements.
Our young people deserve protection, support, and an independent advocate looking out for their best interests.
If you vote “yes” on this ballot question, that means you support adding the Office of the Youth Ombudsperson to the City of Philadelphia’s Home Rule Charter (our local constitution) and making it a permanent part of Philadelphia government.
Our kids are our future. By making sure they are safe, we invest in the future success of our city and communities.
This matters because too many young people in residential placements have faced serious harm. A study found that between 2010 and 2018, children in Pennsylvania residential facilities were physically maltreated 156 times, exposed to inappropriate sexual contact 73 times, and suffered at least 43 incidents of verbal maltreatment by staff. Even more concerning, 44% of the facilities reviewed had repeated violations involving physical or sexual maltreatment of children.
The Office of the Youth Ombudsperson offers a better approach. They educate young people about their rights, build trusting relationships with youth, and serve as an independent place to receive complaints. The Youth Ombudsperson review facility policies and data to help make sure systems are working for both staff and young people. And they contact the proper authorities when urgent safety concerns arise.
Our kids deserve an advocate dedicated to monitoring conditions in youth residential care facilities and standing up for their safety and wellbeing.
Making the Office of the Youth Ombudsperson gives them the stability, autonomy, and financial resources they need to protect vulnerable young people.
Impact
Since its launch in 2023, the Office of the Youth Ombudsperson has demonstrated meaningful, measurable impact across youth residential placement facilities. It has achieved the following:
- Handled 30+ cases involving serious concerns such as improper restraints, isolation, medical neglect, and disruptions to education
- Conducted 50+ site visits to youth residential facilities to directly observe conditions and practices
- Met with 200+ youth in placement, ensuring their voices are heard and their experiences inform oversight efforts
- Surveyed 150+ youth to better understand patterns, challenges, and opportunities for improvement
- Trained 200+ parents and professionals on youth rights and how to report concerns
Beyond these numbers, the Office of the Youth Ombudsperson’s work has led to real system change. Their oversight has contributed to:
- Improvements in facility policies and practices
- Strengthened city agency assessment and monitoring processes
- More effective and responsive corrective action plans
The Office of the Youth Ombudsperson has also addressed high-level systemic concerns, advocating for reforms that are already improving and will continue to improve the quality of care, safety, and treatment that young people receive.
Important Dates
Monday May 4, 2026: Last day to register before the primary
Tuesday May 12, 2026: Last day to apply for a mail-in or civilian absentee ballot
Tuesday May 19th, 2026: Primary Election Day and Last day for county election office to receive completed mail-in and civilian absentee ballots (must be received by 8:00PM)
Tuesday May 26th, 2026: Last day for county election office to receive completed military and overseas absentee ballots (submitted for delivery no later than 11:59 PM on May 19, 2026)
Paid for by the Council of the City of Philadelphia