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Child Advocate office tells committee it needs staffing, space and operating dollars as complaints climb
Summary
Acting Child Advocate Carrie Leonard told the Committee on Social Services Budget the independent Office of the Child Advocate saw about a 60% year‑over‑year increase in complaints and asked for funding to fill one open investigator post, cover an expected rent increase tied to a planned move and sustain recurring case‑management costs.
The Office of the Child Advocate told the Committee on Social Services Budget that it is struggling to absorb a sharp rise in complaints and needs ongoing operating support to maintain timely oversight of the child‑welfare system.
"We've had a 60% increase in complaints coming in from 2024 to 2025," Acting Child Advocate Carrie Leonard told the committee, saying the agency relies on a small team (the advocate, five investigators and one administrative staffer) to respond. Leonard said two investigator positions approved last session were essential but the office still has one vacancy it hopes to fill in 2026.
The agency was established by executive order in 2021…
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