What types of investigations does the Office of Client Advocacy conduct?

The Office of Client Advocacy conducts the following investigations:

• Caretaker maltreatment of Hissom class members
• Caretaker maltreatment of SORC, NORCE & Greer residents
• Caretaker maltreatment of minors living outside their homes (other than foster care)  and of minors and youth in OJA operated or contracted facilities

What is "caretaker maltreatment?"

Caretaker maltreatment refers to abuse, neglect, verbal abuse, exploitation, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, and, in some circumstances, caretaker misconduct performed by a caretaker.

Who is a "caretaker?"

With regard to minors and youth, a caretaker is an agent or employee of a daytime treatment program for minors and youth or an agent or employee of a public or private residential home, institution, or facility where minors and youth reside at times when they are not in foster care and not living at home.

With regard to vulnerable adults, a caretaker is a person who has the responsibility for the care of the vulnerable adult or for the financial management of the vulnerable adult's resources. The caretaker may be a volunteer, a paid caregiver, a friend or a guardian.