OCO Information About Patrick County

Specific data for the exact number of people who felt they received "unfair" treatment in Patrick County during State Fiscal Year 2025 is not publicly released in the Office of the Children's Ombudsman (OCO) Annual Report. 

While the OCO tracks complaints by locality, they typically aggregate these into a statewide total to protect privacy in smaller jurisdictions. However, here is what is known regarding Patrick County's child welfare climate and general complaint data: 
Local Context for Patrick County.

Subject of Complaints
The Patrick County Department of Social Services was likely among the 88 local departments (out of 120) that were the subject of at least one formal complaint to the OCO in FY2025.

State Intervention Concerns
In 2024, local officials, including members of the Patrick County Board of Supervisors, publicly discussed severe issues within the local foster care unit, even suggesting it might become the first in Virginia to face a state takeover due to safety concerns and declining performance.
Reported Issues: Documented concerns from local judges and supervisors included staffing shortages, improper procedures, and cases where children were reportedly harmed while in the system. 

How to Find Specific Local Data
If you are looking for specific records of dissatisfaction or case outcomes for Patrick County, you can:

Request Local Data
You can file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the Patrick County Department of Social Services for non-identifying aggregate data on administrative appeals filed locally.

Contact the OCO
The Office of the Children's Ombudsman can sometimes provide more granular data upon request if it does not violate confidentiality. 

Would you like the contact information for the Patrick County Social Services director or instructions on how to file a FOIA request for this data?

Patrick's foster care unit may be first for state take over - The Enterprise.

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