Oregon DHS Governor's Advocacy Office DHS Governor's Advocacy Office Children's Ombudsman and Dispute Resolution Coordinator The Governor's Advocacy and Children's Ombudsman Office serves thousands of families throughout Oregon every year. Citizens in a personal crisis or experiencing a problem with, or seeking information about programs or services provided by the DHR divisions receive help and direction from the Governor's Advocacy and Children's Ombudsman Office. These concerns include, but are not limited to, child and elder abuse, access to health and dental programs, homelessness, personal or family crisis, drug and alcohol treatment, mental health programs, and services for the developmentally disabled. This office also serves as the Children's Ombudsman for the State of Oregon.
Staff review each citizen's situation and take a holistic look at what is happening in their life.
The citizen is referred to programs and services to meet their needs. We have recently added a dispute resolution coordinator. One member of the Office's staff is a Dispute Resolution Coordinator, whose responsibility is to help parties to disputes reach settlements that are faster, less expensive and more satisfactory to all parties involved. When an organization, unit of local government or other interest group is in a dispute with the department, the Dispute Resolution Coordinator will identify the key disputants, define the issues and engage an impartial mediator. There are eight incoming phone lines, if staff are unable to speak with the caller a message can be left on the voice-mail system.