Does the Department of the Public Advocate protect children?
The Department of the Public Advocate does not have a division specifically assigned to protect children. There is a separate Office of the Child Advocate for this purpose. The Public Advocate works closely with the Office of the Child Advocate and refers complaints concerning children to that office. Office of the Child Advocate information. What are some examples of the kinds of problems that citizens may bring to the Public Advocate? The following list shows some types of matters that may be handled by the Public Advocate: • Failure of a state psychiatric hospital to have hot water in the winter, causing patients to shower in cold water; • Poor conditions, including no air conditioning, holes in the roof, rodents, and patient overcrowding at a state mental health facility; • Inmates of a county jail charged unreasonable fees to use a 900 number to find out public information like the amount of bail or whether criminal charges were filed; • Physical office conditions at a field offic
