Specialty Chapters
USOA members who share similar jurisdiction or structure have formed Chapters to facilitate networking and training among themselves. USOA currently has specialty chapters for Children and Families, Education, Federal Government, Health and Wellness, Local Government, and Public Safety.
Chapters may organize special presentations and training at USOA’s annual conference and at other times during the year. Chapter chairs participate as ex officio members of the Board of Directors.
E-mail lists have been created for each chapter. Chapter members can use the e-mail list to post news articles, news releases, and links to investigative and annual reports that would be of interest to others in the field. Or they can post a question or concern and ask other chapter members to provide them with feedback or advice. These smaller, topic-specific discussion groups are a useful and helpful way to interact with colleagues in the ombudsman community.
Children and Families Chapter
Laura Robertson
Child Welfare Ombudsman Executive Director
Arkansas Commission on Child Abuse, Rape and Domestic Violence
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
4301 West Markham Slot 606
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
Phone: 501-661-7974
Email
Jill Kehaulani Esch, Esq.
Ombudsperson for American Indian Families
Minnesota Office of Ombudsperson for AMERICAN INDIAN Families
23 Empire Drive, #102
St. Paul, MN 55103
Phone: 651-643-2523
Email
Angie McCourt
Director, Office of Ombuds
Utah Department of Health and Human Services
195 N 1950 W
Salt Lake City, UT 84116
Phone: 385-505-3502
Email
Education Chapter
Beverly Reeves
Retired District Ombudsman
Austin Independent School District
Austin, TX 78704
Email
Maleika Brown
Ombudsperson
Office of the Ombudsperson
Grand Rapids, MI 49508
Phone: 616-819-3006
Email
Federal Government Chapter
Erica M. Katherine
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Office of Regulatory Affairs
Office of the Associate Commissioner
10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Building 31, Room 3533
Silver Spring, MD 20993
Phone: 240-402-4787
Email
Dr. Belinda M. Robinson
Ombuds
U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General
Office of the Ombuds
4800 Mark Center Drive
Alexandria, VA 22350
Phone: 703-604-8799
Email
Health and Wellness Chapter
Rick Dempsey
West Virginia Mental Health Ombudsman Director
Office of Inspector General
State Capitol Complex
1900 Kanawha Boulevard East
Building 6, Room 817
Charleston, WV 25305
Phone: 304-558-2159
Email
Dennis Nyland
Montana Mental Health Ombudsman
Montana Mental Health Ombudsman Office
1205 8th Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
Phone: 406-444-9669
Email
Lisa Harrison-Hadler
Ombudsman
Minnesota Office of Ombudsman for Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
332 Minnesota Street, Ste W1410
First National Bank Building
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101-2117
Phone: 651-757-1806
Email
Local Government Chapter
Craig Gottschalk
Assistant Ombudsman
Nebraska Office of Public Counsel/Ombudsman
1225 L Street, Ste #300
Lincoln, NE 60508
Phone: 402-471-2035
Email
Greg McAllister
Advocate
Oregon Office of Small Business Assistance
255 Capitol Street NE, Ste. 151
Salem, OR 97310
Phone: 503-986-5185
Email
Public Advocate
Snohomish County Office of the Public Advocate
3000 Rockefeller Ave MS 401
Everett, WA 98201
Phone: 425-388-3365
Email
Public Safety Chapter
Charlene Burkett
DOC Ombudsman Bureau Director
Indiana DOC Ombudsman Bureau
402 W Washington W7479
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: 317-234-3190
Fax: 317-233-6921
Email
Caitlin Robertson
Director of the Office of the Corrections Ombuds
Office of the Corrections Ombuds
2700 Evergreen Parkway NW
Olympia, WA 98505
Phone: 360-867-8544
Email
Margaret Zadra
Ombudsperson
Minnesota Office of the Ombuds for Corrections
540 Fairview Ave N, Suite 202
St. Paul, MN 55104
Phone: 612-289-6460
Email