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, Healthcare, 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

Education Chapter

Desiree’ Payne
Ombudsperson
Saint Paul Public schools
360 Colborne Street
St. Paul, MN 55102
Phone: 651-767-8394
Email

Beverly Reeves
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, Associate Organizational Ombudsman
Federal Bureau of Investigation | Office of the Ombudsman
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Suite 1835
Washington District of Colombia, 20535
Phone: 202 324-5298
Email

Health and Wellness Chapter

Rick Dempsey
Director
West Virginia Dept of Health and Human Resources
Mental Health Ombudsman
State Capitol Complex
1900 Kanawha Boulevard East
Building 6, Room 817
Charleston, WV 25305
Phone: 304-558-2159
Email

Paige Marsala
Deputy HHS Ombudsperson
Texas HHS Office of the Ombudsman
15009 Sassafras Trl
Pflugerville , TX 78660
Phone: 512-706-7189
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

Lin Quenzer
Ombudsman
Office of the Mayor, City of Lincoln, NE
555 South 10th Street, Suite 301
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: 402-441-8281
Fax: 402-441-7120
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