New York State Ombuds for Developmentally Disabled Routinely Breached Whistleblowers' Confidentiality

The NY Times is reporting that the Ombudsman for the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities has been revealing the names of whisleblowers. The state agency that oversees thousands of group homes advertises that its Ombuds are required by law, “receive and keep confidential any complaint” from parents, advocates and anyone else, including state employees. However, agency officials now concede that their internal policy has for years been to encourage Ombuds to turn over the names of whistleblower employees when they report abuse or neglect.

UMass Dartmouth Ombuds Celebrates Conflict Resolution Day With Special Guests

On October 20, 2011, the Office of the Ombudsperson at UMass Dartmouth sponsored its first National Conflict Resolution Day event with a keynote address, "Difficult Times, Difficult Conversations...An Ombuds Perspective" by Toni Robinson, Ombudsperson, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Melissa Brodrick, the Harvard Medical School Ombuds, presented a workshop for campus leaders on "Managing Conflict in the Workplace," a video of which is available online.

University of British Columbia Ombuds Faces Funding Shortfall

Since it was established in 2009, the UBC Ombuds Office has been funded jointly by the university, the Graduate Student Society and the student society, AMS. Despite a verbal agreement to provide funding for the current academic year and as it has for the past three years, AMS is facing a budget deficit and says it cannot make any contributions for the 2011-12 year. The AMS president is in negotiations with the university to ensure the the UBC Ombuds Office continues to operate as an independent resource. One possible solution may come through an AMS funding referendum next January.

Northern Arizona University Ombuds Reports a Three-Year Uptick in Cases

Phoebe Morgan, program coordinator for Northern Arizona University’s Faculty Ombuds Program reports that requests for direct assistance increased for the third consecutive year. The number for the 2010-11 academic year was 162% higher than reported in the Program’s first year, 2007-08. Interpersonal disputes with students, staff and administrators continued to be the primary reason why faculty members contacted the Faculty Ombuds Office. 

Update: More Materials from Silicon Valley Program on Corporate Ombuds

The Corporate Governance site at CorpGov.net has posted a summary of the Silicon Valley Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors meeting on October 20, 2011 that featured Pat Gnazzo, Chuck Howard, and Jon McBride.

Ombuds Blog Turns Five

I began publishing this blog five years ago today.  Since then, I've posted over 2,300 articles related to Organizational Ombuds.  The site now draws almost 17,000 page views a month.  In addition, 275 readers get nightly email updates and 207 follow on Twitter.  Selected items are also reposted on ADRhub.  Thanks for all your support.

Job Posting: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

The FDIC is hiring an Ombudsman Specialist to work in Arlington, VA. The position responds to customer inquiries received by the FDIC Office of the Ombudsman, which serves as an independent, neutral, and confidential resource and liaison for the banking industry and the general public.

Upgraded Website for Forum of Canadian Ombudsman

FCO has unveiled a beautiful and improved website. New features include links to members’ websites and other Ombuds associations, and a new logo. The site also promises to post "Standards of Practice and Ethics."  All of the materials are available in French and English.  (FCO Welcome Page.)

IOA Announces Webinar Series on Workplace Bullying

The International Ombudsman Association has announced its first webinar series. The four-part program will focus on bullying in the workplace and builds on a recent edition of the Journal of IOA that focused on the topic of bullying. Expert speakers come from several disciplines and organizations, and each of the programs qualify for Certified Organizational Ombudsman Practitioner continuing education hours.

UK Office of the Independent Adjudicator Gathering Input on Campus Ombuds

The independent body that handles student complaints against universities in England and Wales, has opened an inquiry into conflict resolution systems. The "Pathway 3 Consultation" seeks input from across the higher education sector and includes consideration of campus Ombuds programs.

SVNACD Interview with Chuck Howard: The Corporate Ombudsman: A Strategy To Detect and Stop Corporate Wrongdoing"

The Silicon Valley Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors has posted a conversation between Dan Siciliano, Associate Dean, Stanford Law School, and Chuck Howard, author of “The Organizational Ombudsman: Origins, Roles and Operations — A Legal Guide.” Howard explains why Ombuds are an important supplement to formal corporate structures, especially whisleblower programs. (SVNACD Video Podcast.)

Ombuds Program Set to Launch in New Mexico

Bruce MacAllister says that he has been working with "a large professional organization in Albuquerque to help them design a new Ombudsman program that will serve as a resource to help both members of the public and members of the professional organization find information and support and resolve conflicts and issues of concern."

University of Colorado Denver Ombuds Sees 45% Jump in Cases

In its eleventh annual report, the CU Denver Ombuds Office said it saw 525 people in the year ended June 2011, a significant increase from about 362 in the prior year. Moreover, an increase in the number of systemic issues brought to the office meant that visitors required more than the typical one to three visits.

Job Posting: Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco

KP is hiring a full-time Health Care Ombuds/Mediator for its facility in South San Francisco, CA. The Kaiser HCOM, "functions as a trained alternative dispute professional offering patients, family members, staff & providers a conflict management program to resolve patient/provider healthcare disputes early thereby improving patient safety & reducing the costs of health care dispute resolution."

Journal of Public Integrity Publishes Article on Ombuds

The latest issue of the journal published by Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (an executive branch entity composed of all American Inspectors General) features an article on the benefits of an Organizational Ombuds program in a governmental setting.