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About Us

Our Mission:
The Office of the Ombudsperson for Children (OFC) is committed to working collaboratively across systems that impact CFSA children to foster improved outcomes, strengthen service delivery and increase accountability.

Staff:
Petrina Jones-Jesz  serves as the Ombudsperson for the District of Columbia’s Office of the Ombudsperson for Children (OFC).  Ms. Jones-Jesz brings over 20 years of experience in child welfare and social services programs.  She has served in the leadership of the Tennessee Department of Human Services (DHS) as an Assistant Commissioner and a Deputy Commissioner.  In these roles, Ms. Jones-Jesz had organizational leadership responsibilities for social services programs, administration, and performance and quality improvement.  Petrina has also held positions in the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS), providing leadership as the Director of the Policy, Planning and Research division; management of federal programs and reporting; and State lead for the Tennessee Community Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) program and Children’s Trust Fund.  She holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Middle Tennessee State University, Master of Education degree from Vanderbilt University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Oberlin College. 

William Thomas is the Deputy CFSA Ombudsperson with the DC Office of the Ombudsperson for Children (OFC).  William brings 28 years of child welfare experience to the position of Deputy CFSA Ombudsperson, beginning his career as a Child Protective Services Investigator in North Carolina.  He has served in various child welfare leadership positions with the Gaston County Department of Social Services and the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services in North Carolina, and the Division of Family and Children Services in Georgia.  William has served in professional leadership roles as a Supervisor, Field Program Specialist/Consultant, Social Services Administrator, Deputy Director, and County Director.  He comes to the Office of the Ombudsperson for Children from Georgia, after serving as the Deputy Director for the Fulton County Department of Family & Children Services in Atlanta, GA.  William is a graduate of the Howard University School of Social Work.

Raeshonda Swales is an Ombuds Analyst with the DC Office of the Ombudsperson for Children (OFC). Prior to this role, Raeshonda spent 10 years working in the social work field for the Core Service Agencies (CSA) in the District of Columbia. Raeshonda’ s last four years was with Hillcrest Children & Family Services where she served dual roles as a community support worker and team housing specialist. The roles she held allowed for collaboration with public agencies, government agencies, law enforcement and people in the local community. She worked with individuals to promote optimum mental health stability and address behavioral health issues, with the goal of reducing hospitalizations and sustaining independent living in the community. Raeshonda’ s years of work experience include crisis intervention and assertive community treatment/case management for youth and adults who struggle with mental health and community living.  Ms. Swales is a graduate of Lincoln University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology, and a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice, with a focus on Juvenile Justice from the University of Baltimore.