Youth in placement through the child welfare, juvenile justice, behavioral health or developmental disabilities system need a local, independent ombudsperson to hear their grievances and investigate allegations of abuse including educational deprivation. For two decades, through a series of scandals and task forces, the call has gone to the state to establish an ombudsperson office. The state-level recommendation, proposed repeatedly for over two decades and most recently from the governor's Juvenile Justice Task Force, is still an important reform, but a local ombudsperson for Philadelphia is also necessary. Testimony at a recent city council hearing made clear that the city's children cannot wait for the state to act and that a local office will be more accessible and effective. Youth, parents and facility workers need a safe and accessible place to go with complaints of abuse and a local ombudsman office can provide that.