Governor names Child Services Ombudsman

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Governor Mitch Daniels has named an Indianapolis woman with more than 25 years of child welfare, social work and family counseling experience as the state’s first Department of Child Services Ombudsman.

Susan Hoppe will begin the role on December 14. She is a child welfare professional who has spent her career as a caseworker, manager and counselor on child and family issues such as custody evaluations, child abuse and neglect and family advocacy.

Daniels lauded Hoppe’s long career of commitment to child welfare, saying “Huge improvements and national honors are nice, but we can never do enough to protect our little ones from the selfishness or even brutality of irresponsible parents.”

Most recently, Hoppe has spent the last nine years as a social worker with Marion County Circuit and Superior Courts, providing evaluation services to families involved in contested custody cases. She also has served as the court’s appointee to the Marion County child protection team.

Previously, Hoppe had several roles with increasing responsibility with the Marion County Office of Family and Children in several positions, including direct services, supervision and management. From 1994 to 2000 she managed a staff of 50 employees who investigated reports of child abuse and neglect and provided services to children. Hoppe assisted with the creation of the Marion County Child Advocacy Center, and was instrumental in initiating the 24/7 coverage of Child Protective Services workers.

Earlier in her career, she was a policy consultant with the Family and Social Services Administration at the time that agency was responsible for child services programs. Hoppe promulgated the regulation that requires training for foster parents.

Hoppe earned her undergraduate degree from Northern Illinois University and her master’s degree from Butler University.

The Department of Child Services Ombudsman was created during the 2009 legislative session and is charged with being an independent evaluator in the safety and welfare of Hoosier children. 

Hoppe’s salary will be $90,000.