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The Ombuds Resource for Federal Defender

Confidential. Independent. Impartial. Informal.

The term “ombuds” (pronounced “ahm–buhds”) comes from a Swedish term meaning “a person who has an ear to the people.”

Federal Defender has two ombuds (Allison Monyei Whaley and Tim Hedeen, see bios below) who are available to work with all staff to surface and resolve work-related issues. The ombuds are an independent, impartial, confidential, and informal resource for you to speak with when you need help resolving an issue.

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the ombuds function:

  1. What does the ombuds team do?
  2. What does the ombuds team not do?
  3. Who can use the ombuds team service?
  4. What types of concerns are brought to the ombuds team?
  5. What happens when you contact the ombuds team?
  6. What might I gain by contacting the ombuds team?
  7. What authority does the ombuds team have?
  8. What happens to information provided to the ombuds team?
  9. Should I contact the ombuds team to give notice to Federal Defender?
  10. How does the ombuds team remain neutral?
  11. Will the ombuds team participate in formal meetings?
  12. How is the ombuds team unique and different than other resources at Federal Defender?
  13. Are there some things that will not be kept confidential?
  14. What does the Ombuds Team report to Federal Defender?
  15. Should I contact the Ombuds Team to give notice of a formal complaint to Federal Defender?
  16. Will the ombuds team talk to my attorney or testify for me or for Federal Defender if I choose to file a grievance or lawsuit?
  17. Can the user of the ombuds team services remain anonymous?
  18. What if my question is not listed here?

About the Ombuds Team

You have access to one of the following ombuds below with any questions or concerns. All calls are confidential.

ombuds Allison Monyei WhaleyAllison Monyei Whaley (allison-ombuds@mwi.org and 202-909-5823) is an ombuds, mediator, and dispute resolution trainer. She earned her Juris Doctorate from Mercer University School of Law. Allison is a member of the International Ombudsman Association (IOA) and completed IOA’s Foundations of Organizational Ombudsman Practice Course. She is also a Certified Organizational Ombudsman Practitioner (CO-OP) and serves on IOA’s CO-OP Board of Directors. Allison has served as an Organizational Ombuds at Clemson University and at Montgomery College, where she provides services to all employees, including faculty, staff and administrators. Prior to ombudsing in higher education, Allison was an external-facing ombuds for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, where she provided confidential ombuds services to businesses and corporations that were collaborating with the government as regulated entities. Before entering the ombuds profession, she worked as a nonprofit attorney, advocating on behalf of our nation’s veterans and their families. Several times in her career, Allison has been recognized as a leader having been selected for the President’s Leadership Institute at Clemson University, the FDA’s Leading for Results Leadership Development Program, and the FDA’s Leading at All Levels Aspiring Leaders Program. She is co-chair of the American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section Ombuds Committee and a member of and the administrator for the Black Ombuds Network. Contact Allison at allison-ombuds@mwi.org or call 202-909-5823.

Tim HedeenTim Hedeen (tim-ombuds@mwi.org) is an ombuds and mediator with MWI. Tim is an experienced ombuds, mediator, and facilitator, as well as a researcher and evaluator of ombuds offices and dispute resolution systems. He serves on the editorial board of Conflict Resolution Quarterly and as a senior consultant to the National Center on Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education. He formerly served on the Commission on Dispute Resolution of the Georgia Supreme Court, on the Section Council of the American Bar Association’s Section of Dispute Resolution, and as co-chair of the Board of Directors of the National Association for Community Mediation. He’s an active member of the International Ombudsman Association. Contact Tim at tim-ombuds@mwi.org or call 404-804-8490.

Contact

  • Email: Send an email to either ombuds
  • Phone: (direct and confidential phone and voicemail) 
  • Confidential web form: If you have a concern at work and would like to raise it in confidence, please feel free to fill out the web form below.

The Federal Defender Ombuds Team was established under a charter approved by the Board Chair of Federal  Defender. A copy of that charter is available here. The charter incorporates by reference the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the International Ombuds Association (IOA) and requires that the Federal Defender Ombuds Team adhere to the IOA Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. The charter, as well as the IOA Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, contain important information about the Federal Defender Ombuds Team and the manner in which it functions.

Due to the confidential, neutral, informal and independent nature of the ombuds function, communication with the ombuds does not constitute formal notice to Federal Defender.