New Office of Health and Social Services Ombudsman briefs committee on role, staffing and budget

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee met Jan. 15 to hear an introduction to the new Office of Health and Social Services Ombudsman and its first appointed leader, Trevor Sparrow.

Alex Williamson of the Legislative Services Office explained the office was created by Senate Bill 1380 in the prior session and is charged with monitoring and evaluating the compliance of public agencies and private entities providing health and social services for children under state care, including foster care. The office was appropriated three full-time positions and $470,000 ongoing from the general fund for FY2025, including $20,000 one-time capital outlay to establish the office.

Trevor Sparrow, who the governor appointed Nov. 27, introduced himself and described the office's duties: receiving complaints from parents, foster parents or other interested parties; investigating whether agencies are handling cases appropriately and ethically; producing investigative reports; and making recommendations, including potential legislative changes.

Sparrow said the office will primarily focus on the foster care system but can investigate residential facilities that care for children, including juvenile corrections. He told members he has already met with Department of Health and Welfare leadership and Deputy Director Prowell and discussed potential collaboration with citizen review panels that assess problematic cases and produce policy recommendations.

Representative Handy asked which agencies the ombudsman will assist; Sparrow replied the office will primarily focus on the foster care system and may investigate any residential agency that houses children in Idaho. Senator Wintrow asked about using citizen review panels as a resource; Sparrow described potential uses for volunteer panels to help research and produce legislative recommendations. When asked about the status of congregate care and out-of-state placements, Sparrow said, based on his meetings with department leadership, that children had been removed from congregate care and short-term placements had ended.

Williamson said state Human Resources recommended boosting personnel funding to allow the office to recruit and retain qualified staff by offering salaries "above 80% of policy." The recommended personnel increase is ongoing and would be paid from the general fund.

Sparrow said the office has adopted the standards of the United States Ombudsman Association and plans to use a multidisciplinary team that could include legal, nursing and social-work expertise. He closed by thanking the committee. No committee vote or directive was recorded during the presentation.