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Trevor Sparrow outlines plans for new Health & Social Services ombudsman office
Summary
Trevor Sparrow, nominee for the newly created Idaho Health and Social Services Ombudsman, told senators he will emphasize impartial investigations, data collection, standards from the U.S. Ombudsman Association, mediation training, and partnering with citizen review panels; the committee will vote tomorrow.
Trevor Sparrow, the governor’s nominee for the newly created Health and Social Services Ombudsman, told the Senate Health & Welfare Committee he plans to emphasize impartial investigations, data-driven recommendations and partnerships with local citizen review panels.
Sparrow described his background as director of the Idaho Youth Challenge Academy in Pierce. He said he served 11 years at the academy, including eight as director, and that the program helped “approximately 2,400 youth get back on their feet” through GED and diploma programs. He described earlier work as a probation and parole officer, a drug and alcohol counselor, and in private security and investigations.
On the ombudsman role, Sparrow said the office will pursue three main functions: receiving and investigating complaints, compiling and analyzing data to identify systemic trends, and producing reports and recommendations to the Legislature and the Department of Health and Welfare. “First and foremost, I think we need to have … a very credible and impartial, investigative process,” he said. He told the committee he had already identified a reporting system to accept complaints online and by phone and planned to train staff as professional mediators.
Sparrow said he had begun outreach: “I've been contacted by parents who have had concerns about their children and how their case has been handled. I've been contacted by several advocacy groups and individuals.” He said the office will adopt best practices from the United States Ombudsman Association and will produce quarterly data to help lawmakers and agency leadership understand trends.
Sparrow said he plans to work with citizen review panels and suggested some panels could support regional investigations into issues such as high rates of incarcerated women, which he said can affect foster-care counts. He said he expected to fill a deputy position soon and that office space and reporting tools were being arranged.
Senators praised the Youth Challenge Academy’s work and asked Sparrow about coordinating with citizen review panels and whether statutory changes might be needed to strengthen panels’ operation. Sparrow said there is “room for improvement” in that statute and indicated he would work with panels and stakeholders on recommendations.
The committee did not vote on Sparrow’s confirmation at the hearing; the chair said the committee will take the vote at tomorrow’s meeting.
