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New Office of Health and Social Services Ombudsman outlines staffing and budget needs
Summary
The newly created Office of Health and Social Services Ombudsman told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee it has three appropriated FTEs, an ongoing FY2025 appropriation of $470,000 and a governor-supported request to increase personnel funding to recruit at competitive salaries.
The Office of Health and Social Services Ombudsman, established last legislative session, briefed the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Jan. 15 about its role, staffing and budget needs as it begins operations.
Alex Williamson, budget and policy analyst for the Legislative Services Office, told members the office was created by statute last session and can be found in the budget book on page 5-121. "The Ombudsman is charged with monitoring and evaluating the compliance of public agencies and private entities in the provision of health and social services policy for children under the care of the state," Williamson said, summarizing statutory duties tied to the Idaho foster care program.
The governor appropriated three FTEs for the office and appointed Trevor Sparrow as the ombudsman in late November, Williamson said. The office received about $470,000 in ongoing general-fund appropriation for FY2025; roughly $395,000 of that is allocated to personnel costs and $20,000 was provided as a one-time capital outlay amount to set up the office.
Trevor Sparrow, the newly appointed ombudsman, described the office’s work: accepting complaints from parents, foster parents and others with an interest in children in state care, investigating issues, producing reports and making recommendations to agencies and the legislature. Sparrow, a former director at the Idaho Youth Challenge Academy, said the office can also initiate investigations and make legislative recommendations based on systemic reviews.
Sparrow told the committee the ombudsman’s statutory role can include review of residential agencies that house children, including juvenile corrections. He said he has discussed cooperation with deputy directors at Health and Welfare and expects the office may be able to work with citizen review panels to gather volunteer expertise and support for research and policy recommendations.
Williamson said the Department of Human Resources recommended increasing the personnel budget so the office can hire at salary levels above 80% of policy to recruit and retain qualified staff. Sparrow said the office plans to follow standards of the United States Ombudsman Association and aims to build a multidisciplinary team that could include legal, nursing and social-work expertise.
There was no formal committee action at the hearing; committee members asked clarifying questions about the office’s scope, overlap with existing review panels and staffing plans. The committee will consider the office’s personnel funding request as part of its budget-setting work.
