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New state ombudsman office outlines role overseeing foster-care complaints, seeks higher staff pay
Summary
The newly created Office of the Health and Social Services Ombudsman presented its first budget and described its role investigating complaints about Idaho’s foster-care system and producing systemic recommendations; the office is asking for higher personnel funding to recruit qualified staff.
The Office of the Health and Social Services Ombudsman, created by the Legislature last year, told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Jan. 15 that it will investigate complaints about the state’s foster-care system and produce policy recommendations.
The office, established by Senate Bill 1380, was appropriated three full-time positions (FTP) and $470,000 ongoing for fiscal 2025, all from the general fund. Trevor Sparrow, the governor’s appointee as ombudsman, told the committee he was appointed Nov. 27 and is recruiting to fill the remaining positions.
“Any parents that have had their children taken away, foster parents that are currently in the system, serving and helping with these kiddos, anywhere, any of those individuals that have any vested interest…
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