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New Health and Social Services Ombudsman office begins work with three FTEs and $470,000 appropriation
Summary
The Office of Health and Social Services Ombudsman, created by last year’s legislation, told the Joint Finance and Appropriation Committee it was appropriated $470,000 for FY2025, has three FTP positions authorized and seeks higher personnel funding to recruit qualified staff at competitive salaries.
Trevor Sparrow, the newly appointed ombudsman, told the Joint Finance and Appropriation Committee on Jan. 15 that the Office of Health and Social Services Ombudsman will focus on complaints and systemic reviews related to children under state care, including foster care and residential placements.
Sparrow said the office was established by Senate Bill 1380 and has interim-reporting obligations under Senate Bill 1459 (2024). He said the office was appropriated about $470,000 for FY2025, of which about $450,000 is ongoing; the appropriation included three full-time positions. The governor’s recommendation supports an ongoing personnel increase intended to allow hiring “at above 80% of policy,” after the Department of Human Resources recommended raising salary allocations to recruit and retain qualified legal, nursing and social-work expertise.
“Any of those individuals that have any vested interest in those children can file a complaint with the office and then we investigate those things, make sure that the agency is handling those cases appropriately and ethically,” Sparrow said, describing the office’s complaint and investigative role.
Sparrow told the committee the office can make recommendations to agencies and to the legislature and that the office may also conduct investigations absent a named complaint to evaluate agency operations and suggest legislative or administrative changes. He said he has had discussions with Department of Health and Welfare staff about coordinating with citizen review panels and volunteer groups to provide research support and policy recommendations.
Sparrow said the office has adopted the United States Ombudsman Association standards and intends to build a multidisciplinary staff, which could include legal, nursing and social-work expertise. He was appointed by the governor on Nov. 27 and told the committee he is in the process of hiring for the remaining positions.
Ending: Committee members asked clarifying questions about the office’s jurisdiction (primarily foster care, with authority to investigate residential placements and juvenile corrections if statutorily permitted) and recruitment plans; no formal committee action was taken during the hearing.
