Trevor Sparrow outlines plans for new Health and Social Services ombudsman office; confirmation vote scheduled

Trevor Sparrow appeared before the committee as the governor’s nominee for the newly created Idaho Health and Social Services Ombudsman and described steps he has taken in his first month on the job.

Sparrow said he previously served as deputy director and director of the Idaho Youth Challenge Academy and earlier worked as a probation and parole officer and drug and alcohol counselor for the Idaho Department of Corrections. He told senators his office has been contacted by parents and advocacy groups already and that he has begun establishing an office location, hiring staff, and implementing an online complaint and reporting system.

Sparrow told the committee he intends the office to follow standards of the United States Ombudsman Association, certify staff as mediators, and produce data and reports to inform legislators and the Department of Health and Welfare. He said one focus will be to compile citizen review panel reports and regional data to identify trends and systemic problems; he noted regional differences such as rates of incarcerated women, which he said are high and can affect foster-care caseloads.

Senator Wintrow asked Sparrow how he would balance complaint investigations with broader data analysis and how he would work with citizen review panels. Sparrow said he is building an impartial investigative process and a credible data system; he said panels can refer complaints and regional panels can help investigate regional issues that feed into statewide recommendations.

Sparrow said he hopes to hire a deputy ombudsman soon, described progress on office space and records systems, and praised Department of Health and Welfare leadership’s willingness to collaborate. The chair said the committee will vote on Sparrow’s confirmation at the next meeting.