Department of Health and Welfare Ombudsman - HSSO, Idaho

The Department of Health and Welfare Ombudsman (HSSO) would like to say thank you to ALL the women out there who have loved and nurtured us. We wish you a very happy Mother’s Day.

The Ombudsman Office was delighted to participate in the Idaho Foster Care Conference for the Western Hub on Friday and Saturday! We enjoyed the opportunity to interact with local and state supporters who work tirelessly to unite the foster care community and provide essential resources for families requiring support in their foster care journey. We would like to express our thanks to Fostering Idaho Partnership for inviting the Ombudsman Office and enabling our office the chance to support foster families throughout Idaho. The Ombudsman Office looks forward to continuing these partnerships and growing supports and resourceses for the foster care community we serve.

Meet your Ombudsman! Trevor Sparrow was appointed by Governor Brad Little in 2024 to serve as the first Health and Social Services Ombudsman to help identify productive and innovative ideas by which Idaho can better support children and those serving critical roles in foster care and child protection.

Sparrow has served as director of the Idaho Youth Challenge Academy (IDYCA) in Pierce, Idaho, since 2017. Under his leadership, the IDYCA has helped more than 2,200 at-risk or dropout youth get back on track and earn their high school diploma or GED. Previously, he served as the IDYCA deputy director for two years. In addition, he worked as a probation and parole officer and drug and alcohol rehabilitation specialist for the Idaho Department of Correction.

Sparrow was elected mayor of Pierce from 2016 to 2020 and has served as chair of the Clearwater Economic Development Association board of directors.

Sparrow earned a master’s degree in addiction counseling from Grand Canyon University, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from the University of Phoenix, and an associate’s degree in law enforcement from Idaho State University. He also holds a graduate certificate in Restorative Practices from the International Institute for Restorative Practices, and he recently earned his Certified Public Manager designation from Idaho’s program.

Sparrow and his wife have six children and also have been foster parents. They adopted one of their daughters from the foster care system.