Welcome

About the Health and Social Services Ombudsman (HSSO)

The Health and Social Services Ombudsman (HSSO) is an independent office created by Senate Bill 1380. We review complaints about Idaho’s child welfare programs and help find ways to improve the system. Our job is to support both foster parents and biological families by making sure services are working fairly and effectively.

By collecting and studying data, we help make smart changes that better protect children and support families across the state.

Who We Are and How We Help

We are an independent agency that supports children and families across Idaho. We listen when people share their experiences or concerns about child protection. Then, we study each situation, ask questions, and work to find the best way to help.

Our job also means working with lawmakers, experts, and community leaders to improve laws and policies—so that children and families are better protected now and in the future.

How We Work For Idaho

The Health and Social Services Ombudsman (HSSO) is an independent office created by Senate Bill 1380 to review state child welfare program complaints. The office is intended to support foster and biological parents in the child welfare system and enable program improvements by collecting and analyzing data that can be used to implement system changes.

The HSSO focuses on ensuring resources and services are appropriately and efficiently provided to Idaho children in foster care, protective supervision, or residential treatment facilities in Idaho in addition to:

• Receiving and responding to complaints related to services provided to Idaho children in foster care, protective supervision, or residential treatment facilities;

• Informing service recipients and their families of their rights under state and federal law;

• Compiling and analyzing data regarding trends, problems, and challenges in providing health and social services for purposes of recommending changes to Idaho child welfare laws;

•Reporting annually to the Governor, Legislature, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Judiciary, and other state agencies on the work of his office and Idaho child welfare system operations; Educating the public about the role of the office.