Since starting my job as director of the Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) in June, I’ve signed 95 adoption papers for children being adopted from foster care into new families and waived adoption fees to help make adoption through the department easier.

Signing adoptions is an emotionally charged part of this job. I read every one, and while each is a story about loss, it’s also a story about support and hope.

Each November we observe National Adoption Month to honor and support adoptive families and highlight the thousands of children in need of permanent, loving homes. In Idaho, this month is particularly meaningful as we celebrate the families who have opened their hearts to children in foster care. 

There are different types of adoption. An adoption done through DHW is a public agency adoption that’s facilitated by the department or another state or county social service department. The department does not provide private adoptions.

In a public agency adoption, the department has custody of the children in foster care and typically works with a birth family to try to reunite them for 12 months. If that can’t occur, the court may terminate parental rights, and the child is available for adoption.

The journey toward adoption can be challenging but also comes with rewards. Adoptive families provide a sense of belonging and security that every child deserves. For children who have experienced the instability of foster care, adoption offers the promise of consistency, love, and a chance to thrive.

For these reasons and more, DHW is working to transform child welfare in Idaho by doubling the rate of resource families. This means reducing the number of kids in the system, increasing the number of foster families, or both. And a piece of the puzzle includes adoption for children that, for whatever unfortunate reason or reasons may exist, cannot return to their parents.

National Adoption Month is a reminder that everyone has a role to play in supporting adoption. Whether by adopting, fostering, or spreading awareness, all Idahoans can make a difference.

This month, we are particularly focused on finding families for Idaho’s older youth in foster care who are often overlooked but have so much potential. A stable home environment can transform these young lives, providing not only a safe space to grow but also the encouragement to pursue their dreams.

To all of Idaho’s adoptive families, thank-you for your commitment. Your love and dedication create brighter futures and stronger communities. For those considering becoming foster or adoptive parents, please reach out to our team to learn more about this life-changing journey. Together, we can create a future where every child has a family to call their own.

Below are more resources for people seeking additional information about adoption in Idaho:

•    Information about adoption through foster care: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/children-families/child-and-family-services-and-foster-care/about-adoption

•    Private adoption information: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/children-families/child-and-family-services-and-foster-care/private-adoption

•    Adoption and guardianship assistance: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/children-families/child-and-family-services-and-foster-care/adoption-and

Photo caption: One Idaho family celebrates adoption of their newest family member at the courthouse.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.