When children are removed from their homes for safety reasons, the next best option is often a familiar face — a grandparent, an aunt, or a close family friend, for example. These kinship placements provide children with a sense of stability, reduce trauma, and help preserve connections to family, culture, and community. But historically, even relatives willing to step in have faced lengthy licensing and approval processes that delay placement.

That’s starting to change in Idaho.

Effective July 1, new rules enacted by the Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) create a separate path for kinship licensure. This change comes in response to House Bill 245, which passed during the 2025 legislative session with bipartisan support, mirroring the national model being used around the country.

This marks a meaningful shift. 

Under the new rule, eligible kin can follow a separate and expedited licensing path. Instead of completing the full foster care licensing process, they undergo a standard background check and an abbreviated caregiver assessment focused solely on their ability to meet the child’s needs — and how the Department can support them. It’s a faster, more focused process that still protects child safety.

This isn’t just compassionate — it’s strategic. Research shows that children placed with kin experience fewer disruptions, are less likely to re-enter foster care, and often have better long-term outcomes. Supporting kin also means supporting families in crisis during some of their most vulnerable moments.

Together, these changes reflect Idaho’s growing commitment to making the foster care system more responsive, flexible, and centered on what’s best for children.

Monty Prow is deputy director of the Division of Child, Youth, and Family Services at DHW.

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