Jesse and Hailey are Idaho foster parents who understand firsthand how complicated families can be. In fact, it’s something they both grew up with.

Hailey’s childhood home was often full. Her siblings mixed with extended family members and foster youth her mother cared for, sometimes swelling to a dozen children on weekends.

Jesse’s upbringing looked different but was no less complicated. He grew up in a home that was often broken, and he knows that, under slightly different circumstances, he could have entered foster care himself.

Along the way, he gathered a group of mother figures who “represented different seasons” of his life. All four sat in the front row at his and Hailey’s wedding.

These experiences shaped how they see children and families — especially those navigating instability, loss, and change.

“I have the perspective of what it's like … you know, adolescence, and to not have a stable environment, or a predictable kind of loving environment,” Jesse said.

(Follow this link to watch a video about Jesse an Hailey’s experiences as foster parents.)

Stability and predictability are central goals of foster care, but they don’t come easily. Youth who’ve experienced upheaval may struggle in school or display big behaviors as they learn to trust again. Jesse remembers how the steady adults in his own life helped guide him, even during unstable years. Today, as a foster dad, he sees his role as returning that gift to others.

The couple has taken in youth, and even opened their home to a single mother and her children for several years.

“Now they are family to us,” Jesse said.

Hailey said she sees the long arc of care clearly, in part because of her own mother’s example. Her mom sometimes wondered whether the many children who passed through their home were truly helped. Hailey recently shared a moment that answered those questions.

One foster youth Hailey’s mother had cared for recently called and told her: “‘I want you to know that I'm alive today because you loved me, because you showed up,’”

Service has always been central to Jesse and Hailey’s family life, long before foster care became part of their story, and it’s something they work to instill in the children in their care.

“We definitely know that our destiny in life is to add value to others,” Jesse said. “And the best life to live is a life when you're in service. So it's something we communicate to our kids. Like, you can live your life for yourself, but you'll end up empty, but if you live your life serving others, it is just more rewarding.”

Their commitment has brought full hearts and a full home — with room still to grow.

Their message to others is simple and direct: “You have this opportunity to take a kid and completely change that person's life,” Jesse said. “And it may work out, or it may not, but you should try.”

Not everyone can be a foster parent, but everyone can help. Supporting youth can mean donating supplies, offering time, or showing up in smaller but meaningful ways.

And for those who can live with uncertainty — who can accept that a child they cared for six months in their early teens may or may not remember them, may never call, may never look back — foster care may be worth considering. You might be a parent figure for a season, for a year, or for a lifetime.

Sometimes, that’s enough to change everything.

Idaho needs foster parents

If you’ve ever considered fostering, know that your willingness to offer a home—even for one child for one season—can change a child’s life forever. For more information, call 2-1-1 or visit the Department of Health and Welfare’s foster care page. You could be the difference that turns a story of struggle into one of hope and belonging.

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

For years, the Department of Health and Welfare has collected detailed information through its child welfare case management system, capturing the history and progress of thousands of cases across Idaho. Lance McCleve, bureau chief for Youth Safety and Permanency, has been leading a project to better use that information to help children move more quickly into safe, permanent homes.

“When kids are in the child protection system, we want to make sure that they’re in the system for as little time as possible and that they can get to a permanent placement as soon as possible,” McCleve said. “And the more information we have to be able to help them along their way, the better.”

The challenge was not a lack of data, but efficiently accessing that data. Much of the information exists as narrative case notes and documents that are difficult to analyze at scale.

To address that challenge, McCleve’s team explored how artificial intelligence could be used behind the scenes to synthesize historical information — while maintaining strict protections for Idahoans’ personal data. He shared about the project in a recent video published by the Idaho Office of Information Technology Services. 

The project used existing Microsoft Dynamics and Azure services, and all extracted data was anonymized before being processed.

AI was never intended to replace professional judgment. Human review and validation were required at every step to ensure accuracy.

“What we’re using it for is a decision help, not a decision maker,” McCleve said. “So it gets our case workers the kind of information that they need quickly to be able to make the decisions that used to take a long time.”

The project focused on identifying 52 nationally recognized indicators across about 2,000 historical cases — a task that used to take staff four hours per case to complete manually. That would have taken four staff an entire year to complete.  Using AI, the entire case record can be analyzed in about 30 minutes. 

“So it basically made some things that were impossible possible for us,” McCleve said.

During statewide training, staff began applying the findings to real cases and saw immediate value.

“What they were finding is that those indicators helped clarify what next steps were needed to get kids home quicker,” McCleve said.

Looking ahead, McCleve sees the project as both a proof of concept and a promise.

“If I could describe the future of AI for the department in one word,” he said, “hopeful.”

Watch the Office of Information Technology Services video featuring McCleve, DHW Director Juliet Charron, DHW Deputy Director Monty Prow, and others who work in state government discuss the use of AI in their work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5QC97ImWs0

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

Idaho foster families will soon have even more opportunities to get outside together, thanks to a generous $2,500 donation in part from the Capitol City Kiwanis Club in Boise. The gift strengthens a long-standing partnership between the Department of Health and Welfare’s Child, Youth and Family Services Division and the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.

The donation will help cover the cost of day-use passes, activity fees, and other outdoor recreation expenses. These supports make it easier for families to enjoy Idaho’s parks and public lands—creating space for connection, exploration, and healing.

“Thanks to the Kiwanis Club for your donations and for volunteering with the events and making this partnership successful,” said Parks and Recreation Director Susan Buxton. “Outdoor activities give children a chance to explore, have fun, and build confidence. This partnership helps make that possible.”

Nature-based experiences play an important role in helping children in care build positive memories and strengthen family relationships. Support from community partners helps expand those opportunities.

Parks and Recreation will work with DHW’s Child, Youth and Family Services Program to identify the activities and locations that best meet the needs of foster families, including park day passes, youth programs, and family-friendly events.

DHW is grateful for the Kiwanis Club’s generosity and hopes this gift encourages more Idaho organizations to support foster families in meaningful ways.

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

Each flu season is different, but one thing remains the same: influenza can be serious, particularly for older adults and people with underlying health conditions.

So far this season, Idaho has recorded two influenza-related deaths. While that number remains low for now, indicators suggest flu activity in the state is increasing.

On average, Idaho reports about 45 influenza-related deaths each year, with most occurring among people age 65 and older.

According to the CDC’s latest FluView surveillance update, there have been at least 1.9 million flu illnesses, 19,000 hospitalizations, and 730 deaths in the U.S. attributed to influenza so far this season. Public health officials continue to monitor trends as the season develops. 

Individuals and families may consider vaccinating for the flu for anyone 6 months and older. Idahoans are encouraged to speak with their healthcare provider about what may be best for them and their family and to ask any questions. 

“We want people to understand that influenza is not always a minor illness,” said state Idaho State Epidemiologist Dr. Christine Hahn. “Flu can lead to loss of work time, missed school, and missed time with loved ones during the holidays. Flu activity is increasing both in Idaho and nationwide, with current data showing especially high levels of illness in parts of the eastern and southeastern United States.”

In addition to vaccination, everyday prevention measures still matter. Washing hands frequently, avoiding people who are sick, and staying home when ill can all help reduce the spread of respiratory viruses. Getting enough rest, staying hydrated, and eating nutritious foods also support overall health.

Flu symptoms often include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. While many people recover within a few days, influenza can lead to serious complications and, in some cases, death.

Learn more:

Idaho influenza information: http://flu.idaho.gov

CDC influenza resources: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm 

ACIP influenza vaccination recommendations: https://www.cdc.gov/acip-recs/hcp/vaccine-specific/flu.html

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