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.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) is hiring for multiple positions to support the Rural Health Transformation Program, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen health care access and outcomes across rural Idaho.

Funded through a federal grant, this initiative will focus on improving rural health care systems, supporting the workforce, expanding access to services, and addressing long-term health challenges facing Idaho communities.

To support this work, DHW is recruiting a team of professionals across program management, finance, grants, and project coordination.

Now hiring: 12 positions

The department is currently hiring for the following limited-service positions (anticipated duration of up to five years):

• Senior Project Manager (aka: Project Manager 3)
• Project Manager 2 – two positions 
• Program Manager 
• Financial Specialist Principal
• Financial Specialists, Senior – two positions
• Grants/Contracts Officers – two positions
• Grants/Contracts Program Specialists – two positions
• Technical Records Specialist 1

These roles will play a critical part in building and implementing strategies that improve health outcomes for rural Idahoans.

Why this work matters

Rural communities face unique challenges—from workforce shortages to access to specialty care and infrastructure limitations.

The Rural Health Transformation Program is designed to address these challenges through coordinated, long-term improvements. This includes:

• Strengthening the health care workforce 
• Expanding access to services 
• Supporting innovation in care delivery 
• Improving health outcomes across rural communities 

This work will directly impact individuals and families across Idaho, helping ensure that where you live does not determine your access to care.

Who should apply

DHW is looking for individuals who are:

• Passionate about improving health outcomes 
• Experienced in program management, finance, grants, or project coordination 
• Collaborative and solutions-oriented 
• Interested in contributing to a large-scale, multi-year initiative 

Whether your background is in public service, health care, finance, or project management, these roles offer a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact.

How to apply

To learn more about the Rural Health Transformation Program, visit the department’s website.

Job postings are available on the State of Idaho careers website. Search by job title to find and apply for open positions. Or click on the linked job titles above.

Join the work

This is a rare opportunity to be part of a statewide effort to strengthen rural health systems and improve outcomes for Idaho communities.

If you’re looking for meaningful work with long-term impact, apply today.

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

When a Boise television crew recently visited the Southwest Idaho Treatment Center (SWITC) in Nampa, they came to tell a story about progress.

KTVB anchor Morgan Romero and photojournalist Sam McArthur filmed a segment about a teen (watch it here) who has been thriving since arriving at SWITC nearly a year ago. The story shows the transformation that can occur when individuals with complex developmental disabilities and severe behaviors receive structured, therapeutic stabilization.

During their visit, the crew filmed the teen riding his bicycle outside White Hall, drawing detailed artwork at the recreation center known as Jitterbug, playing basketball and spending time with his father. His father shared how services at SWITC have brought renewed stability and hope to their family.

Stories like this are the reason SWITC exists.

A Critical Role in Idaho’s Continuum of Care

SWITC serves individuals with developmental disabilities and co-occurring maladaptive behaviors who cannot be safely supported in traditional community settings. The center operates as a short-term therapeutic stabilization and transition facility. The goal is not long-term institutional care. It is stabilization, skill-building and preparation for a successful transition back into the community.

Each client receives an individualized treatment plan developed by a multidisciplinary team and implemented by highly trained direct care staff. Employees complete extensive onboarding and hands-on training before independently supporting clients.

While SWITC serves approximately 15 to 20 individuals each year, those individuals often have some of the most complex needs in the state. Stabilization at SWITC can be the turning point that interrupts cycles of crisis, incarceration or repeated placement disruptions.

Evidence That Stabilization Works

Recent media coverage in the Idaho Statesman revisited the journey of a woman who spent two decades cycling through institutions and jail before ultimately stabilizing and transitioning into a community setting. Today, she lives in her own apartment, participates in church and art classes, has held employment and has maintained stability for nearly four years.

Her mother described the change as “a complete transformation.”

While community-based supports now play a central role in her success, therapeutic stabilization was an essential step in breaking a long-standing cycle of crisis.

The KTVB story and the Statesman opinion piece together tell a broader story: when therapeutic stabilization is paired with thoughtful transition planning and coordinated community supports, individuals can thrive.

Looking Ahead

The long-term goal for every individual served at SWITC is transition to the least restrictive setting possible, with appropriate supports in place. For some, that may mean supported living with 24-hour assistance. For others, it may mean increased independence over time.

For families who once felt they had exhausted every option, stabilization and therapy offer something that can be difficult to measure but deeply meaningful: predictability, progress and hope.

As Idaho continues strengthening its continuum of care, stories like these remind us that with the right structure, training and coordinated support, even the most complex challenges can move toward stability — and toward a future that once felt out of reach.

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

Every day, across Idaho, social workers are helping people through some of the most challenging moments of their lives.

During National Social Worker Month, I want to take a moment to recognize and thank the social workers who serve our communities with compassion, skill, and unwavering commitment.

At the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, social workers are at the heart of our mission. They support children and families, connect individuals to essential services, and help people navigate systems that can often feel overwhelming. They are problem-solvers, advocates, and trusted partners for Idahoans in need.

What stands out most to me is not just the work social workers do, but how they do it.

They listen. They build relationships. They meet people with dignity and respect. They bring both expertise and empathy to situations that require careful, thoughtful decision-making. And they continue showing up — even when the work is difficult — because they know the difference it can make.

Across our state, social workers are helping individuals move toward stability, independence, and opportunity. They are helping families stay together, helping children find safe and supportive environments, and helping communities grow stronger.

This work matters. And it does not go unnoticed.

To every social worker serving Idaho: thank you. Thank you for your dedication, your professionalism, and your commitment to improving lives. Idaho is stronger because of you.

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

When a child’s safety is at risk, there is no room for ambiguity.

That’s why Idaho is strengthening the laws that guide some of the most important decisions we make in child welfare.

At the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, our responsibility is clear: protect children, support families, and ensure our systems are working as intended. This week, two new laws were signed that strengthen Idaho’s child welfare system and reinforce that commitment.

Putting safety first in visitation decisions

Senate Bill 1257 addresses one of the most complex areas in child welfare — visitation between children and their parents.

These decisions are rarely simple. They require balancing family connection with real concerns about safety, often in difficult and evolving circumstances.

This law makes something clear: when there are concerns about a child’s safety, those concerns must come first.

It provides clearer direction to caseworkers and courts, supporting case-by-case decisions based on the specific risks and needs of each situation. That clarity matters. It helps ensure decisions are consistent, thoughtful, and centered on the well-being of the child.

Clarifying rights for youth in foster care

House Bill 724 establishes a bill of rights for youth in foster care.

At its core, this law reinforces something we should never lose sight of — children in foster care are not just part of a system. They are the reason the system exists.

By clearly outlining their rights, this law promotes transparency, strengthens accountability, and helps ensure young people understand what they should expect while in care.

A third measure, Senate bill 1292, also contributes to this work by strengthening safeguards within Idaho’s child welfare system by ensuring foster parents receive appropriate training.  Taken together, these updates reflect a broader effort to provide clearer expectations, stronger protections, and more consistent outcomes for children and families.

Progress takes many forms

Last year, Idaho made significant investments in child welfare services. Those investments continue this year by strengthening the system through policy. 

That matters.

Because improving outcomes for children doesn’t always require new funding. Sometimes it requires clearer expectations, better guidance, and a shared commitment to doing this work well.

Continuing the work

These new laws reflect thoughtful collaboration and a shared commitment to protecting Idaho’s children.

I’m grateful to the legislators, staff, and partners who contributed to this effort — and to the many professionals across our state who carry out this work every day.

We will continue to build on this progress, always with a focus on safety, accountability, and better outcomes for the children and families we serve.

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

Maria is an Idaho foster mom whose decision to foster didn’t come from a place of perfection. It came from experience, reflection, and growth.

As she grew past her challenging childhood, the idea that any child could be without safety, stability, or a place to belong stopped being abstract; it became personal. That quiet conviction is what led her to open her home as a foster parent, determined to be the kind of adult she once needed.

As a child, Maria faced instability and trauma that shaped her early years. Her home life was marked by abuse, violence, and neglect — circumstances no child should have to navigate alone. After her mother died, her father struggled to raise her on his own, and discipline often took the form of fear rather than care.

When things became unsafe at home, a family friend stepped in and did something extraordinary: they became licensed foster parents solely so they could take Maria in. In her new home, Maria experienced something unfamiliar, love and consistency. One memory still stands out decades later:  sitting at a table while her foster mom patiently helped her with homework.

At the time, Maria believed she wasn’t smart and that school simply wasn’t for her. Her foster mom didn’t accept that version of the story. She stayed beside her, encouraging persistence and confidence, and planting seeds Maria wouldn’t recognize until much later.

“It was really hard for me,” Maria said, “because I didn't … I hadn't had anybody sit with me to do my homework before.”

(Follow this link to watch a video about Maria’s experience as a foster mom.)

Those small and steady moments mattered. They showed Maria what care could look like.

Like many youth in care, Maria struggled to trust her newfound stability. She rebelled, ran away, and spent time in group homes that brought their own challenges. Even so, the awareness she carried with her never faded. She understood that many children experience harm not because no one sees it, but because too many people look away.

“There's a kid out there that is being abused,” Maria said, “and adults who are supposed to be adults are watching it happen and just don't care.”

That truth stayed with her and eventually became a call to action.

Today, Maria is a licensed foster parent in Idaho. With the support of her congregation, family, neighbors, and community, she has built a home grounded in safety, patience, and intention. And she understands that fostering isn’t something you do alone.

“Yeah, it's been hard, but I feel like if you are brave enough and humble enough to ask for help, people are more than willing to help,” Maria said.

She’s also learned that caring for others requires caring for yourself, a lesson she wants other foster parents to hear.

“You can't help anybody unless you've helped yourself, and you need to be well enough to be able to help others,” she said.

Maria didn’t step into foster care impulsively. She understands the weight of the decision. She understands the emotional complexity, the uncertainty, and the reality that youth in foster care may test boundaries or reject kindness before they trust it. She knows those challenges are part of the work, not a failure of the child or the caregiver.

And still, she chose yes.

“I'm a strong believer that sometimes you're called to do something and sometimes you do it because you're called to do it,” Maria said. “You feel it in your heart that this is what you're supposed to do.”

Idaho needs foster parents

If you're interested in becoming a foster parent, or helping with occasional respite care, it can be as small as committing to one child for one season of their life. Please call 211 or visit the department’s foster care web page for more information. Your willingness to open your home can make a profound difference in a child's life.

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

This week, foster care advocates, alumni, families, and supporters gathered for Foster Care Awareness Day at the Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 18. Organized by Idaho Voices for Children, the event brought people from across the state to share perspectives with lawmakers and raise awareness about foster care in Idaho. 

Foster Care Awareness Day offers an opportunity for community members to educate legislators and leaders about the challenges and opportunities facing children and families involved in foster care. Attendees shared personal experiences, highlighted needs for additional supports, and underscored the ongoing importance of safe, stable foster homes statewide. 

Events like this help ensure that decisions made at the Statehouse reflect the real-life experiences of children, youth, and caregivers. They provide a chance for advocates to engage directly with policymakers, for neighbors to show support for foster families, and for voices that are often under-represented to be heard.

The event was kicked off when Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke read the Foster Care Awareness Day Proclamation, highlighting that, “it is imperative to bring together Idahoans impacted by foster care, community advocates and partners, and Idaho’s elected officials and agencies to identify priorities moving forward.” 

Subsequent presenters emphasized the importance of trauma-informed practices, the need to focus on prevention, and the impact a community rallying to support children and families can have. Representatives from DHW spoke about the need to recruit foster parents and collaborative efforts with other agencies and organizations throughout Idaho to support foster children and families, including the new Community Builders initiative. 

For more information about future foster care awareness efforts and how you can stay engaged, visit the event page at idahovoices.org. 

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

Last month, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) launched a comprehensive 360-degree compliance review of all providers participating in the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP).

This effort reflects my continued focus on program integrity, accountability, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. It also responds to concerns raised nationally about fraud and misuse in child care subsidy programs.

I committed to transparency as this work continues — and today am sharing our latest progress update.

Current Progress

As of last week:

• 276 providers have been visited in person
• 198 total reviews have been completed
• 11 providers have been terminated from the program

In addition, reviews are ongoing statewide through both on-site visits and off-site desk audits.

When providers are found out of compliance with program rules, DHW takes appropriate action. That may include corrective action, payment suspension, program termination, and referral for prosecution when warranted.

What the 360 Review Includes

The review examines compliance with state and federal rules, including:

• Attendance records
• Sign-in and sign-out documentation
• Parent and guardian signatures
• Billing practices
• Policies and procedures
• Alignment between billing and documented child attendance

Off-site reviews include requests for documentation covering multiple months of operations. Providers are given deadlines to respond, and findings are formally communicated.

Most providers are working hard to serve Idaho families appropriately and safely. These reviews are designed to protect children, ensure fairness for compliant providers, and maintain public trust in the program.

Ongoing Weekly Updates

To ensure transparency, DHW has published a dedicated webpage that will be updated every Friday through mid-March while the 360 reviews are underway. This new page will allow providers, families, policymakers, and community members to review updated counts and outcomes.

Strengthening Oversight Going Forward

I also requested additional staff resources from the Idaho Legislature to ensure 100% of ICCP providers can be reviewed annually moving forward. Strengthening oversight capacity helps:

• Detect non-compliance earlier
• Protect public funds
• Support ethical providers
• Ensure children are served safely

Reporting Concerns

If you are aware of potential fraud, waste, or abuse in any DHW program, please report it.

Every referral is reviewed.

DHW will continue sharing updates as this work progresses. Accountability, transparency, and protecting Idaho families remain central to our mission.

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

Beginning Feb. 15, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in Idaho can no longer be used to purchase candy or soda.

This change follows recent legislative action and aligns with similar steps being taken by several other states this year. The goal is to support healthier food choices while continuing to ensure access to nutritious foods for individuals and families who rely on SNAP.

What’s changing

Starting Feb. 15:

• Candy will no longer be an eligible SNAP purchase.
• Soda and other sugar-sweetened soft drinks will no longer be eligible SNAP purchases.

SNAP benefits can still be used to buy a wide range of nutritious foods, including:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Meat, poultry, and fish
• Dairy products
• Bread, cereals, rice, and pasta
• Seeds and plants that produce food

Why this change is being made

The intent of this change is to support improved health outcomes, particularly for children and families.

SNAP is designed to help households access food that supports overall health and well-being. Limiting purchases of items with limited nutritional value—such as candy and soda—reflects a growing focus on nutrition and prevention across public assistance programs nationwide.

Idaho is not alone. Several other states have adopted similar SNAP policy changes in 2025, reflecting a broader national conversation about nutrition, health, and long-term outcomes.

What this means for SNAP customers

Changes to food purchasing rules can raise questions. DHW’s goal is to ensure SNAP customers:

• Have clear, advance notice of changes
• Continue to have access to nutritious and affordable food options
• Can plan ahead for shopping and household needs

Retailers that accept SNAP will update their systems to reflect the new eligibility rules.

Where to find more information

We encourage SNAP customers and community partners to review the latest updates on our SNAP webpage. These pages will continue to be updated with information and resources as needed.

DHW’s commitment

The Department of Health and Welfare remains committed to supporting the health and well-being of Idahoans. SNAP continues to be a critical program that helps families put food on the table, and we will continue working to provide clear information, resources, and support throughout this transition.

If you have questions about SNAP eligibility or benefits, please visit our website or contact your local DHW office.

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