The Idaho Child Support program is celebrating a major milestone: 50 years of service to families across the state. 

Launched in 1975 as part of the federally funded Child Support Enforcement program, today’s Child Support Services (CSS) program plays a vital role in helping families thrive. Through a federal-state partnership, the program works to ensure that noncustodial parents contribute to the financial support of their children. This not only strengthens families, but also helps reduce the need for public assistance.

Since October 2024, Idaho’s Child Support program has collected more than $102 million in monthly support payments, helping more than 80,000 families. Many of these payments are made reliably each month by parents who are committed to supporting their children. 

When needed, collections may also result from enforcement actions, including income withholding from wages or unemployment benefits, intercepting tax refunds, suspending licenses, reporting to credit agencies, and placing liens.

Idaho’s Child Support program is also receiving national recognition. Among all states, Idaho ranks fourth overall in federal incentive performance. These rankings are based on key outcomes including:

• Establishing support orders
• Establishing paternity
• Collecting current monthly support
• Collecting overdue payments (arrears)
• Cost effectiveness of services provided

Out of the five performance categories, Idaho ranks second nationally for cost effectiveness, collecting $9.46 in support payments for every $1 spent on the program.

These achievements reflect the dedication of Idaho’s Child Support Services team, whose efforts make a meaningful difference for families and children across the state.

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 Anne, fostering isn’t about numbers—it’s about growth. Still, the numbers tell part of the story: 18 years, 29 youth, four adoptions, and a home that rarely stands still. 

From infants straight out of the hospital to teens leaving juvenile detention, Anne has welcomed them all. Most stayed a year or more. Some still return to visit. But what matters most to her is not how long they stayed, but whether they found hope, calm, and the possibility of something better.

(Watch a video about Anne’s journey as a foster parent here.)

Anne didn’t grow up in Idaho. As a transplant, she wanted to connect with her new community. That’s when she saw a 211 CareLine ad that read, “You don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent.” The message struck a chord. She talked it over with her husband—they had two young kids at the time—and soon, they were welcoming new guests into their home.

‘Progress isn’t always perfection’

Anne admits now that she started with the wrong idea. She thought she could love the kids enough to take away their pain. But she learned quickly that love doesn’t cure trauma, and “progress isn’t always perfection.”

Over time, her understanding of her role shifted. She said her job wasn’t to make sure the child was perfectly healed, but to open new neural pathways, to help them feel calm, to help them feel peace.

That kind of healing starts with consistency—and sometimes, with an apology. Many of the youth in her care had never had an adult say sorry. Anne made that part of her example, showing them what stability, responsibility, and grace look like.

With every placement, she asks herself: “Did I give this child everything I could to help them look for something better, to help them aspire for something higher, to help them know that this is what consistency looks like, this is what stability looks like?”

Perfection, she now believes, is simpler than she once thought: it’s being present. Not fixing, but building. Building routines. Building trust. Building love.

Building something that lasts

Anne and her husband have adopted four Idaho youths and currently have two in their care. Some former foster children still drop by—one visits several times a week.

She also supports other families. Earlier this year, when a large sibling group had to be split, Anne worked with fellow foster parents Gene and Sandy Kissinger to keep the siblings connected. They coordinated visits, shared updates, and prioritized the children’s relationships with each other. That kind of teamwork, Anne said, is how healing begins.

“These kids just need someone who is engaged and cares about them and their whole family,” she said. “If I can’t love their parents, how can I love them?”

Anne knows she won’t see every child grow up—but she’s confident the time they spend with her sets the stage for growth down the road. With every moment of stability, every apology, every second of calm, she is building something that lasts.

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

Eastern Idaho has reached a milestone worth celebrating. As of June 30, Idaho’s Region 7—which covers eight counties in central and eastern Idaho—became the first of Idaho’s seven regions to surpass the goal of having 1.5 foster families for every foster child. 

Since then, the region has continued to meet that mark, holding steady above 1.5.

This is more than a statistic. It reflects the commitment of the people of eastern Idaho, including foster parents who open their homes, child welfare professionals, community partners, and DHW staff working behind the scenes.

Gov. Brad Little and DHW Director Alex Adams have both championed the need for more foster families throughout the past year. With strong support from the Idaho Legislature, Idaho secured a historic $23.2 million investment to strengthen prevention services, expand staff, extend foster care to age 23, and improve support for kinship care and foster families.

Statewide, the numbers are moving in the right direction. One year ago, Idaho had just 0.75 foster families per foster child. This week, that number has climbed to 0.95 — a testament to the dedication of families and professionals across Idaho.

Region 1, which includes North Idaho, is also making tremendous progress, currently at 1.32 foster families per foster child. The momentum statewide is real — and growing.

But there’s still work to do. While reaching 1.5 is a milestone, it’s not a finish line. It’s a signal that the vision is within reach: a system where every child who needs foster care can stay close to their community and receive the care and stability they deserve.

To the residents of eastern Idaho — thank you. Your efforts are inspiring the rest of the state and changing lives in the process. And to those across Idaho — with continued collaboration, compassion, and commitment, we can all help Idaho reach the goal, one foster family at a time.

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 211 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.

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.

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.

Earlier this summer, the Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) launched a hiring campaign to fill 63 new positions aimed at improving outcomes for children and families across the state. 

While some of the new roles strengthen traditional response services, many are designed with a different goal in mind—keeping families together before a crisis ever occurs.

More than 40 of those new positions have already been filled, but there’s still time to be part of the department’s shift toward more prevention-focused child welfare work. DHW is continuing to recruit passionate, community-minded professionals who want to make a difference.

If you’re ready to help keep families strong and connected, explore the remaining openings and apply today.

These new prevention-focused roles will help identify families at risk and offer the support they need to stay stable, connected, and safe. That might mean helping a parent find mental health services, connecting a caregiver with housing assistance, or working alongside schools to ensure a child’s needs are met at home and in the classroom.

This approach isn’t just compassionate—it’s strategic. Research shows that prevention services can reduce the need for foster care placements, shorten the length of time children remain in care, and improve long-term outcomes for families. It’s also more cost-effective in the long run, reducing the burden on an already strained system.

That’s why Gov. Brad Little and Idaho Legislature invested $23 million into this effort, and why the Department of Health and Welfare launched its statewide hiring campaign to bring the strategy to life. 

The new positions include family services workers, community resource workers, and prevention coordinators—roles that will be embedded in communities across the state. These professionals will work closely with schools, clinics, and nonprofit partners to build a safety net around families in need.

This shift toward prevention represents a culture change within the child welfare system—one that prioritizes early help over late-stage intervention. It’s about seeing the signs, stepping in with support, and empowering families.

To learn more about these new roles or apply, visit: https://statecareers.idaho.gov/search/human-services/jobs?q=dhw. 

Jean Fisher is Division Administrator for Youth Safety and Permanency at the Department of Health and Welfare. 

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

As summer arrives in Idaho, so do a series of seasonal health hazards. With the first heat-related deaths of the year already reported this June, and with temps forecasted to be in the upper 90s and possibly 100s this week, it’s a critical time to talk about how to stay safe in rising temperatures, around water, and during wildfire season.

Heat-related illness: know the warning signs

Heatstroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It can develop quickly, especially in high temperatures with little shade or hydration. Symptoms include a high body temperature, confusion, dizziness, red or hot skin, and fainting. This is a medical emergency—call 911, move the person to a cooler place, and cool them with wet cloths or a cold bath.

Heat exhaustion may come first, with signs like fatigue, muscle cramps, nausea, and clammy skin. Resting in a cool place, drinking water, and using cold cloths can help.

To stay safe in the heat:

• Drink water often—don’t wait until you’re thirsty.
• Avoid outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day.
• Wear lightweight clothing, sunscreen, and a wide-brimmed hat.
• Take frequent breaks in the shade or indoors.

Harmful algal blooms: hidden water hazards

Summer also brings peak conditions for cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs), also known as blue-green algae. Cyanobacteria are naturally found in water but can produce dangerous toxins under the right conditions—especially warm, still water.

Swallowing or swimming in affected water can cause stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and skin or eye irritation. Pets, livestock, and wildlife are particularly vulnerable because they’re more likely to swim in or drink contaminated water. If your pet is exposed, wash them immediately with clean water and soap, and contact a veterinarian.

Watch for water that looks or smells suspicious. Blooms may resemble pea soup, spilled paint, green mats, or foamy scum, and may have a foul odor. Follow these tips to protect yourself and your pets:

• Visit the Idaho Recreational Water web page for more information and sign up for email updates.
• Check the Recreational Water Health Advisories Map before visiting lakes or reservoirs.
• View current cyanobacteria sampling results from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.

When in doubt, stay out—and keep pets and livestock out, too. Never drink or cook with water that could contain a bloom—boiling or filtering won’t remove the toxins.

To report a suspected bloom, call (866) 671-5385 or email algae@deq.idaho.gov.

Be ready for wildfire smoke

As wildfire season begins, air quality can quickly worsen due to drifting smoke. Even healthy people can experience symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath. On smoky days, limit time outdoors, avoid vigorous activity, and check for current smoke information: https://idsmoke.blogspot.com/. 

A safe summer starts with awareness

Idaho summers are a great time to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. With some preparation and smart choices, we can reduce our risk and protect our families, pets, and communities from preventable summer health threats.

Dr. Kathryn Turner is deputy state epidemiologist in the Division of Public Health.

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

Over the past year, I’ve pursued a mission of accountability, transparency, fiscal responsibility, and improving the lives of Idaho’s vulnerable children in need.

Central to that has been strengthening child welfare—expanding foster care through legislative reforms that voluntarily extend care to age 23, supporting and strengthening kinship care, and accelerating permanency timelines. We launched the Office of Faith Initiatives, simplified licensing, and eliminated short term rentals as foster placements—while growing licensed foster homes at a record pace.

Idaho has also seen a notable improvement in foster parent recruitment and retention in recent years. The number of foster parents ending their licenses has declined year-over-year since 2023.  Meanwhile, we already had 66 more foster families sign up so far in fiscal year 2025 than our previous high in fiscal year 2024.  

These improved recruitment and retention numbers signal progress in keeping foster families engaged and supported in their role of helping keep Idaho families together. And taken together, we now have 95 families to care for every 100 foster kids, up from 74 families last June.

The Legislature’s historic $23.2 million investment and addition of 63 new staff singled a major leap forward in prevention and home-based care.

I oversee a wide range of programs that touch every corner of our state and every stage of life.

But few responsibilities have brought me as much personal fulfillment as signing the official documents that finalize a child’s adoption.

Recently, I signed my 250th adoption—each one represents a child’s permanent connection to a loving family and a hopeful future. These are not just names on paper. They are lives transformed, futures rewritten, and families made whole. Every signature is a moment of trust and joy—a quiet but powerful confirmation that a child has found a safe and nurturing place in the world.

Moments like these are a reminder of what we’re all working toward: stability, love, and opportunity for every child in Idaho. They also reflect the tireless commitment of our social workers, case managers, legal teams, foster parents, and most importantly, the adoptive families who open their hearts and homes, giving a chance to a child in need of a loving home.

Behind each of these 250 adoptions are stories of resilience and healing. Many children in foster care have experienced hardship, yet they demonstrate incredible strength and hope. It’s their courage, along with the dedication of those who care for them, that is deeply humbling.

Signing these adoptions is a great honor that affirms the purpose of our work and belief that every child deserves not only a safe home, but a family that celebrates and cherishes them.

To all the families who have welcomed a child through adoption—you are heroes in every sense. Thank you for showing what love, commitment, and community truly mean. Here's to the next 250 lives changed for the better.

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-older-adults/child-and-family-services-and-foster-care/about-3

•    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: DHW Director Alex J. Adams signing adoption #250 on June 20th. 

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 Jamie told Tyler early in their relationship that she wanted to foster children someday, she meant it. “If he didn’t want that, it wasn’t even an option,” she said. Years later, the couple has fostered more than 20 children—short-term, long-term, and everything in between—and their journey together as foster parents has been filled with challenges and joy. (Follow this link to view a video version of their story.)

They are a family that thrives outdoors—camping, biking, road-tripping, and cramming as many as six kids into their camper at a time. At home, they’re raising three children of their own, with the oldest away at college. They foster with open arms, welcoming kids into both their routines and their hearts.

At first, Tyler thought their path of fostering would lead to adoption. But they quickly discovered a deeper calling: reunifying foster kids with their biological parents. 

“We quickly learned our priority is to get kids back to bio parents,” he said. That shift wasn’t instant for Tyler. It took time, and it took witnessing the process firsthand. “It was well into our second placement before I bought in,” he said. “It took time to adapt to that and change my mind about how I see everything.”

The emotional toll is real. “There have been times Jamie has said, ‘I’m done,’” Tyler admitted. “And I’m like, ‘Oh no.’” 

But in those moments, they lean on each other. 

“It’s not just about dragging each other through—it’s helping to lift each other back up,” Tyler said. That partnership, they say, is essential. So is communication. Before taking any placement, they talk it through. “If one of us second guesses it, we don’t take it,” Tyler said.

Even the joy comes with cost. Watching children reunite with their families is bittersweet. 

“Sometimes they get more care than our own kids,” Tyler said with a hint of humor and honesty. “But when it’s good, it’s rewarding.” 

They’ve cried when children leave, even those who stayed just a few days. But they treat every child the same— “whether they’re with me for a day, a week, or a year,” Jamie said. “I still love on them just like they’re my own.”

One of their most transformative experiences was their first placement, when they still thought they were fostering to adopt. As they got to know the parents—a couple battling substance abuse—their perspective shifted. 

“Watching them change, physically and emotionally, was humbling,” Jamie said. “To be the one raising their children while they worked so hard—that was a privilege.”

Tyler found meaning in watching their own children learn from these experiences, too. 

“It’s good to see how our kids welcome them and grow from it,” he said. And their own family has grown in empathy and awareness. 

It’s not always easy. Some losses leave them needing time to reset, even months. But they take that space when needed. “You’ve got to take your self-care into consideration,” Tyler said. And when they’re ready, they open their home again.

To anyone considering fostering, their message is clear: do it. Try respite. Try a short-term placement. Just try. “Whether it’s short or long term, we keep our same path,” Tyler said. “We treat them just like we do our own kids.”

Because for Jamie and Tyler, being a foster parent isn’t about being a savior. It’s about being steady. Being kind. Being there. And maybe getting to see a family heal—and knowing you were part of making that possible.

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.

Idaho’s foster families were guests of honor at Memorial Stadium on June 6 for Foster Family Night — an event that brought community partners together to celebrate the strength, compassion, and impact of foster care in Idaho.

Hundreds of Idahoans, including many foster families, filled the stands as the Boise Hawks faced off against the Ogden Raptors in Garden City. While the final score (an 8–6 Hawks loss) mattered to some, the night’s true victory was in the show of unity and appreciation for the families who open their hearts and homes to children in need.

The event was made possible by a coalition of partners — the Hawks, Department of Health and Welfare, Foster and Hart, Freedom Youth Foundation, and Project Filter — all of whom played a role in making the evening memorable. Their presence was felt in digital billboards around the stadium and through announcer shoutouts that highlighted their dedication to improving the lives of Idaho’s children and families.

More important still, Foster Family Night was just one example of the broader, statewide collaboration required to support foster youth. Across Idaho, nonprofits, state agencies, local communities, health providers, mentors, educators, lawmakers, business owners, and volunteers all play a role in building a system that helps children and families thrive. It’s a shared responsibility — and a shared opportunity.

Events like Foster Family Night are a reminder that meaningful change doesn’t come from a single group or effort. It comes from all of us — working together and showing up for kids and families when it matters most.

Raising a child, especially one in foster care, takes a village, and in Idaho that village is strong.

Monty Prow is Deputy Director over Child, Youth, and Family Services at DHW. 

For 12 years, Gene and Sandy tried to have a child. Gene worked as a pastor in Jerome, and she taught special education. They seemed destined to raise children in a loving, stable home, but it didn’t happen. They grew frustrated and burdened with all that love and no child to give it to. They prayed on it.

“Some people know why they're on the planet,” Gene said. “My wife is on the planet to be a mom.”

It’s said that God works in mysterious ways, and tests us to see if we can unlearn our own intentions, rip up our own plans, and discover a life that gives. (Follow this link to watch a video version of Gene and Sandy's story.)

They dared not wait for biology, and society provided. They adopted two babies from families they knew, and then when a mother in their church learned that her children might be removed from her home, Gene and Sandy chose to become foster parents.

“We were licensed one day and had two boys the next day,” Sandy said. “One of them was autistic, and the other boy was angry.”

Part of the reason Sandy said she wanted to wait to have her own children before fostering, is because she couldn’t let them go. To welcome a child and say farewell, it’s difficult. They knew that they’d want to keep every youth who entered their home.

Those first two boys? Gene and Sandy adopted them. They were the first of six boys they’d adopt out of foster care. That angry boy is now 26 years old. He is a successful welder and owns his own home.  

“We had very serious talks with him before we would agree to adopt him and his brother,” Sandy said. “And he told us one day, ‘mom and dad, you saved my life. If I had not come to your home, I don't know where I would be today.’”

Two of those youth are diagnosed with low-functioning autism spectrum disorder, and another with Asperger’s Syndrome. As a special ed educator, Sandy was uniquely positioned to help them, but she hopes that other parents who are less experienced will take the time, study the disorders, and open their homes to special needs youth.

At one point they had 10 children in their home, with their adopted children, foster children—and their miracle baby. After years of trying, they conceived, and Sandy gave birth to a little girl.

“I saw [Sandy] light up with these first two babies, and then we had a biological child, and they brought such joy and passion out of her. I wanted to help her in that kind of ministry.”

The little girl fit right in with this big mixed family with meager means living in an old church. If they wanted more, they were quiet about it.

“We had a lot of children in our home with different needs, different abilities, and different personalities,” Sandy said.

Those differences included behavioral health concerns and developmental disabilities. At school, the autistic youth was being put in an extended resource inclusion room and left there. Sandy felt like they could do better.

“I had to advocate for that child,” Sandy said. “Those are things that you have to do as a foster parent when you receive these children. They have a special need, not only just trauma, but some of them do have special needs as far as autism, ADHD, other things that they have to deal with.”

Gene is not a special ed professional. He’s a pastor, custodian, salesman, and a philosopher of sorts. He was short on experience with special needs youth, but he went the distance by caring, mentoring, and fathering a series of boys and girls who didn’t have father figures.

“Adoption and even foster care were an answer to our prayers in a profound way,” Gene said. “When we were fostering, if we could have taken them all in, we would have. There were times, though, that we had to say no just because we didn’t have enough space.”

But if they could, they helped. They helped children flourish, or just rest. They had youth who would run away and others who’d never let them go. They learned “a process of developing yourself” as Gene put it.

They never had to develop alone. The Department of Health and Welfare caseworkers, counselors and staff lent incredible support. They knew how to find resources for the children, helped with evaluations and medical care

“You have a network behind you, a team of people,” Gene said. “Each child had their individual unique needs, and we had a whole network of people we could turn to, and they were very responsive at helping us to be able to navigate some of those challenges.” They are now grandparents, with a house filled by the sounds of children.

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.