Child welfare is not the responsibility of one agency or one group—it takes all of us. From judges to foster families, attorneys to caseworkers, nonprofit advocates to faith leaders, every person who touches the child welfare system plays a role in shaping better outcomes for Idaho’s children and families.

That spirit of shared responsibility was on display at the Children and Families Institute Conference in Boise on April 17, where more than 300 attorneys, judges, advocates, nonprofit representatives, and Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) staff gathered to collaborate on how best to support vulnerable families. The conference was put on by the Administrative Office of the Courts.

DHW leaders kicked off the two-day event with a panel presentation and discussion about the department’s efforts to double the rate of foster families in Idaho—a goal that relies on strong partnerships across systems.

“It takes all of us,” said DHW Deputy Director Monty Prow. “Everybody in this room who’s worked with these issues knows that there’s usually not just one piece of the system. It takes guardian ad litems, DHW staff at all levels, certainly members of the court, and advocates along the way—to support where we’re trying to head in order to be leaders and innovators in this space.”

Highlights from DHW’s panel included:

Prow also spoke about the department’s goal of improving child welfare including the reorganization of child welfare services from one division into two smaller divisions: Youth Safety and Permanency, which handles traditional child welfare work, and Family and Community Partnerships, a new DHW division that’s harnessing the power of community to support foster families.

Youth Safety and Permanency Deputy Administrator Wendy Seagraves gave a status update about the department’s work. The rate of foster homes in Idaho has increased from 0.74 in June 2024 to 0.94 now. The number of kids in congregate care in the same timeframe has reduced from 240 to 180 kids. The department has stopped using short-term rentals, and it’s reduced the number of out-of-state placements by nearly 50%.

Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Chief Jared Larsen reported on 2025 legislative and regulatory changes impacting foster families, emphasizing that these changes allow the courts more latitude to consider what’s in the best interest of children.

Family and Community Partnerships Administrator Laura Denner reiterated the importance of partnerships and the inclusion of foster families into events. She highlighted several upcoming events and developing partnerships.

Director of Faith Based Initiatives Sage Dixon said his office is focused on reaching out to the faith community to help recruit  foster parents, treatment foster families, and to provide additional support for existing foster and adoptive families.

The impacts of these innovations and milestones show that when people and groups work together, they produce better outcomes for a bright future for Idaho’s families.

The DHW panelists offered a special thanks to the courts for inviting the department to be a part of the day’s training. DHW looks forward to continued collaboration to improve the lives of Idaho’s youth and families.

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

Kate is an Idaho foster mom who encourages Idahoans to consider how they might support children in care. As a foster mom, adoptive mom, and biological mom, she’s experienced parenting from a variety of perspectives.

“If your fear is that you’ll get too attached, you are the perfect person to foster,” she said.

(Watch a video version of Kate’s story here.)

In addition, Kate has experienced the foster care system from different perspectives. As a volunteer with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), she helps represent children in the court system. No matter the setting, she said she shows up as an advocate for kids—offering consistency, stability, and compassion during a chaotic time in their lives.

And she stressed that she works hard to empathize with biological parents whose children land in her care. “I think every single human person is searching to feel connected and to feel loved,” Kate said. “[The parents] need just as much love and support as the kids do.”

Kate and her husband have welcomed foster children with a range of needs into their family, including teens and youth with developmental disabilities or mental illness. She said their home is often a place of firsts: the first consistent meals, the first time a child is encouraged to go to therapy, the first time a young person begins to understand what stability can feel like.

One teen in their care had spent years bouncing in and out of foster homes, unsure of what love or permanence felt like.

“It was really hard for her to realize what stability looked like,” Kate said. “She would fight against love because it felt so uncomfortable for her. It took a while. Going to therapy was so good for her. We just would not stop showing her love. We loved her where she was at, that day. She slowly began to accept us.”

Today, the same teen is learning to love herself. Though her journey is sometimes still challenging, Kate said it’s clear that she’s healing. She’s learning to think in new ways — to see herself and her future differently.

“The way she thinks now has completely changed,” Kate said. “She’s been able to heal and think rationally. It’s amazing to watch her healing.”

Kate knows not everyone can foster — and that’s okay. But she wants more people to know there are still countless ways to help.

They can donate clothing, baby gear, or gift cards to organizations that support youth in foster care. They can volunteer with CASA. They can offer moral support to families who are fostering or reunifying with their children. Kate noted that when youth are returned to their birth families, those families are often rebuilding from the ground up and need community support.

While each family’s story is different, the needs across the state are real and growing, and Kate believes there’s a place in the foster care community for everyone — even those who want to help in small or quiet ways.

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.

We were honored today to have Gov. Brad Little join us at the Department of Health and Welfare to mark a major milestone for Idaho’s children and families: signing of a child welfare budget that adds $23.2 million in new funding and 63 additional staff to build capacity where it’s needed.

As the governor pointed out, this historic investment is the largest of its kind in state history, and it reflects our shared belief that every Idaho child deserves a safe, stable, and loving home.

Last June the governor issued the Promoting Families and Protecting Children executive order and set a vision for how we care for vulnerable children and support the families who raise them. Since then, we’ve worked to translate that vision into action—reducing barriers for foster parents, increasing the number of available foster homes, and expanding partnerships with community organizations across Idaho.

This new budget strengthens that momentum, adding:

• Prevention specialists who can work with families early—before a crisis escalates.
• More clinical staff to provide timely, compassionate care for children in the system.
• Greater support for kinship placements and treatment foster homes, so children can remain in family-like settings even in difficult circumstances.
• Expanded efforts to bring Idaho kids currently placed out of state back home.

This investment isn’t just about systems and services. It’s about making good on Idaho’s promise to children—that we will listen, protect, and support them. And it’s about recognizing the incredible work of foster parents, child welfare professionals, community partners, and everyday Idahoans who open their hearts and homes to children in need.

We know the work isn’t finished, but with this budget, we’re turning the page. We’re investing in solutions that prioritize stability, healing, and long-term well-being—solutions that reflect the Idaho way: community-driven, family-centered, and focused on what’s best for kids.

To everyone who helped get us here—Gov. Little, the Legislature, foster families, community partners, social workers, all of DHW’s divisions and staff—thank you. Let’s keep going.

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

March is National Social Work Month, a time to recognize the extraordinary people who dedicate their lives to protecting and uplifting children and families. In child welfare, our work is challenging, emotional, and complex—but it is also incredibly meaningful.

Every day, our caseworkers, supervisors, and support staff show up with compassion and determination. They navigate difficult decisions, advocate for children’s well-being, and provide critical support to families in crisis. Their work is not just a job; it is a calling.

To our frontline social workers: Thank you for your unwavering commitment to Idaho’s children. You listen when a child needs a voice, guide families toward stability, and collaborate with foster parents, courts, and community partners to create lasting change. Your impact extends beyond what is seen. You’re shaping brighter futures.

To our partners in child welfare—foster families, community advocates, and service providers—your contributions are invaluable. It takes all of us working together to ensure children have safety, stability, and hope.

I encourage everyone to take a moment this month to recognize a social worker in their life. A simple thank-you can go a long way in affirming their vital role in our communities.

To the dedicated professionals in Child, Youth, and Family Services—your work matters, and we appreciate you.

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.

Krystal is an Idaho foster mom whose compassion and good will are rooted in experience.

When she was 11 or 12 and her older siblings had moved away, her mom took in youth who didn’t immediately have a place to go in times of crisis. The family didn’t have a lot of resources, and they weren’t wealthy, but they had big hearts and opened their door.

“It was helpful to have a kid there like myself to help them through that initial process of transitioning to another place,” Krystal said. “Seeing where these other children came out of made me appreciate more of what I had in my life and all the things my mom provided to me.”

(Watch a video version of Krystal’s story here.)

Krystal’s sense of compassion developed in adulthood. She studied and found work helping the mentally ill in Idaho. She got married and had a child. The couple thought they were one-and-done parents, but circumstance and their own good will changed that.

At daycare, Krystal discovered a young boy who didn’t have winter clothes. Their son was growing out of some of his clothes, so they offered the boy some hand-me-downs.

Krystal then learned the boy was in foster care and needed a home. She asked herself, “could we do that?” When she brought it up with her husband, his first reaction was, “we could do that.”

Building trust

Uncertainty works against trust, and when the boy arrived in Krystal’s home he was worried someone would take him away.

“He had so much independence it was almost a fault,” Krystal said, describing that he wouldn’t even let her help him out of a car seat.

He was 2 years old, and he didn’t trust. It took time for them to foster a sense of security and for the boy to accept help.

“I started to explain the ‘why’ to him,” Krystal said. “He was still so little. I verbalized everything, explained it. He has something engrained in him from the environment he was in before.”

Learning to be a family

The boy is now 6, almost 7, and a permanent part of Krystal’s home as an adopted son. Even so, the process continues. He learned that his brother can help him brush his teeth, but at first he resisted.

“I explained to him, ‘Your brother is here doing the same task as you are. He’ll help you, too,’” she said.

It was an adjustment for their biological son as well. He was an only child, and suddenly there was another boy in the house. But Krystal was filled with hope as she watched their growing relationship.

“To see it in action, it was so fulfilling as a parent to see your child’s first reaction was kindness,” she said.

Foster care and adoption may be two of the ultimate forms of goodwill, and for Krystal and her family, the goal is to keep this young Idahoan in their family forever.

Now, years later, the promise is kept, and Krystal’s core compassion, learned from her mother when she was a girl, has matured into a generational kindness that endures.

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.

This past Sunday, March 2, the Maker Shop in Boise hosted its Foster Care Festival, a lively event filled with hands-on woodworking demonstrations, family-friendly activities, and opportunities to support foster youth transitioning into adulthood. 

More than 50 attendees of all ages gathered to learn about woodworking, enjoy free food and games, and see firsthand the impact of Foster Care Furniture—a nonprofit dedicated to helping young adults develop valuable skills.

The festival showcased live demonstrations about how to transform scrap wood into beautifully crafted, functional pieces. 

One of the event highlights was a safety demonstration using a high-tech saw designed to prevent injuries. To illustrate its effectiveness, a hot dog was placed near the blade—instantly triggering the saw’s safety mechanism, stopping the blade in a split second. This presentation underscored the importance of safety in woodworking while captivating the audience.

Beyond the hands-on fun, the event had a deeper purpose: raising awareness about the challenges faced by foster youth aging out of the system. Each year, between 300 and 500 young people in Idaho transition out of foster care, often without the necessary support to navigate seamlessly into adulthood. 

Recognizing this gap, Bruce Wingate, Founder and President of Foster Care Furniture, created a free 13-week woodworking program to equip former foster youth (ages 18-26) with practical skills, resume-building assistance, and job interview preparation.

Participants in the program not only learn woodworking but also explore career paths in carpentry, construction, and related trades.
Through Foster Care Furniture, apprentices craft furniture that is later sold, with proceeds reinvested into programs that directly benefit them. With the support of a recent $50,000 grant from the Idaho Workforce Development Council, the nonprofit can now offer trainees $15 an hour while they learn—providing financial relief alongside career training.

The festival was a celebration of resilience, opportunity, and community support. Families enjoyed interacting with costumed movie characters, winning prizes, and learning about how they can contribute to this meaningful cause. As Idaho continues to seek solutions for supporting foster youth, initiatives like Foster Care Furniture provide not just skills, but hope for a successful future.
For more information about Foster Care Furniture or to donate, visit fostercarefurniture.com.

If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, it can be as small as committing to one kid for one season of their life. Please call 2-1-1 or (800) 926-2588, or visit DHW's foster care 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.

When a child enters foster care, the difference between hope and hardship often comes down to one thing: whether a foster family is available to provide a safe and loving home.

The Department of Health and Welfare (DHW), alongside dedicated nonprofits, community leaders, and foster care advocates, is working hard to increase the number of foster families in Idaho and reduce the number of children who need care. DHW’s goals aren’t just about numbers—they’re about building a system where foster families feel supported, children feel safe, and the community plays a role in making a difference.

This week, two important Treasure Valley events will shine a spotlight on foster care. Whether you’re a foster parent, an advocate, or simply someone who cares about children in need, your presence at these events can help bring awareness, spark change, and inspire new families to step forward.

So mark your calendar:

• Wednesday, Feb. 26, 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. – Foster Care Awareness Day at the Capitol
• Sunday, March 2, 4-7 p.m. – Foster Care Festival at Maker Shop Boise

Foster Care Awareness Day at Idaho Capitol

Every year, lawmakers make decisions that impact foster children and families—but they can’t do it in isolation. They need to hear from those who have lived it, those who have fostered, and those who are working daily to make the system better.

That’s what Foster Care Awareness Day at the Capitol is all about. Foster care alumni, parents, advocates, and providers from across Idaho will gather to educate legislators, share personal experiences, and discuss solutions to better serve foster youth.

One of the most powerful moments of the day will be the signing of a Foster Care Awareness Proclamation by the Governor. This public recognition sends a strong message: Idaho is committed to improving foster care and supporting the families who step up.

Foster Care Festival this Sunday

For every heartbreaking challenge in foster care, there’s also a story of resilience, love, and community stepping up. That’s what the Foster Care Festival is about—a celebration of the foster families who make a difference and an invitation for more people to get involved.

This free, family-friendly event is a great way to connect with the foster care community, learn how you can help, and enjoy a fun evening with food, activities, and giveaways.

DHW Director Alex Adams will share insights into the state’s efforts to recruit and support more foster families and improve outcomes for children in care.

Why these events matter

Every child deserves to be safe, loved, and supported. But the reality is, there aren’t enough foster families to meet the need. Events like Foster Care Awareness Day at the Capitol and the Foster Care Festival aren’t just gatherings—they are moments of action, opportunities for education, and stepping stones toward a better foster care system.

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 Matthew and his wife, fostering isn’t just something they do—it’s a calling. Guided by their faith, the couple has opened their home to more than 35 children since 2018, offering stability, love, and hope to youth in need.

As a pastor in the Treasure Valley, Matthew believes that fostering is an extension of his ministry, a way to live out his faith through action. (Watch a short video version of Matthew's story here.)

“My faith is integral to everything in my life,” said Matthew, who has worked as a pastor in Washington state and Idaho. “The Lord began to break our hearts (his and his wife’s) for foster care. It was challenging for me, too heartbreaking. It’s easy for the kids to think of themselves as people without any hope.”

Hope is something that can be nurtured and passed on through family. Over the years, from Washington to Idaho, Matthew and his wife have now fostered more than 35 youth, including nine long-term placements of a year or more. They also have three biological children aged 15, 17, and 19.

“I saw my kids become more grateful for the things that they have and the family that they have, but I also saw them give of themselves,” Matthew said. “I saw them lovingly and gently wrap their arms around these kids who had come from a hard place.”

Some of the toughest placements have arrive during the holidays—like the children who showed up on Christmas Eve and stayed for 15 months before eventually returning home. But that’s the point, Matthew said. It’s to reunify families, to give parents time to sort things out and to help youth prepare to go home.

“The very best situation for kids is to reunite them with their families of origin,” Matthew said. “Their financial situation is irrelevant. As long as it’s a safe situation with the kid, it’s best to be with their biological family.”

Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. Not all foster youth can go home. A 15-year-old young man who is with the family now came to them at age 12. His situation was untenable. Parental rights were terminated, and Matthew’s family filed paperwork to become adoptive parents.

On the other hand, many of Matthew’s long-term placements thought they’d never reunite with their parents, but most eventually did. The doubt, fear, and brokenness may not have completely healed, but the youth usually went home stronger than when they’d landed in foster care.

“The kids are only part of the story,” Matthew said. “There’s a whole family, a community. They still love their children. You’ve got to push judgement out of the way. It doesn’t make you better than them; it just means you’re at a different point in life.”

Yet, with every placement, every goodbye, and every reunion—whether joyful or painful—Matthew and his family have learned that love is always worth the risk.

“Don’t worry about getting your heart broken,” he said. “Your heart’s going to get broken anyway. So might as well do it while loving some kids along the way.”

If you’re interested in becoming a foster parent, please call 2-1-1 or 800-926-2588, or visit DHW's foster care 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.