The new foster parent handbook, A Guide to Fostering in Idaho: Nurturing Kids, Building Families, was recently mailed to Idaho foster families. 

Designed for both new and experienced foster parents, the handbook serves as a guide and a support system, addressing many of the questions and challenges foster families encounter.

The handbooks were mailed to foster parents late last week. They’re divided into three sections: Information Sharing, Training, and Support.

• Information Sharing outlines the types of information foster parents can expect to receive and how to access that information to advocate effectively for the children in their care.
• Training highlights safety information and introduces training options available to resource parents.
• Support provides practical problem-solving tools and emotional encouragement to help ensure foster parents have the resources needed to successfully navigate the complexities of foster care.

In addition to printed copies for foster families, local resource peer mentors and support organizations will use the handbook as a tool for training and onboarding new foster families. By incorporating real-life scenarios and practical advice, the handbook aims to bridge the gap between policy and day-to-day parenting challenges.

Foster parents who have already received the handbook have expressed appreciation for its straightforward guidance and accessibility. Some have noted that having all key information in one place makes it easier to navigate the complexities of foster care and advocate effectively for the children in their homes.

The handbook was developed in response to feedback from foster parents and was a collaborative effort involving the department, foster parents, Guardians ad Litem (GALs), resource peer mentors, trainers, and community partners. Each group had one or more representatives instrumental in the development and review of the handbook.

Special thanks go to the Casey Foundation, which generously funded the printing of this first publication. The handbook has also been published online and is available to the general public at DHW’s website.

DHW anticipates updating and republishing the handbook annually.

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.

For children in foster care, the effects of instability, stress, and trauma can be overwhelming. Fly fishing is emerging as a therapeutic tool, offering kids a chance to escape their worries, build confidence, and experience the calming effects of nature. 

The Department of Health and Welfare is reinforcing this approach in 2025 by providing free fishing licenses to youth in extended foster care. The program is also paving the way for a new partnership with The Mayfly Project, a national nonprofit that has established a track record of success in using fly fishing to mentor and support children in foster care.

About fly fishing as therapy

Kaitlin Barnhart, co-founder and national program director of The Mayfly Project, believes DHW’s initiative is a step in the right direction.

“We’re proof of how what DHW is doing is important,” Barnhart said. “Fly fishing creates so many mental health benefits.”

Barnhart’s background working in the foster care system led her to fly fishing as a way to decompress. She quickly realized how beneficial the sport was, not just for herself, but for the children she worked with. She began taking foster youth fishing and saw immediate positive changes.

“It gives kids a chance to take a break and just be kids on the river,” she said. “There’s a decompression we often see when we get them on the water—they become a different kid almost immediately.”

Barnhart pointed out that some doctors now prescribe fly fishing for people with PTSD due to the rhythmic, meditative nature of casting. The simple act of casting can be beneficial for children, particularly those in foster care who may struggle with learning disabilities, ADHD, or other effects of trauma.

“Our project is designed to help kids feel successful,” Barnhart added. “It also helps develop self-esteem.”

Free fishing licenses for youth in extended foster care

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission recently approved a program that will provide free fishing licenses to youth in extended foster care and one foster parent per household in 2025. This initiative is a collaborative effort between Idaho Fish and Game, DHW, and Idaho Sportsmen, Access & Opportunity, a hunting and fishing advocacy group that is funding the balance of discounted fishing licenses for eligible youth ages 18 to 20 and one foster parent per family.

Foster youth and parents who wish to participate will receive a voucher from DHW that can be redeemed for a fishing license at a Fish and Game office.

Youth in foster care and their families wishing to participate in the program should reach out to Laura Denner at DHW.

Laura Denner, DHW
208-334-0641 (office)
Laura.Denner@dhw.idaho.gov

It takes a village

The effort to introduce more foster youth to fly fishing is continuing to take root in Idaho through the efforts of a growing number of organizations: DHW, Idaho Fish and Game, Idaho Sportsmen, Access & Opportunity, and The Mayfly Project, to name four.

“For kids in foster care to learn that there’s someplace they can go and experience fresh air, clean water, and the calm of fly fishing is huge,” Barnhart said. “Our rivers need kids, and our kids need rivers.”

Idaho Sportsmen, Access & Opportunity Founder and Chairman Benn Brocksome agreed.

“Idaho’s great outdoors should be accessible to all, especially foster youth who can find solace and adventure in nature,” he said in reference to his organization’s decision to underwrite the foster youth free fishing program. 

A step in the right direction

The fly fishing community has embraced The Mayfly Project, leading to rapid growth. In just ten years, the organization has expanded to 67 project locations in the U.S.

The budding partnerships between DHW, The Mayfly Project, Fish and Game, and the Idaho Sportsmen group represent a community investment in the well-being of Idaho’s foster youth. By leveraging Idaho’s rich outdoor environment, the initiatives offer young people a meaningful and healing way to connect with nature, gain new skills, and build lasting relationships.

The Mayfly Project’s decade-long track record of success working with foster youth provides clear evidence that fishing can be a transformative experience for children in foster care, reinforcing that DHW’s efforts are a step in the right direction.

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 is removed from their home for their own safety and placed with foster parents, everything they’ve known is disrupted. They have new rooms, live with new adults with new routines, and might attend a new school.

Change can be good for the youths and their new foster parents. For Jack and Gwyn, a married couple from Star, Idaho, instilling a routine with their foster children was paramount to their success. (Follow this link to view a video where Jack and Gwyn share about their experience.)

Bedtimes, mealtimes, consistency, and routine brought a steadiness to the three children they foster. Jack and Gwyn don’t treat their foster kids any different than they treated their older children who have left the house, or their 11-year-old daughter at home. In fact, their 11-year-old was the one who suggested Gwyn and Jack apply to be foster parents.

She begged her parents to have a baby themselves, but after they listened to a presentation at their church about the need for more foster parents in Idaho, they initiated the paperwork. They became foster parents in March 2024.

The children in Jack and Gwyn’s care are part of a larger biological family. They are three of six siblings, who still get to visit their parents and brothers and sisters, but most of their time is spent under the steady guidance of Jack and Gwyn.

“All kids at the end of the day are kids, and they all need love, and they all need support,” Gwyn said. “We have learned a lot about kids and different backgrounds, but we find that—just—they're just kids, and it's simple.”

It’s important to Jack and Gwyn that they make the children feel safe—one of the keys to the foster system working. They said the children feel grief and loss and go through periods of stress after visits with their siblings or parents. He said he and Gwyn respond by giving space, a steady routine, and safety. Those basics are required, but the extras—the caring, nurturing, teaching—make foster parenting successful.

Jack and Gwyn had fears: How would the foster children get along with their daughter? “What if they miss their family so much we can’t help them?” They worked through it, listened to them, and kept their bellies full and their rooms clean.

Foster children live chaotic lives, but they can feel the calm of safety in the right home, Jack and Gwyn agreed. They watched the three children change in their care, saw them start to find happiness. The children now share their feelings and offer hugs when they get up in the morning.

Not every family in Idaho has the space or the means to take in an extra child with a complicated background, but the people who do are rewarded in miraculous ways. They find new strength, new love, and they share it.

“Please, don’t hesitate,” Jack said. “Treat them like you treat your own, and it makes life a lot easier.”

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 Gov. Brad Little kicked off the 2025 Legislative Session on Monday, Jan. 6, addressing lawmakers in a State of the State address and making a budget recommendation that lawmakers will consider as they set the state’s next fiscal blueprint.

Among the good news for Idaho children and families is that the Governor’s recommendation adds $9.6 million to support prevention and transformation efforts in Idaho’s foster care system. If funded, this would be the largest ongoing increase in support for child welfare in state history. Most importantly, it has the prospect of positively changing the trajectory of the lives of some of Idaho’s most vulnerable children.

The Governor’s office and Division of Financial Management worked closely with the Department of Health and Welfare to calibrate a $9.6 million package to help the department’s goal of doubling the rate of foster families by June 2026. To be sure, the department has made great progress toward that goal, growing the number of foster families per 100 kids from 74 to 94 in just seven short months.

The department has succeeded so far by reorganizing the department leadership team and program structure to create more oversight and support, streamlining department policies and rules, initiating new community partnerships, and more.

The budget request will augment these efforts by providing funds to build out a prevention team, lower caseloads, raise foster family pay rates, and take other actions that will get the department closer to achieving its goal. 

Gov. Little’s proposed investment in child welfare marks a pivotal moment for Idaho’s foster care system, offering a clear path toward meaningful transformation. 

By focusing on prevention, increasing support for foster families, and addressing systemic challenges like high caseloads, Idaho has a unique opportunity to enact lasting change. Idaho’s children and families are counting on this investment to not only meet current needs but to build a brighter, more stable future.

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

Foster parents in Idaho are experiencing a growing sense of support, according to the 2024 Idaho Resource Parent Survey.

This annual survey, which has been measuring Idaho foster parent sentiment for over a decade, collected insights from 391 foster and adoptive parents in 2024. Over the years, the survey has served as an important tool for tracking trends, addressing concerns, and celebrating progress in the foster care system. 

The 2024 results paint a promising picture of improved satisfaction while also shedding light on areas that need further innovation. The findings reflect the state’s commitment to enhancing the foster care system and fostering stronger partnerships with resource families. Here are some highlights.

High marks for program support

A standout finding from the survey is that roughly 60% of foster families continue to rate the program’s overall support as “Very Good or “Good.” This broad approval underscores the program’s consistent and meaningful support to foster parents, reinforcing the department’s efforts to prioritize resource families’ needs.

A closer look at foster parent experiences

For many foster parents, the journey is one of challenges and rewards. The survey results show that a significant portion of parents feel their efforts are recognized and supported. For example, 57% of respondents rated the support from family service workers as “Very Good” or “Good.”

Furthermore, 64% of foster parents reported feeling like valued members of the care team—a testament to the emphasis on collaboration within the system.

Longevity and retention reflect dedication

The survey also sheds light on the dedication of Idaho’s foster parents. Nearly 70% of respondents have been involved for more than a year, and 38% have served as foster or adoptive parents for three years or more. This longevity underscores the resilience and commitment of resource families to providing stable, nurturing environments for children.

Opportunities for growth

The survey highlights areas for continued growth. Some foster parents expressed concerns about involvement in case planning and receiving timely information about court proceedings or medical records. The Department of Health and Welfare recognizes the essential role of foster parents and is committed to addressing their needs and concerns. 

Earlier in 2024 the department enacted a Foster Parent Bill of Rights, started publishing a foster family newsletter, and began hosting a foster family forum in which foster families can participate in discussions with resource staff and each other. Early in 2025 foster parents will receive a resource handbook to help them navigate the wide range of resources available to them.

In sum, ongoing efforts will continue to include enhancing transparency and timeliness in communication, particularly regarding placements and court updates; and providing additional support to help foster parents advocate for educational needs and manage caregiver burnout.

Idaho’s foster parents are the backbone of the system, offering hope and stability to children in need. This survey highlights the collective strides being made and the ongoing commitment to building an even stronger partnership with resource 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.

This December, I had the honor of signing adoptions for 30 Idaho kids, ensuring that they’re receiving the gift of safe, permanent, loving families for the holidays. Since arriving at the Department of Health and Welfare in June, I’ve signed 150 adoptions, each representing a child’s journey toward stability and belonging.

As I reflect on this milestone, I’m filled with gratitude for the dedicated families, social workers, and advocates who have made this possible. The department always works first to reunify children with their birth parents, but in cases where that’s not possible adoption is often the surest path toward stability.

The stories behind these adoptions are as unique as the children themselves. Some have waited months or even years for this moment, overcoming obstacles with incredible resilience. Others have found their permanent families through relatives, foster parents, or community members who stepped up to provide love and support.

For the 30 children whose adoptions I finalized this month, this Christmas will be truly memorable. They will wake up in homes surrounded by people committed to their well-being and long-term futures. For many, this marks the end of uncertainty and the beginning of a new chapter filled with hope and opportunity.

The work of ensuring a safe and healthy home for every Idaho child is not without its challenges. The foster care system is complex, and the road to reunifying children with their biological families, finding them secure foster families, or finalizing their adoptions can be challenging. Yet, moments like these remind me why we do what we do. 

I want to extend my thanks to all who play a role in this process. To the adoptive families who open their hearts and homes, thank you for your courage and compassion. To the social workers, case managers, and foster families, your dedication makes these happy endings possible.

Also as we pause to appreciate these adoptions, let us remember that we have a long way to go to reach our goal of doubling the rate of resource families in Idaho and providing every child in need a loving foster family or permanent home.

This holiday season, I encourage everyone to consider how they might support these children, whether through fostering, adoption, or community advocacy. Together, we can ensure that every child in Idaho has the chance to grow up in a safe and loving environment.

From all of us at the Department of Health and Welfare, I wish you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season. May your celebrations be filled with the spirit of giving that makes this time of year so special.

• Follow this link for more about foster care and adoption in Idaho. 

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 teenage boy had nowhere else to turn, he turned to his friends, hoping one of their families might take him in. One family did, opening their home and hearts to provide him with a safe place to land during one of the most difficult times of his life.

This is a story about the power of a foster family’s love and the difference it made in a young man’s life. (Follow this link to watch a version of this story on Youtube.)

Christine, a busy working mother in southern Idaho, had a full and orderly life with her husband and two children. They had a comfortable routine, a stable home, and no plans for major upheavals. But that changed when one of their son’s friends—a high school senior who could no longer live with his family—approached them with a difficult question: “Can anyone take me in?”

Unable to stay in his own home, he’d begun asking friends if their families could provide him shelter. One of those friends, Christine’s son, brought the question home.

It was a big ask, one that Christine and her family didn’t take lightly. They had a spare room and the ability to help, but weren’t sure if they could or should. They were concerned with how it might affect their family dynamic.

Christine was familiar with the concept of serving families through her professional work, but fostering was new territory. She and her husband had also considered fostering before, but it never materialized. But this time the opportunity came to them.

“I really admired him for reaching out,” she said. “It was very moving to me.”

Ultimately, Christine and her family chose to take him in. The Idaho kinship and caregiving program, which allows children to be cared for by relatives, tribal members, or close family friends like Christine, provided the framework. The program prioritizes maintaining family connections and cultural traditions by relying on relatives and friends.

They prepared a room, letting the young man decorate it to make it his own, and welcomed him to their dining table as if he had always been part of their family. But the journey wasn’t without challenges.

“We knew he had conflicts and struggles in his original home, which is why he needed to move,” Christine said. “Was he going to bring some of that conflict into our home?”

Yet, challenges were met with love, patience, and determination.

“Some days have been hard, but my husband and I have looked at each other many times and said, ‘this is one of the best things we’ve ever done,’” Christine said. “It gives us joy to see this young person growing up, maturing, and feeling like we were able to help him on his way. I can’t think of anything more impactful than helping a child get on the path to success.”

As the young man approached 18, the age at which many foster children “age out” of the system, the family faced another big decision. In 2021 Idaho enacted a law allowing foster youth to remain with their families and continue receiving assistance until the age of 21.

She gave her foster son the choice. She recalled asking him what he wanted to do while driving him to the Department of Health and Welfare to work out the paperwork.

“What are you going to say?” she recalled asking him.

His response: “It’s up to you, too.”

“We want you to stay,” she told him.

He chose to remain with them, graduating from high school and continuing to live with the family.

“We’ve told him he is part of our family forever,” Christine said. “We want to go to his wedding someday. We want to be there for all his life events. He realizes he is part of the family.”

Christine’s story is one of courage and compassion—a testament to the power of opening one’s home to a child in need. It’s not just a story of fostering; it’s a story of creating family.

If you’ve ever considered fostering, know that your willingness to offer a home—even 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.

Kinship care statistics
10,574—the number of grandparents in Idaho responsible for children under the age of 18. This does not account for the thousands of children living informally with other relatives or close family friends.
1 out of 11—the number of children nationally who live in kinship care at some point before turning 18.

Helpful links:

• Treatment foster care: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/children-families/child-and-family-services-and-foster-care/treatment-foster-care 
  Apply to become a foster parent: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/children-families/child-and-family-services-and-foster-care/apply-become-foster 
• Kinship care: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/children-families/child-and-family-services-and-foster-care/about-kinship-and 

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

Since starting my job as director of the Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) in June, I’ve signed 95 adoption papers for children being adopted from foster care into new families and waived adoption fees to help make adoption through the department easier.

Signing adoptions is an emotionally charged part of this job. I read every one, and while each is a story about loss, it’s also a story about support and hope.

Each November we observe National Adoption Month to honor and support adoptive families and highlight the thousands of children in need of permanent, loving homes. In Idaho, this month is particularly meaningful as we celebrate the families who have opened their hearts to children in foster care. 

There are different types of adoption. An adoption done through DHW is a public agency adoption that’s facilitated by the department or another state or county social service department. The department does not provide private adoptions.

In a public agency adoption, the department has custody of the children in foster care and typically works with a birth family to try to reunite them for 12 months. If that can’t occur, the court may terminate parental rights, and the child is available for adoption.

The journey toward adoption can be challenging but also comes with rewards. Adoptive families provide a sense of belonging and security that every child deserves. For children who have experienced the instability of foster care, adoption offers the promise of consistency, love, and a chance to thrive.

For these reasons and more, DHW is working to transform child welfare in Idaho by doubling the rate of resource families. This means reducing the number of kids in the system, increasing the number of foster families, or both. And a piece of the puzzle includes adoption for children that, for whatever unfortunate reason or reasons may exist, cannot return to their parents.

National Adoption Month is a reminder that everyone has a role to play in supporting adoption. Whether by adopting, fostering, or spreading awareness, all Idahoans can make a difference.

This month, we are particularly focused on finding families for Idaho’s older youth in foster care who are often overlooked but have so much potential. A stable home environment can transform these young lives, providing not only a safe space to grow but also the encouragement to pursue their dreams.

To all of Idaho’s adoptive families, thank-you for your commitment. Your love and dedication create brighter futures and stronger communities. For those considering becoming foster or adoptive parents, please reach out to our team to learn more about this life-changing journey. Together, we can create a future where every child has a family to call their own.

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/child-and-family-services-and-foster-care/about-adoption

•    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: One Idaho family celebrates adoption of their newest family member at the courthouse.

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) has introduced a new Continuum of Care Bureau to enhance support for youth and families in the state’s foster care system. Its goal is to ensure that congregate care placements are appropriate while optimizing the use of funding streams for effective interventions.

Led by Bureau Chief Stacy Corbett, the bureau is part of the Division of Youth Safety and Permanency and is divided into several focused units, each serving a unique role in supporting children, families, and foster care providers:

1. Family First Clinicians: This unit is responsible for conducting assessments to determine the appropriateness of congregate care placements. These clinicians collaborate with field staff to identify necessary supports, facilitate referrals to the congregate care, and to ensure that youth receive the care they need. 

2. Family Support Unit: The Family Support Unit works closely with biological families and foster families to prevent placement disruptions and avoid removals, support youth transitioning back into their communities, and provide access to community-based services.

3. Congregate Care Unit: This unit oversees the placement process for youth requiring residential care. Key responsibilities include reviewing assessments to ensure youth are matched to the most appropriate settings and prioritizing in-state options before considering out-of-state placements, collaborating with to determine medical necessity for Medicaid-funded services, monitoring active placements to ensure treatment plans align with a youth’s needs and readiness for discharge, and supporting discharge planning to facilitate smooth transitions to the next placement or community setting.

4. Warm Line: The Warm Line will provide crisis support to foster parents facing challenges that could disrupt placements or result in youth being moved to alternate settings. Available through a clinical lens, this service will assess community resources and offer access to mobile crisis teams, crisis centers trained in trust-based relational intervention, crisis intervention and suicide prevention.

The Continuum of Care Bureau’s comprehensive structure underscores DHW’s commitment to improving outcomes for youth in foster care. By providing support for both families and providers, the bureau aims to stabilize placements, reduce disruptions, and promote successful reintegration into communities.

This initiative represents a step forward in Idaho’s efforts to build a more responsive and effective 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.

Treasure Valley resident Shane Hanson has been providing for kids in foster care for more than a decade, but he just became a foster father for the first time this summer.

“Since welcoming our 1-year-old foster placement, the transformation has been nothing short of miraculous,” he wrote in a LinkedIn post that went viral this summer. “Once tense and reserved, she is now beginning to giggle and laugh, her radiant smile lighting up every room she enters. The joy she brings to our family is indescribable.”

In addition to his day job as president and CEO of a retirement plan consulting firm, Freedom Fiduciaries, Hanson is founder of a nonprofit called Freedom Youth Foundation. With the slogan, “It’s for the kids,” the organization’s mission is to empower foster youth by providing them with the tools, skills, and support they need to build successful futures.

While he’s spent 13 years working with foster youth, he said he and his wife grappled with some common challenges when it came to the decision to sign up as foster parents themselves. 

“We have four kids. We were struggling just to keep afloat as a family,” he said. “In my mind, I was thinking: Is it the right time to have a great environment for a foster child, and are we going to bring them into chaos?”

It's a situation and sentiment many families likely share, but Hanson stressed that there’s a lot that families can do in addition to becoming foster parents. They can donate to nonprofits, volunteer with groups like Freedom Youth Foundation, or spread the word to encourage others to get involved.

“We need foster families, but not everyone is going to be able to make that jump,” he said. “So what about respite? And what about coming out and helping us work with the kids?”

Freedom Youth Foundation’s work

Hanson is a new foster father, but his roots helping kids in foster care learn life skills goes back decades. Freedom Youth Foundation harnesses the universal language of athletics to teach life skills such as accountability, leadership, and teamwork. It’s also expanded its curriculum the last few years to include resume writing, mock interviews, and basic financial literacy.

The program was born in 2011 when Hanson, a collegiate basketball player working in Serbia, was asked to participate in a United Nations peace-promoting initiative. He coached 150 young people who came from the war-torn former Yugoslavian region.

“It broke down barriers, and I watched as basketball brought kids together whose parents and grandparents had killed each other,” he said. “It deeply, deeply impacted me. I realized basketball could be so much more than a sport that I loved.”

Originally called Progression Athletics International, the organization started in southern California and went to work hosting basketball, soccer, and other sports events to bring kids together and teach positive life skills. Hanson expanded into Idaho in 2017 and rebranded as Freedom Youth Foundation in 2022.

Just this summer, the organization secured a Treasure Valley headquarters, which hosted a grand opening in October. The facility includes office space, storage for sports equipment, a large room fit for hosting meetings and events, and a clothing exchange called Parker’s Closet, named for his daughter whose idea it was to collect new clothes that foster kids could have for free to help them feel important and valued.

Freedom Youth Foundation is continuing to expand its circle of influence in Idaho. It connected with the state late in 2023 by providing Christmas gifts for kids in temporary foster care in Nampa. In spring 2024, it helped coordinate considerable community contributions like painting and electrical work for a new state-run foster care facility in Payette. 

“Doors keep opening, and we keep checking out what’s on the other side,” Hanson said. “It’s been incredible. I equate it to: we’re learning to surf with a tidal wave of positive momentum at our back.”

Becoming a foster dad himself

Despite decades spent working with foster kids Hanson and his wife are only discovering what it’s like to be foster parents themselves. 

And it’s clearly a moving experience.

He recalled a moment that took place taking their foster daughter through the chaotic environment of a drive-through carwash.

“She was terrified, clutching her car seat with wide, frightened eyes. In that moment of distress, I reached my hand into her seat. She grasped my thumb with a sense of relief and trust, and in an instant her fear melted away.”

Hanson said this small moment underscores the importance of stepping forward as foster parents.

“A stable home, a reassuring presence, and unconditional love can make all the difference in a child’s life,” he said. “If we could all be a kid, we’d want to be. They don’t worry about taxes, clocking in, clocking out. What they want is to be happy, loved, supported, and provided the opportunity to grow, nurture, and thrive.”

By sharing some of his experience working with foster kids and becoming a foster parent himself, Hanson hopes others will be inspired to get involved as well.

“What greater impact can you have than helping a child have a safe and nurturing home, whether you’re going to adopt them or care for them temporarily. It comes back to: what would you want for your kids if something happened to you? I’d want people to step up.”

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