Foster parents play a vital role in creating a safe and nurturing environment for children and youth in their care, and it is the Department of Health and Welfare’s priority to ensure they have the resources and support they need to succeed. 

One of the department’s opportunities is to communicate as much as possible with foster families. To address this, we’re excited to announce two new initiatives designed to enhance connection and provide better access to information: a monthly foster family newsletter and a monthly foster parent community forum. Both launch this week.

Foster Family Monthly

Our new foster family newsletter, Foster Family Monthly, launched this week and will serve as a key resource to keep foster parents informed and empowered. It will include timely updates on policies, upcoming events, training opportunities, and essential resources for foster families. 

In addition, the newsletter will highlight success stories from the foster care community, showcasing the impact foster families have on children’s lives. By delivering this information directly to foster families’ inboxes and mailboxes, the department aims to make it easier for foster parents to access the tools and guidance they need to provide the best possible care.

Foster parent community forum

In tandem with the newsletter, the department is launching an online foster parent community forum, with the first convening this Thursday. 

Fostering Community Connections – Foster Family Forum is a monthly opportunity for foster parents 
throughout Idaho to meet virtually, learn about successful community efforts to support foster youth, and share resources. Each month will feature a Department of Health and Welfare program with ties to foster youth, as well as a community partner agency working to support foster families. Each session will also include time for foster parents to ask questions about regional resources.

The fostering journey can be challenging, and we believe that having a strong network of peers can make a significant difference. The forum will allow foster parents, whether new or experienced, to find helpful information and nurture a sense of community.

Direct support for resource families

Both of these initiatives reflect the department’s ongoing commitment to support foster families and improving the overall foster care experience. 

By providing direct communication and opportunities for connection, we hope to strengthen the support system for those who play such a critical role in the lives of children. 

We’re excited to introduce these tools and look forward to the positive impact they will have. Thank you for your continued partnership in making a difference for children in need.

Monty Prow is deputy director of Child, Youth and Family Services. He’s dedicated his career to supporting youth and families, most recently serving as director of the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections.

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

Nearly 100 Treasure Valley-area foster kids gathered on the BLUE turf at Albertsons Stadium Thursday night to run, kick, catch, throw, and flip with 75 Boise State student-athletes.

“This is for the foster kids, just out here having fun,” said Boise State football safety Travis Anderson. “We’ve got soccer, track, softball, football—just having fun with the kids.”

Different sports and activities were organized at stations on the BLUE. Anderson and some of his teammates ran a basketball station. Other stations included softball, gymnastics, soccer, tackling, passing, golf and more--even a touchdown dance competition. Indoor stations included arts and crafts, including a friendship bracelet station.

“It’s just awesome to see that we can touch these kids’ lives for just one night,” said junior gymnast Sydney Leitch. “I’m a child at heart, and this is just my vibe. A shout-out to the Boise State community and to these families for letting us be a part of their day and their year.”

Including foster families and student-athletes, the Fostering Future Broncos event attracted about 250 people who braved the Treasure Valley’s first cold snap of the autumn season. The vibe was supportive and fun. The night included high fives, fist bumps, cheers, and innumerable smiles. 

“This is a super fun way to connect with foster children in the Boise area,” said softball outfielder Megan Lake, who played a key role in helping organize the event. “As a kid it’s easy to get stuck in a routine, so they’re getting out of their comfort zones, coming out here, and hanging out with us. And this helps me get out of my comfort zone, too. We get to hang out with kids, get loose, and have fun.”

Fostering Future Broncos was a partnership between the Department of Health and Welfare, Boise State University, and Freedom Youth Foundation. It’s the most recent example of partnerships and initiatives the department is forging to recognize and honor foster families and foster children, as well as increase the number of foster families.

Other actions have included waiving adoption fees through the department, simplified licensure of foster homes, launch of a new Foster Parent Bill of Rights, encouraging Idaho businesses to offer paid time off for new foster families, free access to state parks, and more.

“A huge thanks goes out to Boise State student-athletes and administrators who made this inspiring event happen,” said DHW Director Alex Adams. “Their commitment to fostering positive relationships and creating joyful memories for these children is something truly special. It’s about more than just one night—it’s about showing these kids they’re valued and part of our community. Go Broncos!”

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

A Treasure Valley foster mom wants Idahoans to consider how meaningful it can be to make a difference for a family in crisis. In the past four years she and her family have welcomed 16 foster children into their home. She hopes it’s something more Idahoans will consider. 

“I’m very passionate about supporting foster care in the Treasure Valley. Once you see the need, you can’t unsee it,” said Becca. “Once you start putting a face to these kids and you hear their stories—and even as you get to know the biological families and start to know their stories—you can’t not love them. I love them so much, and I root for them.” 

Becca said her upbringing predisposed her to giving back through the foster care program, but signing up still gave her pause. She and her husband have four children of their own, and they worried about how fostering might impact their family. 

“I was worried that I didn’t have the capacity to do what it takes because our life was already so busy. I was also so scared about how fostering might affect our kids, what they might be exposed to, what they might learn,” she said. “Would they get enough attention? Would they have their needs met?” 

But those fears have proved unfounded, and they’ve been surprised at the positive impact it’s had on the family. 

“I can tell you that foster care has absolutely affected my kids. They’re more compassionate; they’re more loving; their world view has changed; they love with bigger hearts, offer more grace. They get to cheer on our biological families; they have a front-row seat to seeing families lives changed.” 

Becca described the recent experience of receiving a Mother’s Day card from the mom of two of the children she’d cared for during a time of family difficulty: The last line of the card said, “You cared for my girls when I was too broken to do so.” 

Each foster care story is unique, but the card from a grateful biological mother helps illustrate that being a foster family is about being part of the village for another family in our community and that many are about hope: hope that kids will be given the love they need to succeed and hope that biological families will find their footing when they can.  

“As foster parents, you’re loving the whole family,” Becca said. “You’re not just saying I’m better equipped to parent this child. You’re saying: here’s a family in crisis and you’re helping the whole unit.” 

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. 

“It’s not easy,” Becca said. “It’s the hardest thing we’ve ever done, but it’s the best thing we’ve ever done.” 

• Watch a short video Becca recorded to help others understand more about fostering.

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 kinship families came together last month to celebrate Idaho Kinship Family Day, which recognizes and honors families in which relatives or adults with a significant relationship with a child take on the responsibility of parenting when parents aren’t able to.

The Kinship Day events DHW hosted in Boise, Idaho Falls, and Coeur d’Alene were hosted in outdoor spaces and included presentations, games, lunch, and exhibitions of artwork submitted as part of My Family. My Story., an art and expression series DHW has sponsored annually since 2011.

The intent of My Family. My Story. is to help children, youth, and kinship caregivers express and feel connected to others in kinship care, and to celebrate and honor the contributions of kinship caregivers. It’s also an opportunity to celebrate partners who walk alongside kinship families in their journeys. 

This year’s art and expressions were moving. Through drawings, photography, poetry, and essays, kinship caregivers and children who submitted entries to My Family. My Story. helped illustrate the important contributions kinship care makes for Idahoans. 

Some examples from this and previous years include:

• A grandchild expressing that her grandpa is her “hero in real life” because he teaches her how to do many things
• A grandchild who drew a picture of herself looking out her bedroom window thinking “I don’t have to wish upon a star because all of my dreams have come true”
• Children expressing feelings of safety and security
• Children expressing love for their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other family members
• Children describing the feeling of broken dreams followed by restored hope
• A grandmother expressing her journey as a kinship caregiver by creating a photo quilt

In addition to the My Family. My Story. story walks, the Kinship Day events also included presentations from DHW staff, a reading of a Kinship Day proclamation signed by Idaho Gov. Brad Little, celebrations of kinship champions, and resources and information from DHW and community partners.

Though there are many kinship caregivers in Idaho, the majority aren’t aware of assistance that’s available to them. There is a list of resources available on the 2-1-1 Idaho CareLine: Kinship and Caregiving. 

Resources include financial, legal, kinship navigation, support, respite and educational information. If you are a kinship caregiver, please take a look, and if you know a kinship caregiver, please pass along this information about the resources available to help them in their labor of love.

For more information about resources and supports available to kinship caregivers and children, visit the DHW website at https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/kinship-and-caregiving.

Kinship caregivers are an important part of the supports provided to children and families in need. Unfortunately, the need for additional foster families in Idaho is constant, with a specific demand for those who can care for sibling groups, adolescents, and children with more complex needs. Foster and kinship parents provide a lifeline, offering stability and care to children who need it most.

If you are 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.

DHW would like to recognize the community partners who attended this year’s Kinship Family Day events and provided information to families, including: The Infant Toddler Program, Children’s Developmental Disabilities, Public Health, Resource and Service Navigation, 2-1-1 Idaho CareLine, WIC, Casey Family Programs, Family Caregiver Navigator Program, Relatives As Parents, Fostering Idaho, Idaho Children’s Trust Fund, Friends of Children and Families Inc., Head Start and Early Head Start, Mountain States Early Head Start,  Area Agency on Aging, Optum, The Autism Society, Children’s Village, Canvas Church, Canvas Food Pantry and Clothing Closet, CASA, Village of Health, and Panhandle Health. 

Follow this link to view entries to the My Family. My Story. arts and expressions series. 

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

Crisis prevention training is paying off for staff and residents at the Nampa-based Southwest Idaho Treatment Center (SWITC), a department-run home for adults with intellectual disabilities. 

Since 2019, SWITC has used programming from the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) to implement tailored training across the facility, providing all staff with proactive de-escalation skills to recognize and prevent incidents of violence. SWITC was featured in September in a CPI case study showcasing its success.

Facing lost work hours due to staff injuries and increased spending from workers’ compensation claims, SWITC needed a sustainable training solution that would encompass all staff roles and scenarios they experienced.

The training is paying off.

SWITC has experienced a 65% decrease in workers’ compensation claims, 75% fewer work hours lost due to injury, and a 66% reduction in the use of restraints. Gaining de-escalation techniques specific to client behaviors has allowed SWITC to strengthen rapport clients. 

Since implementing Crisis Prevention Institute programming, SWITC has trained more than 450 employees and embedded seven certified instructors across the facility.

It has also created operational cost savings.

“The investment in CPI training has helped us retain staff because they feel equipped with the tools they need,” said SWITC Administrative Director Jamie Newton. “When staff know what to do in a crisis situation and have the support they need, they’re more likely to stay.”

• Read SWITC’s Crisis Prevention Institute case study here: https://www.crisisprevention.com/customer-success-stories/human-services/southwest-idaho-treatment-center/

New video helps SWITC residents and their families get oriented

A new DHW video called “Discover the Southwest Idaho Treatment Center: A Campus Overview” is designed to help residents and their families get acquainted with the facility.

The video offers a visual tour of the 600-acre campus while a narrator explains about SWITC’s purpose and how it serves Idahoans. 

“Many times, clients arrive to live at SWITC having never visited prior to moving in,” Newton said. “We’re excited to have this video to share with prospective clients and their families so that they can learn a bit more about SWITC and what to expect before they arrive. It is our desire to make the transition as positive an experience as it can be.” 

• Check out the new video: “Discover the Southwest Idaho Treatment Center: A Campus Overview.”

Treasure Valley foster families converged on Lucky Peak State Park last Sunday to take advantage of a new program offered jointly by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation and Department of Health and Welfare (DHW). In all, more than 100 people gathered in the park to learn about camping, boating safety, fire safety, fishing, and a lot more.

This was the first of a planned series of events for foster families that will take place statewide in the coming year. Called Outdoor FUNdamentals, the next will be hosted at a different state park later this fall. Please stay tuned for details.

Earlier this summer, Idaho Parks and Rec and DHW joined forces to give all Idaho foster families free access to Idaho’s state parks via the Idaho State Park Foster Family Passport. The new program is an extension of that initiative.

There was a palpable sense of community and camaraderie at Lucky Peak State Park on Sunday that was made more festive with contributions by Regence BlueShield of Idaho, Idaho Business for the Outdoors, CLIF Bar, Scheels, and a number of other agencies and vendors like the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Idaho Youth Conservation Corps.

In addition to outdoor-focused educational experiences and materials, the event included free food, a raffle, and prizes. 

The event also highlighted the 10 Outdoor Essentials that all adventurers should come prepared with before they venture into the outdoors, including water, snacks, sunscreen, and more. 

Additionally, foster families who attended were able to check out the Idaho State Parks Experience Idaho Loaner Backpacks, which are available at nearly every Idaho state park. The Experience Idaho Backpacks are free and filled with outdoor gear like binoculars, identification guides, and aquatic nets. 

The new Outdoor FUNdamentals program is just one of many new focused goals DHW has pledged to help recruit, retain, and help foster families get the help and assistance they need. 

The department has waived all adoption fees through the department, simplified licensure of foster homes, and released a Foster Parent Bill of Rights.

It has also reorganized its child welfare leadership team and program structure, worked with Gov. Brad Little to expand paid parental leave for new foster parents, and sponsored screenings of the film, “Sound of Hope,” which chronicles the true story about 22 families who adopted 77 kids from the foster system.

And it has partnered with Idaho Parks and Rec to roll out the Idaho State Park Foster Family Passport. If you have questions about the passport program, please visit the attached FAQ. 

Celebrate Kinship Day this weekend!

Idaho Kinship Family Day will be celebrated this Saturday, Sept. 21, at outdoor parks in Boise, Idaho Falls and Coeur d’ Alene. The events will include food, games, prizes, and activities for families to participate in together, as well as information and resources about kinship care.

Events in all three cities are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and specific locations are as follows:

• Boise - Kristen Armstrong Municipal Park Shelter, 500 S. Walnut St.
• Coeur d’Alene - Borah Elementary, 632 E. Borah Ave.
• Idaho Falls - South Capital Park, 270 S. Capital Ave.

Activities and events are linked to supporting relatives and kin who are caring for children and promoting resources that support the health, safety, and stability of children and families. The activities also support services that help prevent children from entering formal foster care so they can stay with their kin.  For more information and to RSVP for the celebration, please visit Idaho Kinship Family Day Celebration.

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 Department of Health and Welfare is chalk full of unsung heroes who work tirelessly behind the scenes to improve the lives of others they will never meet. One of those heroic groups is our child welfare workers, who protect vulnerable children, support families, and foster safe, nurturing environments.

The second full week of September each year is Child Welfare Worker Appreciation Week, which we’re honoring this year Sept. 8 to 14. This is an opportunity for all of us at DHW to pause and celebrate the dedication, compassion, and resilience of our child welfare workers—especially right now while we collectively pursue the goal of doubling the rate of resource families in Idaho.

DHW is pursuing that goal in a variety of ways. We’ve reorganized our child welfare leadership team and program structure to create more oversight and support. We’ve waived adoption fees through the department, simplified licensure of foster homes, and released a Foster Parent Bill of Rights.

We also worked with Gov. Brad Little to expand paid parental leave for new foster parents. And we cosponsored screenings of “Sound of Hope,” a movie that chronicles 22 families from a rural church who adopted 77 kids from the foster system.

But the unquestionable backbone of our work to care for children and families in need is our child welfare workers. From the complex nature of family dynamics to the emotional weight of their responsibilities, they show incredible commitment and compassion to Idaho’s most vulnerable.

After meeting and working with many of DHW’s child welfare professionals, I can confidently say that this isn’t work, but a calling, and Idahoans are better served thanks to their passion and compassion. Every day, child welfare workers step into the most difficult situations with grace, patience, and determination to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive.

In 2023 alone, child welfare workers at DHW impacted the lives of countless children and families. Their ability to balance the needs of children with the unique circumstances of each family ensures that every case receives the individual attention it deserves.

Moreover, the emotional support and professional guidance provided to foster parents and families enables them to be successful in their own journeys, which ultimately helps shape brighter futures for children in their care.

As we celebrate Child Welfare Worker Appreciation Week, let’s not forget that child welfare workers are at the core of DHW’s mission.

Thank you to all our child welfare workers for your compassion, perseverance, and commitment to the children and families we serve. You are the heartbeat of our organization.

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

Currently in Idaho there are seven bodies of water with active health advisories because of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs). However, there may be other blooms that have not been identified, and people should exercise caution to avoid getting sick or exposing their pets or livestock.

CyanoHABs or just “harmful algal blooms (HABs),” occur most often during the summer months and into early winter, when there is a lot of sunlight, and water is warm, stagnant, and full of chemicals (nutrients) that blooms thrive in. Blooms often produce toxins, called cyanotoxins, which can be dangerous for humans, animals, and the environment. 

How sick can I get if exposed to a bloom?

The most common health effects from contact with harmful algal blooms are irritated skin and eyes. Other, more serious symptoms can include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Stomach pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Numbness and tingling in lips, fingers, and toes

If you experience mild irritation, rinse the area with clean water immediately. If you experience severe symptoms, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

How can I tell if my animal is sick from a bloom?

Pets and livestock that come across harmful algal blooms can get very sick and die within hours to days after swallowing water with cyanotoxins in it. Signs in animals include: 

• Weakness
• Staggering
• Foaming at the mouth
• Difficulty breathing
• Convulsions and seizures

Pets, wildlife, and livestock can be impacted much more than people because they intentionally drink from water where cyanoHABs tend to occur. Additionally, cyanobacteria and their toxins can become trapped in an animal’s fur while swimming and then swallowed afterward when they clean themselves. 

If you suspect your pet has been in contact with a bloom, rinse them with clean, fresh water immediately. If they show signs of illness, call a veterinarian. In severe cases, animals can die very quickly after they have been exposed to harmful blooms. 

Click here for more information about animal safety.

What do blooms look like?

• Blooms can be blue, bright green, brown, or red. 
• They might look like paint streaks across the surface of the water or have the appearance of pea soup, foam, scum, or mats on the surface of lakes and ponds. 
• You might see dead fish or other animals washed up on the shore of the body of water.
• Blooms also occur as mats clinging to rocks and debris at the bottom of water, where they are more difficult to see. In these cases, the water can appear clean and clear. 

Is it safe to eat fish from a lake with a bloom?

If you choose to fish in water with a bloom, prevent exposure by wearing gloves or waders, and washing your hands thoroughly with clean water after handling fish. Information about the risk of eating fish from affected waters is limited. However, fish fillets are less likely to have toxins compared to other parts of the fish. If you decide to eat fish from affected water, before cooking:

• Remove the skin, organs, and fatty deposits from the fish.
• Avoid cutting into organs while you’re cleaning the fish.
• Rinse the fillets with clean water.

Click here for more information.

How can people avoid a bloom?

• Check active advisories by visiting the Idaho Recreational Water Health Advisories website.
• Look for signs posted around recreation sites.
• If the water matches the description of cyanoHABs listed above, or looks different than expected, do not enter or allow your children, pets, or livestock to go in or near the water. When in doubt, stay out. That goes for your pets, too!
• Avoid water sports in areas with a cyanoHAB. Swallowing water is not the only way it can make you sick. Contact with skin, or breathing in water particles, such as while waterskiing or tubing, can also lead to illness.
• When recreating, bring fresh drinking water. Do not use untreated water for drinking, bathing, cleaning, or cooking for you and your pets. Boiling contaminated water will not remove the toxins and can cause more toxin to be released.

Resources:

• Recreational Water Health Advisories
• Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Report and view HABs near you
• Idaho Fish Consumption Advisories
• DHW Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Bloom FAQ

Will Reynolds is a health program specialist in the Bureau of Environmental Health and Communicable Disease, Division of Public Health, 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.
 

Kinship care refers to a heartfelt act where relatives and significant adults in children’s lives step up to take on the role of parents when a child’s biological parents are unable to care for them. 

This September DHW is hosting celebrations to commemorate Idaho’s kinship care families during National Kinship Care Month. 

My Family. My Story. entries due by Aug. 30

My Family. My Story is an annual art and expression series that seeks to raise awareness of the unique needs of caregivers, children, and youth in kinship families, as well as to help them feel connected to others in similar circumstances.

Artworks or expressions will be accepted through Aug. 30 and can include drawings, paintings, poetry, and more. The series is open to caregivers, children, and youth in kinship care (or who have previously been in kinship care), as well as to professionals that work alongside kinship families. 

My Family. My Story. entries are recognized and celebrated at each Idaho Kinship Family Day, as well as published online. For more information or to submit entries, please visit: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/my-family-my-story. 

Idaho Kinship Family Day slated for Sept. 21

Idaho Kinship Family Day will be celebrated Sept. 21 at outdoor parks in Boise, Idaho Falls and Coeur d’ Alene. The events will include food, games, prizes, and activities for families to participate in together, as well as information and resources about kinship care.  

Events in all three cities are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and specific locations are as follows:

• Boise - Kristen Armstrong Municipal Park Shelter, 500 S. Walnut St.
• Coeur d’Alene - Borah Elementary, 632 E. Borah Ave.
• Idaho Falls - South Capital Park, 270 S. Capital Ave.

Activities and events are linked to supporting relatives and kin who are caring for children and promoting resources that support the health, safety, and stability of children and families. The activities also support services that help prevent children from entering formal foster care so they can stay with their kin.  For more information and to RSVP for the celebration, please visit Idaho Kinship Family Day Celebration.

Though there are many kinship caregivers in Idaho, many aren’t aware of assistance that’s available to them. There is a list of resources available on the  2-1-1 Idaho CareLine web page or by calling 2-1-1. 

Resources include financial, legal, kinship navigation, support, respite, and educational information. If you are a kinship caregiver, and if you know a kinship caregiver, please pass along this information about the resources available to help them in their labor of love.

Let’s come together to honor and celebrate the kinship families of Idaho, who embody the essence of love, selflessness, and care. Their stories inspire us all, and it’s our privilege to support and recognize their commitment to the well-being of the children they hold dear.

For more information on resources and supports available to kinship caregivers and children, visit the DHW website at https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/kinship-and-caregiving.

Jen Haddad is a program manager with the Services Integration Bureau 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.

DHW took tough action this week to ensure that the costs of the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP) do not exceed available funding for the current and upcoming fiscal years.

The ICCP provides child care assistance to working families by paying for a portion of child care. The parent’s share is based on the size of the family and the amount of the family’s income. By helping Idaho low-income families with child care, parents can work, complete job training, or finish school. 

The program is projected to be over-budget, and DHW is taking measures to correct that.

What is DHW doing?

To bring the the Idaho Child Care Program in line with its Legislature-approved budget and to avoid budget shortfalls going forward, DHW is taking several actions.  

• Starting Thursday, Aug. 22, DHW is temporarily pausing new enrollment into the ICCP program. 
  • Benefits for current ICCP families are not affected by the enrollment pause and will continue as long as a family meets eligibility criteria. 
  • During the temporary pause, DHW is not enrolling new children in the program, with the exception of the following vulnerable populations: families experiencing homelessness, families caring for a child with a disability, foster families, families receiving Temporary Assistance for Families in Idaho (TAFI), and families receiving preventative services through Child Welfare. If a new child is added to a current ICCP household, they can be enrolled in ICCP as long the household continues to meet the eligibility criteria and benefits are active.
• DHW is also delaying the implementation of increased reimbursement rates to child care providers until July 1, 2025 and will be adjusting the reimbursement rate percentile that DHW pays child care providers.
• Finally, DHW will be recovering administrative costs from ICCP-related contracts

When the temporary enrollment pause ends, eligibility thresholds to qualify for ICCP benefits will be modified. This will apply to new enrollees in the program. Existing enrollees will be subject to the new eligibility thresholds when re-evaluated (which occurs annually). For those determined ineligible, a yet-to-be-determined phase-out plan will occur.

Why is DHW taking these steps?

Several factors contributed to the current predicted shortfall. In recent years, DHW expanded eligibility standards, making more children eligible for the program, and increased reimbursement rates to providers. Meanwhile, this year’s study of local market rates revealed what many already knew: child care costs have steeply increased. Funding increases are not keeping pace with the program’s costs.

“We recognize that decisions like these are never easy, especially given the importance of access to affordable child care for both the workforce and for early childhood development,” wrote DHW Director Alex Adams in an Aug. 14 letter to the chairs of the Legislature’s Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee.

He also stressed that DHW understands the importance of child care for working families and is “committed to making sure Idaho’s neediest families retain uninterrupted services.”

“Our goals are to keep the enrollment pause as short as possible and keep as many children as possible eligible for this critical support,” Adams wrote.

What do families and providers need to do?

Families currently enrolled in the Idaho Child Care Program are not affected by this pause, provided they remain eligible. The department will notify existing enrollees when it is time to complete re-evaluation. Families should be sure to complete re-evaluation on time and include all required documents.

Families interested in applying for child care coverage through the ICCP can monitor DHW’s ICCP webpage, where the end of the pause will be announced. The department will notify providers when the temporary pause ends.

Child care providers can access the 2024 local market rate survey information here.

“Ultimately, we want to preserve as many families on this program as possible,” Adams said. “We know we’re short funds for the current and next fiscal years. That’s why we need to implement a temporary pause in new enrollment.

“In our letter to legislators, we shared our worst case predicted shortfall. As we close out last year’s budget and refine projections, we hope the shortage is less than predicted. If it is, we will minimize the impact on families by changing eligibility criteria as little as possible. This program serves our communities and Idaho’s employers by keeping able-bodied Idahoans at work.”