Thank you for your ongoing support to Idaho’s foster children. We value you and appreciate the work you do. When crisis arise or if you need to find resources, please visit this page to find what you need. You will find a collaboration of resources to support you and your family’s journey when you need it most.
The resources on this page range from emergency contacts, general information, and community supports. We know fostering can be challenging, and we want to provide as much assistance as possible for every possible need. If you think of a resource or service that would be helpful that you do not see below, please email FosterCareWebsite@dhw.idaho.gov.
2) For non-life threatening emergencies after hours contact Central Intake 1-855-552-KIDS (5437).
3) Contact the child's worker and/or supervisor.
Foster Parent Supports
In foster care we call that respite. Being a foster parent is a rewarding experience. You get the privilege of walking alongside a child in their time of need. However, it can also be challenging. There may be times when you need to take some time to attend to your family’s needs, travel out of town for work, or even just get a couple of good nights of sleep. That is okay!
Self-care is an important part of serving others. Respite is when your Case Manager arranges for another foster family to care for your foster child so that you can take care of your needs. Simply call your Case Manager and let them know that respite is needed. Your Case Manager will work with the placement coordinator to find respite. Respite works well when two or three foster families exchange respite. The kids and parents get to know one another creating a natural support system. If you are interested in starting with respite, just let us know!
As valued members of the team, DHW recognizes that foster parents need to be equipped well to perform the role they assume. As a foster family, you have rights. All foster parents have the right to:
- Be treated with dignity, respect, trust, value, and consideration as members of the professional team caring for foster children.
- Be supported by the department in their valued role as the primary provider of foster care.
Timely, accurate, and respectful communication with department staff.
- Be actively involved in the case planning for children in their care.
Raise concerns without fear of reprisal and have issues addressed in a sensitive, respectful, timely and confidential manner.
Grief and loss in fostering is a real thing. Transitioning a child home is something that you can prepare for and desire in your heart, but it still hurts. It is likely that at some point you will experience grief and loss when a foster child you love leaves your home. Grief is a natural response to loss. It is an emotional response when a loved one is taken away.
Grief is a process, not a list of steps that you can complete and get “over it”. There will be good days and there will be hard days. The important part is to keep moving through it and not to get stuck in the grief. You don’t want to set up camp there and live in the grief. Talking with others can help to process those feelings. Your licensing worker can recommend trainings that will help you in this process. Join a support group and share with others who have also experienced loss of a foster child. Learn how to recognize when you are stuck and need help.
Here are some ways to take care of yourself:
*Surround yourself with supportive people.
* Take care of your physical health-eat, sleep, and exercise.
* Keep a close watch over your children to help them address their feelings of grief.
* Face your feelings instead of suppressing them.
* Expect and prepare for grief triggers like anniversaries, birthdays, or special memories that will be tender.
* Have a plan for where to get support if you are not getting better.
Finding Your Way Through Grief and Loss as Foster Parents - America's Kids Belong (americaskidsbelong.org)
Fostering is hard and the department recognizes that sometimes the best resource is another foster parent who has been there too. The department contracts with community partners to provide Resource Peer Mentors (RPMs). RPMs are foster parents who have been serving children and families for some time now and have gained experience navigating the child welfare system. RPMs check in on families to see how things are going with their placement and offer support when requested. They can suggest trainings that would help your family in managing behaviors that arise because of trauma in a child’s life, connect you to resources or donations in your community, and provide emotional support by being someone who understands what you are going through. You can request that your RPM joins you in the grievance process. They also connect you with other families that are also in the process of becoming licensed or are fostering.
Foster the Family is in 35 US states, Canada, and Honduras. Monthly, in-person meetings provide regular opportunities for connection and community. Groups are peer-led by caring and experienced foster/adoptive/kinship moms. Meetings center around guided, small group discussion and mutual support. Each meeting includes a video training on relevant topics from a variety of voices- experts in foster care and trauma; other foster, kinship & adoptive moms, former foster youth, and birth mothers. Leave feeling equipped, connected, and supported as you love and care for the children in your home!
Please visit Foster The Family for more information. Currently there is only one group in Idaho, located in the Boise. To get involved, email Lindsey or Becca at FosterthefamilyTV@gmail.com.
If you are interested in starting a group in your area, please fill out the interest form: SG Leader Interest Form (jotform.com)
Foster Parent Toolbox
When children come into care many people wrap around them to provide different supports. Your child may be appointed a CASA or GAL. But what is that? A CASA is a Court Appointed Special Advocate. CASAs/GAL is a Guardian ad Litem. GALs have the rights and powers to fulfill the duties set forth in Idaho Code, which continue throughout the child’s foster care case. GALs can file pleadings or motions in court on behalf of the best interest of the child. GALs are notified of any legal proceedings and have full access to records concerning the child (medical, school, therapy, police, and department of health and welfare. Therefore, they get a well-rounded view of the child’s best interests and can advocate for the child. For more information see, see the organization associated with your region:
- Region 1 - https://www.northidahocasa.org
- Region 2 - www.district2casa.com
- Region 3 - https://www.casaofswidaho.org/
- Region 4 - https://www.familyadvocates.org
- Region 5 - http://www.5thcasaidaho.org/
- Region 6 - https://casa6id.org/
- Region 7 - https://www.casa7.org/
Why Is Water Safety So Important?
It only takes a moment. A child or weak swimmer can drown in the time it takes to reply to a text, check a fishing line or apply sunscreen. Death and injury from drownings happen every day in home pools and hot tubs, at the beach or in oceans, lakes, rivers and streams, bathtubs, and even buckets. Learn more about keeping kids in your care safe.
Take these sensible precautions when you’re around water (even if you’re not planning to swim):
- Know your limitations, including physical fitness, medical conditions.
- Never swim alone; swim with lifeguards and/or water watchers present.
- Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket appropriate for your weight and size and the water activity. Always wear a life jacket while boating, regardless of swimming skill.
- Swim sober.
- Understand the dangers of hyperventilation and hypoxic blackout.
- Know how to call for help.
- Understand and adjust for the unique risks of the water environment you are in, such as: River currents, ocean rip currents, water temperature, shallow or unclear water, underwater hazards, such as vegetation and animals.
Swimming Skills
Learn how to perform these 5 skills in every type of water environment that you may encounter (such as in home pools, oceans, lakes, rivers and streams):
- Enter water that’s over your head, then return to the surface.
- Float or tread water for at least 1 minute.
- Turn over and turn around in the water.
- Swim at least 25 yards.
- Exit the water.
Helping Others
These actions will help your family avoid emergencies – and help you respond if an emergency occurs:
- Paying close attention to children or weak swimmers you are supervising in or near water.
- Knowing the signs that someone is drowning.
- Knowing ways to safely assist a drowning person, such as “reach or throw, don’t go”.
- Knowing CPR and first aid.
Resources:
Youth 14 and up are eligible for some amazing opportunities to help them prepare for adulthood. Many of our community partners provide services to help youth learn skills they will need, like cooking, financial management, mentoring, relationship building, job preparation, and so much more. Check out some of our partners!
- Casey Family - Idaho Field Office - Casey Family Programs,
- Freedom Youth - https://freedom-youth.org/
- RISE - RISE Services, Inc. | Developmental Disability Services in Idaho (riseservicesincid.org).
- Inspire Idaho - https://inspireid.org/
- JemFriends - https://jemfriends.org/
- Twin Falls Optimist Youth House - https://www.optimistyouthhouse.com
- Foster Care Furniture - fostercarefurniture.com
Finding the right car seat could save your child’s life. Would you believe that 325 children under 5 are saved by car seats in one year? Read here about how to choose between a rear-facing car seat, forward-facing car seat, booster seat, or seat belt. It’s not as easy as looking up a chart with ages. Look here for more information. https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/car-seats-and-booster-seats
Here you will find all the rules about what it takes to be a foster family. If you have questions about how many kids you can take in, who can share bedrooms, what to do with your medications, or if your 18-year-old needs a background check, it’s all in here. The more you know the better you can protect children in your home as well as your family. Take some time to familiarize yourself with all things IDAP. IDAPA 16.06.02 IDAPA 16 - Department of Health and Welfare.book (idaho.gov)
Yes! Youth do have rights even in foster care. Working with professionals in the child welfare world can be intimidating, and being away from family can be scary, but youth are a valued member of the team too. Please read the Youth Bill of Rights and help advocate for the rights of youth placed in your home. Youth Bill of Rights.
Even if you have raised infants of your own, it is important to stay up to date on safe sleep recommendations, as they have expanded with new research. It is essential to ensure that the infants in your care are sleeping safely to help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Always place babies on their backs to sleep, use a firm mattress with a fitted sheet, and keep the crib free of pillows, blankets, and toys. Sharing a room (without sharing a bed) allows you to monitor them closely while maintaining a safe sleep environment. Maintaining a smoke-free home is also beneficial. By following these important guidelines, you are creating a safer sleep space for the children entrusted to you. Thank you for your dedication to their well-being!
More resources can be found at Safe Sleep | Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
Financials Supports
Remember that foster care reimbursements rates are NOT a payment for services. Foster parents are expected to be financially secure without the reimbursement. It is intended to reimburse you for your expenses in caring for your foster child.
The monthly reimbursement can be directly deposited to your checking or savings account by submitting a voided check and direct deposit form to your licensing worker. Foster parents are required to complete a Form W-9 verifying the payee’s social security number.
Respite care:
Respite care rates are determined based on the number of days provided divided by the monthly reimbursement rate as listed below. Keep dates of respite, first and last name of child and worker’s name when doing a respite care placement.
Regular Foster Care:
Regular Foster Care Rate
Regular foster care payments are made to foster parents who provide care for a child who without identified exceptional needs.
| Age | Monthly Totals |
|---|---|
| 00-05 years | $632.00 |
| 06-12 years | $702.00 |
13-17 years
| $759.00 |
| 18-20 years | $876.00 |
Treatment foster care payments are made to foster parents who provide care for a child who has been diagnosed with Severe Emotional Disturbance (SED). Treatment foster care parents are licensed and supported by contracted private agencies. For more information, see "Treatment Foster Care"
| Age | Monthly Totals |
|---|---|
| 00-05 years | $632.00 |
| 06-12 years | $702.00 |
13-17 years
| $759.00 |
| 18-20 years | $876.00 |
Respite Foster Care Rate
Respite care payments are made to licensed foster parents who provide short term relief for other foster parents while they care for their personal needs. Respite care is reimbursed at a daily rate calculated by the age of the child and the number of days that respite was provided.
Specialized Care Rate
Specialized foster care payments are made for a child who requires additional care above room, board, daily supervision, and incidental costs. These payments are in addition to the regular foster care reimbursement rate.
Gifts:
An additional thirty dollars ($30) for Christmas gifts and twenty dollars ($20) for birthday gifts will be paid in the appropriate months.
Before purchasing additional items for reimbursement, reach out to your Case Manager to ensure the items are approved under your child’s case plan. Vouchers are often the preferred method for purchasing items.
Child and Family Services (CFS) works to ensure every foster child’s needs are met. CFS caseworkers assess a child’s needs at initial placement and ongoing. Each child’s needs are different, so the way to meet the need will vary. If you see a need, contact the child’s caseworker. The caseworker will determine how to best meet the child’s need in order of the following:
- Are the child’s parents able to meet the need?
- Are there community resources, such as a clothing exchange, to meet the need?
- Is a voucher necessary to purchase items to meet the need? A caseworker can issue one of two types of vouchers depending on your circumstances and the need of the child:
| Paper Voucher | Virtual Voucher |
|---|---|
| Does not require additional training or technology. | Requires you to complete training, have a mobile phone and email, and download the US Bank Instant Card App. |
| Must be picked up from the child's caseworker or mailed to the foster family. | Funds are electronically sent to you via the US Bank Instant Card App. |
| Can only be used at certain stores. *See regional store list. | Can be used at a broader range of stores including online. |
| Issued for a specific dollar amount, which cannot be exceeded. | Issued for a specific dollar amount, which cannot be exceeded. |
| Must be used in a single purchase at only one store. | Can be used for more than one purchase at more than one store, up to the max amount. |
| Must be used before the end date. | Must be used before the end date. |
| Typically, must be used at the Customer Service Department | Can be used at the checkout stand or kiosk. |
| Requires a tax exemption ID. | Does not require a tax exemption ID. |
| The store sends the receipt to CFS for reimbursement. | You must keep the receipt for 7 days and provide it to CFS, if asked. |
You may be issued a voucher to meet a child’s need for the following items:
- Clothing or other items for personal care such as toiletries and personal necessities.
- Diapers and/or wipes or formula for an infant.
- School books, school supplies, tuition, or school fees.
- Gasoline for extraordinary transportation needs.
- Other goods or services, as deemed necessary.
*It is important you only purchase items approved by the child’s caseworker. For example, do not purchase make-up or jewelry with a voucher for clothing.
*Do not make out of pocket purchases without prior approval from the child’s caseworker. Once approved, you must provide a receipt to the caseworker for reimbursement.
Please contact the child’s caseworker for any questions you have regarding vouchers.
The case worker for your child will send a letter to Women Infants and Children (WIC). All children in foster care age 0-5 are eligible to receive the benefits of WIC. Formula will only be subsidized by the department during the initial 30 days while foster parents are initiating a WIC appointment. Any formula costs above and beyond what WIC is willing to provide will be the responsibility of the foster parents as part of the monthly reimbursement. Talk with your worker to obtain a letter to take to your local WIC office (Central District Health).
Yes! All foster children are eligible for free breakfast and lunches at public schools. Eligibility is based on the child’s income, not the foster family’s finances. When signing up your student for school inquire about the application process. Schools send school meal application home at the beginning of each school year. However, you may apply for school meals any time during the school year by applying directly to your school or district. If you need assistance, just ask your case manager.
Kids are always growing and there will be times their clothes no longer fit. Back to school time can be expensive with the added cost of school supplies. There is help! We have several community partners who share a love of foster children and recognize the need to support foster parents. When your foster child needs clothing, school supplies, hygiene items, or diapers, there may be resources provided in your area of the state. Some of those resources are included here but there are many more. There are many churches, non-profits, CASAs or GALs, private owned businesses, and school districts who are looking for ways to support foster children. Make sure you ask your case manager about resources available in your area.
The Essentials Project (by Foster and Heart) provides care packages containing clothing, toiletries, pajamas, and other crucial items to children when they first enter foster care. This initiative helps with some of the initial stress for foster families and creates a sense of security for children. For more information call (208) 204-0230. Additionally, Foster and Heart hosts events for foster families. Visit fosterandheart.org.
Parker's Closet (by Freedom Youth Foundation) offers new clothes, shoes, pajamas, coats, undergarments, art & school supplies, backpacks, and hygiene products for children and youth in foster care. For more information, email parkerscloset@freedom-youth.org.
The Closet is a non-profit organization that provides free clothing and shoes to teens. (This is only for foster teens, in grades 6-12 who reside in Ada County) For more information, visit https://www.theclosetinc.org/ of call (208) 409-0204.
The Wardrobe serves youth in foster care and kinship care. They provide children and youth up to 21 with quality clothing, winter coats, backpacks, hygiene products, hair accessories, and more. Pick up is in Meridian. Email WardrobeTreasureValley@gmail.com, call/text (208) 352-6565, or visit https://www.wardrobetreasurevalley.org/.
Formals for Teens - Any teen in Idaho foster care who needs a formal can choose from numerous formals on the website. If you find one you like, call 208-681-5714 and it will be shipped directly to you. https://idfapa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/formals-half-page-1.pdf
The Village is a foster care closet serving the 16 counties of Southeastern Idaho and operated by the Idaho Foster & Adoptive Parent Association. They collect essential care and comfort items for newborns up to teenagers and invite CASA workers, social workers, and foster families to bring foster children into the store to choose what they need and want free of charge. For more information, visit https://idfapa.org/the-village/
Clothes Helpers is a nonprofit organization in Twin Falls, Idaho. They are located at the Historic United Methodist Church, 350 Shoshone Ave East, but they are not affiliated with any religion. Their mission is to provide clothes and hygiene items with compassion and dignity to at-risk members of our community. They offer individualized shopping experiences for foster parents and their youth. When you receive a new placement, season change, or growth spurt, contact Emma Swensen at 208-731-2211 to set up the personalized experience.
Silverwood Theme Park provides discounts for your foster child - (silverwoodthemepark.com)
Boise Parks and Rec Scholarship - Every child in foster care has access to a scholarship fund up to $600 each for Boise Parks and Recreation activities, classes, sports, swimming passes, and camps on this link: http://parks.cityofboise.org/activities,-classes-and-sports/
Cake4Kids - We’re excited to provide homemade, custom cakes and treats for youth ages
1-24, who are celebrating birthdays, graduations, academic awards, adoptions, reunification, and other life events. Cakes must be picked up in Boise or Caldwell but are available to any youth in the state. Ask your caseworker for a referral!
Foster youth get a free membership at the YMCA. Foster parents can go into the YMCA and staff will get everyone set up. Foster parents do not get free memberships but can apply for a personal pricing plan, if that is necessary. Once a youth is signed up for a membership they can sign up and participate any other activities for free, such as swimming lesson, basketball, soccer, camps, etc.
Boise Bicycle Project believes every kid should have a bike. They provide over 1000 bikes to kids and teens (4-18) from across the Treasure Valley, Fort Hall Reservation & Duck Valley Reservation each year. For more information, visit: https://www.boisebicycleproject.org/.
An Idaho State Parks Pass is available for free for all foster families in Idaho. Pass are mailed yearly, so look for your new pass to arrive in December. Contact your licensing worker with questions.
Santa’s Cause provides scholarships for foster kids in Region 5. They fund any special need such as dental care not covered by Medicaid or school extracurricular activities. For more info, visit https://www.santascauseinc.org