By Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Friday gave the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare a new appropriation that increases the child welfare budget by more than 20% and adds another 63 new full-time employees to the division for child safety.
Multiple committee members focused on the cost of preventing a child from ending up in foster care, around $1.80 a day, compared to congregate care, which can cost more than $300 a day. Children who are not removed from their homes also often have better long-term outcomes in life.
The new budget totals about $21 million, with $13,774,600 coming from the state general fund and the rest from federal funds.
Those 63 new positions will include prevention specialists, youth safety and permanency, and foster program staffing.
IDHW Director Alex Adams has repeatedly said foster care is his top priority, including increasing the number of foster families and improving outcomes. His initial budget request for youth safety and permanency asked for 104 new positions for the upcoming fiscal year, while the governor recommended 58 new positions. Since then, the department worked with the committee and adjusted the requests.
“Right now, we just don’t have enough families in the foster care arena to take care of these kids, and when that happens we have to pay the $380 a day or higher costs,” said Rep. Rod Furniss, R-Rigby.
He commended Adams for starting a faith-based initiative to reach out to congregations for foster family recruitment.
Rep. Kevin Cook, R-Idaho Falls, said he was willing to put hope in Adams, as it is rare for one budget to see such a large increase.
“We’re trusting you, Director Adams, and we’re here to help in any way we possibly can,” said Cook.
The budget passed out of committee 18-1 with only one no vote, from Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld, R-Twin Falls, and one absent member.
The committee also passed intent language in the budget that requires IDHW to reach a one-to-one ratio for foster families and foster children by Jan. 1, 2026. If the department does not reach that goal, the positions and additional funding could be removed by fiscal year 2027. JFAC is also requiring updates on the foster care system and sustainability plans from IDHW.
Child Welfare also saw a one-time increase of $14.125 million, for the cost of congregate care used in fiscal year 2025. The money includes $8.8 million in general funds and $5.25 million in federal funds. The funding came through a supplemental appropriation.
The money will pay for congregate care of foster children with complex needs, who sometimes need out-of-state care.
Furniss said the initial request was $24 million, but the committee’s working group pared it down.
The appropriations must still get approval from both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Ruth Brown | Producer
Ruth Brown grew up in South Dakota and her first job out of college was covering the South Dakota Legislature. She’s since moved on to Idaho lawmakers. Brown spent 10 years working in print journalism, including newspapers such as the Idaho Statesman and Idaho Press, where she’s covered everything from the correctional system to health care issues. She joined Idaho Reports in 2021 and looks forward to telling stories about how state policy can impact the lives of regular Idahoans.