Health and Welfare director seeks $14 million supplemental, new prevention team to curb rising foster-care costs

At a meeting of the House Health and Welfare Committee, Department of Health and Welfare Director Alex Adams told members the department is requesting a $14 million supplemental to cover higher-than-expected foster-care costs incurred in the current fiscal year.

The supplemental request is the immediate remedy, Adams said, while the department’s fiscal year 2026 budget would include investments—including a prevention specialist team and foster licensing staff—intended to reduce reliance on higher-cost congregate placements and lower long-term spending.

Alex Williamson, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, presented the department’s supplemental requests and said the line item is labeled “foster care population forecast adjustment.” Williamson noted the department’s request reflects rising costs driven by increased mental-health needs, substance-use issues and a shortage of community-based placements.

“Because the Payette Assessment and Care Center is so new, I think they reevaluated if purchasing it outright was the right move for this year,” Williamson said when members asked why the…