Department seeks $15M one‑time childcare funding and staff for early learning programs

Legislative analysts and Department of Health and Welfare leaders described Thursday how services for people with developmental disabilities and early‑childhood programs are now organized under a newly retitled Early Learning and Development division and outlined the department's funding requests.

Analyst Alex Williamson said the reorganization approved during the maintenance budget moves community developmental disability services and extended employment services into Medicaid while placing early learning and the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP) under Early Learning and Development. The packet for the committee shows prior supplements and ongoing funding for infant‑toddler service coordination and crisis bed support at the Southwest Idaho Treatment Center (SWITC).

Key funding requests and changes - Child Care: The governor recommended $15 million one‑time for the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP) and the agency requested an additional $4.2 million ongoing for ICCP. Williamson noted the funding is available under the Child Care and Development Block Grant (federal) where prior underutilization created one‑time funding opportunities in upcoming years. - START certification: The START certification program was described as entering year three of a four‑year effort; the agency requested a one‑time $249,200 to continue that work. Williamson said a statutory report on START progress is due to the committee later this summer. - SWITC and crisis supports: Recent supplementals included funding for SWITC crisis patient treatment that became ongoing starting FY2025; Williamson said prior construction and demolition work at SWITC was covered partly by a one‑time supplemental and that the facility serves clients with the most severe behavioral or medical needs. - FMAP shift: Williamson said a small population‑forecast adjustment would shift about $81,800 from federal funds to the general fund because of a Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) change.

On state expenditures and staffing Williamson said the division historically authorized about 306.71 FTP with roughly 38.71 vacancies; nine were posted and seven were in interview, and about 18 positions were being held under internal review because of tight personnel budgets.

Director Alex Adams and Lisonbee Tate, the division official overseeing early learning and development, answered committee questions. Senator Cook asked why a walk‑in cooler was included in a permanent building fund request for SWITC. Tate said buying food in bulk and storing it in a walk‑in cooler for distribution across state facilities could substantially reduce food costs; she said staff had discussed the savings and cross‑division benefits the day before the hearing.

START certification and program rollout Adams and division staff described START implementation as a certified clinical model with a lengthy training regimen. Division administrator Allison Tate said START training has taken longer than some presenters originally described, but that trained START teams are now operating and enrolling more clients: "In just those couple of weeks, we've gone from enrolling 5 people to 10 people with several more on the way," she told the committee. The agency will provide a progress report later this spring or summer as required.

Child care program context Adams told the committee that when he took office the department faced a choice about whether to treat ICCP more like an entitlement. He said the department reduced enrollments temporarily in late 2024 to live within the legislature's appropriation, while preserving enrollment for foster youth, disabled youth and homeless youth, and that enrollments resumed in January after budget realignment. Adams said the department spent about $52.7 million on childcare in the prior year but would have needed roughly $68.2 million to treat the program as an entitlement for the full demand, which explains the governor's proposed one‑time allotments.

Next steps The committee will consider the governor's ICCP installments and the agency's ongoing requests during upcoming budget setting. The department said it will provide the START progress report and additional material for committee review.