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Alex Adams outlines child-welfare overhaul as Senate panel considers gubernatorial appointment
Summary
Alex Adams, director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, told the Senate Health and Welfare Committee he has narrowed the agency's priorities to child welfare and internal accountability measures while preparing for a confirmation vote the committee is expected to take up at a later date.
The Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee heard introductory remarks from Alex Adams on his gubernatorial appointment as director of the Department of Health and Welfare and questioned him on past financial and programmatic problems at the agency.
Adams, who said he took the agency helm seven months ago, told the committee he has adopted a "quality over quantity" approach and is "laser focused on child welfare," repeatedly saying the agency's leadership aims to increase the number of foster homes relative to children entering the system. "Child welfare, child welfare, child welfare," Adams said, describing the focus as the department's priority.
The director described organizational changes he has made since taking office, including reorganizing senior leadership, bringing the chief financial officer to report directly to him and creating internal review functions. "The budget is a law, not a suggestion," Adams told senators, saying fiscal management and transparency are central to his reforms.
Adams gave the committee several concrete figures and actions: he said the department employs about 3,000 people,…
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