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JFAC approves $14.1M supplemental and $21.2M FY2026 package for child welfare, ties staffing to performance targets
Summary
The committee approved a $14.13 million FY2025 supplemental for foster care trustee and benefit payments and a FY2026 package adding 63 FTEs and $21.25 million to the Division of Youth Safety and Permanency. Language was adopted to exempt transfers and to tie eight licensing positions to a foster family‑to‑child ratio target.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on March 14 approved a $14,126,900 supplemental for the Department of Health and Welfare’s Division of Youth Safety and Permanency and later approved a FY2026 enhancement package that adds staffing and funding to expand prevention and foster‑care services.
Alex Williamson, budget and policy analyst with Legislative Services, said the first supplemental "is related to a population forecast adjustment for the state's foster care population. This would be a one‑time increase of 14,126,900." She said the supplemental addresses a trustee and benefit payment shortage driven by congregate care costs. The supplemental appropriated $8,868,200 from the general fund and $5,258,700 from federal funds. Senator Wintrow and others emphasized prevention and the complexity and cost of congregate care placements.
The committee later considered FY2026 enhancements for the division. Representative Tanner moved a package that the committee described as adding 63 full‑time equivalent positions and $21,245,700 total funds (an increase of $13,774,600 general fund and $7,471,100 federal funds). The enhancements included a prevention specialist team, youth safety and permanency staff, clinical staff for foster care programming, licensing staff and funds tied to operating the Payette Assessment and Care Center (PAC) on a temporary/leased basis. The motion treated the larger population forecast adjustment as one‑time and sought to invest in staff to reduce reliance on costly congregate placements.
Committee language was adopted that exempts the Division of Youth Safety and Permanency from department transfer limitations for FY2025 and FY2026 so the division may move personnel and trustee/benefit spending as needed under cited code. The committee also adopted performance language tying eight foster‑program licensing positions to achieving a one‑to‑one ratio of foster families to foster children by Jan. 1, 2026, with preliminary status updates requested; the language was presented as performance‑based budgeting.
Votes: The FY2025 supplemental passed with a total committee vote of 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent and excused (Senate 9 aye, 1 nay; House 9 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent). The FY2026 enhancements motion passed with a total of 18 ayes, 1 nay, 1 absent and excused and will carry a due‑pass recommendation to the floor.
Why it matters: The supplemental covers immediate foster care cost shortfalls; the FY2026 package represents a substantive policy and staffing shift toward prevention and in‑state placements the department says are less costly than congregate care.
What happens next: The committee will monitor implementation; co‑chairs and members requested preliminary reporting on outcomes and the foster family ratio. The motions carry due‑pass recommendations to the floor.
