Idaho requests $14.1 million supplemental and staffing increases to reduce congregate care use in child-welfare budget

The Department of Health and Welfare asked the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee on Feb. 20 for supplemental and ongoing funding aimed at reducing use of high-cost congregate care and expanding prevention and foster-care capacity.

Alex Williamson, budget and policy analyst with Legislative Services, told the committee the division of child welfare — which the department has retitled “Youth Safety and Permanency” — spent about $117.8 million in fiscal 2024, with foster care and assistance payments accounting for roughly 60% of that total. Williamson said the division is authorized 434.8 full-time positions with 45.8 vacancies as of Feb. 10; about 25 vacancies were in interview status and 9 were posted.

Why it matters: Agency leaders said shifting children out of congregate care and into prevention or foster homes produces better outcomes for children and reduces costs. Director Alex Adams told the committee: “If a child is removed from their home and placed in foster care, it's $16 a day. If I don't have a foster bed available to them, congregate care is $380 a day.”

Director Adams and Deputy…