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New DHW director lays out child‑welfare overhaul and budget plan to double foster‑family ratio
Summary
Department of Health and Welfare Director Alex Adams described a reorganization, a 'wildly important goal' to increase the foster‑family to foster‑child ratio, temporary rules to speed foster licensing, and a Sept. 1 budget request focused on prevention; the committee asked OPE for a follow‑up on the direct‑care workforce.
Alex Adams, director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, told the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee that his department will make child welfare its primary focus and reorganize leadership to create a dedicated child, youth and family services deputy.
Adams presented an organizational chart that places foster‑care, adoption and child protection under a single deputy, named Monte Pro, and described two new divisions: family and community partnerships (to work with nonprofits and faith‑based groups) and early learning and development. Adams said the department has adopted a ‘WIG’ (wildly…
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