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Department seeks $16M to expand childcare slots as $14M one‑time award remains unreleased
Summary
Department of Health & Welfare asked the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee to approve about $16M for year‑two childcare capacity building after absorbing the Idaho Child Care Program; the agency said an earlier $14M one‑time federal award has not yet been released while it completes a provider review and establishes program‑integrity staffing.
Juliette Sharon, director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee that the department is seeking roughly $16 million in federal funds in fiscal 2027 to expand childcare capacity through the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP).
The department absorbed ICCP during a recent reorganization and the change—Paloney told lawmakers—caused a large increase in the agency’s FY2026 appropriation after the division inherited about $62.7 million in ICCP funding and a one‑time $14 million federal block grant. Morgan Paloney, a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, noted the reorganization makes year‑to‑year comparisons imperfect.
“These funds are intended to build new…
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