Fostering Idaho's Future

by Lisa Cochran, from the July 2002 Newsletter

Remember a year or two ago when all those billboards showed up at the edges of town about becoming a foster parent (they got replaced with political advertisements and car ads)? When I saw them, I was reminded of the 9 months I spent in foster care while a senior in high school. In fact, I credit that experience with having saved my life, and for the 30 years since then, I have kept in close touch with my 'other Mom,' Sandi. Sandi's wasn't even a licensed home. In fact, she was my gym teacher who had children off at college and an open room. But she had much more than that. She had an open heart, and what she showed me was a promise of a brighter tomorrow at a time when I saw little hope.

That was in 1972. Licensed homes for children in need of a safe and supportive environment were in short supply, particularly for teens like myself. Looking at the situation today, the need for foster homes is more dire than ever. According to the National Resource Center for Youth Services, by the end of 1999, 580,000 children were in foster care throughout the United States; a full 20% of those kids were aged 16 and up. As expected, these numbers continue to rise.

Last year I attended the 2nd Annual Governor's Roundtable Conference for Families and Children. At one point I sat at the table with Karl Kurtz, Director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. He told me that Idaho needs on the average of 1200 beds on any given day for children aged birth to age 18. The problem is, that there are not enough beds available, particularly for minority children, older children, sibling groups and special needs children. The number of safe, nurturing, and caring homes available in Idaho has not kept up with the need.

'Locally,' we have 79 licensed foster homes. That may sound like a lot, but in fact that is a regional figure that encompasses 5 counties, including Latah. There are 44 counties in Idaho, so you do the math. What is obvious is that statewide, as well as locally, we are in critical need of homes for our kids.

Why do kids go to foster homes? There are as many reasons that children are sent into foster care as there are different types of foster homes. But they enter the foster care system because there has been neglect, abuse, abandonment or other family difficulties. There may also be a family crisis such as parental hospitalization, arrest, or other problem that results in an inability to care for their children. Sometimes the care is short-term while relatives are being located. Other times, the situation calls for a longer placement or even adoption.

All homes go through an evaluation process to determine eligibility and suitability to provide foster care and foster families also need to possess the skills to meet the needs of children who come into their care. This is mandated by the Federal Adoptions and Safe Families Legislation and the Idaho Code Child-Care Licensing Act. The state provides ongoing opportunities for training and education for foster parents (which they are in the process of making into a standardized curriculum that may even be accepted for credit at some academic institutions). Health care expenses for foster children are covered through Medicaid, while childcare expenses are covered through the Idaho Child Care Program. Reimbursement expenses to offset the cost of room, board, clothing and such will depend on the age and number of children in the foster home. However, foster parents are not 'paid' for taking in children.

What are the intangible rewards to becoming a licensed foster home? How about making a difference in a child's life and in your community, and helping to foster Idaho's future? Even if those billboards are not still around asking you to consider making a difference in the life of a child, I hope you will.

For more information on becoming a foster or adoptive parent, contact the IDHW in Boise (1-800-926-2588) or Lewiston (1-877-799-4360). Locally, you can contact Denise Blevins at 883-2242.

Lisa Cochran lives in Moscow with her daughter Madysen and theirs has become a licensed foster care home.

Copyright: Copyright on articles and recipes are jointly held by the Moscow Food Co-op and the respective authors, except were otherwise noted.

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