KTRV Fox 12 Foster Program Needs Social Workers & Foster Parents
Member Center:
Boise, Idaho -- The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare's foster program is overloaded and desperately needs social workers and foster families.
Experts say increased population and drugs contribute to more kids landing in foster homes.
To help combat the growing problem, Boise State University's Child Welfare Center is training potential child care employees and foster families.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare says nearly 1,800 children statewide are in foster care on any given day, and the numbers are escalating.
"We have seen a big jump in our foster care needs in the last few years. We went up about 1,000 kids between 2003 and 2006, and even higher in 2007," said Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Regional Director Ross Mason.
As the state continues to grow, so does the strain on the child care system.
"One, of course, is the simple fact Idaho is increasing in population and second, certainly drugs are playing a role of it as everybody know the meth problem that developed over the last few years has certainly contributed to it," said Mason.
To raise awareness of the growing problem, BSU's Child Welfare Center is training social workers and foster parents and upon completion of the six-week course, graduates will receive a childcare certificate.
"The social worker's job primarily is to help these families figure out if they can take care of their children and what is it they need to be successful parents," said BSU Child Welfare Center Director Kathy Tidwell.
Health and welfare says foster parenting is more than just watching over a few kids, so the training is critical.
"It's a little more complicated than that. A lot of theses kids come with emotional problems, a lot of anger sometimes, they have special problems, many are special needs kids," said Mason.
One foster parent says that's just one of many challenges the system is facing and they need help to provide better homes for these children.
"The system is overloaded on both sides. So many foster parents have far too many kids placed in their home because there aren't enough foster families," said Tidwell.
The Idaho Department of Health and welfare is expected to ask the governor to fund more child welfare workers in the future.
If you would like to learn more about the state's foster program, we have a link on our website at www.fox12idaho.com
