Our Mission
Our mission is to strengthen Idaho’s foster care community by helping build a responsive, informed, and stable network of families prepared to meet the diverse needs of children and youth.
We recruit and support safe, nurturing, and trauma-informed caregivers, including foster, kinship, respite, and adoptive families. Through practical training, trusted resources, and ongoing support, we help caregivers provide stability, connection, and compassionate care to the children and families they serve.
Our Vision
To foster healthy families and healthy communities.
To fulfill our vision, we will:
- Encourage partnerships, collaboration, and the integration of services to support a best-practice service delivery system for children, families, and the people who support them.
- Provide context-related training.
- Create opportunities for social work students to prepare for leadership roles, implement strengths-focused interventions, and collaborate with agencies and community partners in public welfare practice.
Foster (fos-ter): to bring up or nurture; to cultivate and encourage; or to give or receive parental care without being related by blood or legal ties.
Our Impact
We have
153
employees throughout Idaho
We held
80
information meetings last year
We provided
71
continuing education opportunities last year
Meet Our Recruitment and Retention Coordinators
About
Hi, I’m Penny, the Recruitment Coordinator for Region 2 and lead our Resource Peer Mentors. In the past I served as a trainer for FIRST, Training and Support Groups, and Kinship Parenting. I was a foster parent for eight years and later adopted my niece through kinship care. Outside of work, I enjoy golfing, reading, and walking, and I am a proud Grammi to eight grandchildren, with another on the way. I look forward to meeting and supporting the extraordinary foster families in our region.
About
About
My husband and I did foster care for 9 years, adopting 4 kids and guardianship of 1. While our home is full, I still desire to serve and be a part of the foster care community. With my role as the RC of Reg 6 I get to share my experiences and help others navigate the world of foster care.
One thing to consider when doing foster care is that this will be the hardest thing you ever do while also being the most amazing. To watch a kiddo grow and support a child to their full potential is the most rewarding work you can do.
I love being a mom to my 8 kids, 2 dogs and a funny farm full of misfits. I love hiking and spending time on the water with my SUP and pup. When not in the woods I can be found in the stands watching track and soccer.
Supporting Families Every Step of the Way
Resource Peer Mentors
Every family who inquires about fostering in Idaho is connected with a Resource Peer Mentor (RPM), an experienced caregiver who provides encouragement, practical guidance, and one-on-one support throughout the fostering journey.
Working alongside our Recruitment and Retention Coordinators, RPMs help families understand the licensing process, find local resources, prepare for placements, and stay connected through both the rewards and challenges of fostering.
Resource Peer Mentors serve communities across Idaho, providing local, relationship-based support to prospective and licensed foster families.
Not sure who your Resource Peer Mentor is? Contact the Recruitment and Retention Coordinator for your area.
Careers
Are you interested in joining our team? Click here to learn more about possible opportunities.