Parenting Tips

Absolutely. You may foster if you are single, divorced, married, or living with a partner.

No! The IL program is government funded and at no cost to the participants.

Yes. All children in foster care have Medicaid insurance. Additional medical expenses not covered through Medicaid are paid for by the Department of Health and Welfare. A foster parent will have no medical expenses for a child in their home.

No, parenting experience is not required to foster. You must love children, have safe parenting beliefs, and be willing to learn.

Yes. Foster parents receive a monthly reimbursement from the Department of Health and Welfare to cover basic costs like utilities, food and transportation for children.

• Ages 0-5 $395
• Ages 6-12 $439
• Ages 13-18 $584

If you still have an active case with the department, you would talk with your case worker about getting a referral sent in to get you started.  If you have a closed case, or are over the age of 18, you will call the IL coordinator in your area to request IL services.  The coordinator’s names and contact information is on the coordinators page under the social worker tab.

If you are interested in seeing children who are currently looking for their adoptive family visit Idaho Wednesday's Child To learn more about the difference between fostering, adoption through foster care, and private adoption visit Idaho Health and Wellfare.

Each family and each set of circumstances is unique. Some families may require only one short meeting; others may require several short meetings, or even several longer meetings. Again, individual circumstances will determine how long the process will take.

No. As long as you are at least 21 years old and are in good overall physical health you may foster.

Idaho does not have a specific income requirement to foster. You must be able to show that your income can meet your personal expenses without the foster care reimbursement.

No. While some foster parents are stay-at-home parents, many work full-time. If you are a working parent, daycare and afterschool childcare program expenses are paid for by the Department of Health and Welfare.

This is a bit of a trickier question, but the simple answer is, if it is tied to the IL Plan there is generally a way to get financial assistance for it.

The Education and Training Voucher (ETV) is similar to a scholarship for higher education only available to youth participating in the IL program. There is an application process where youth can be awarded up to $5,000 per year to help cover the costs of attendance not otherwise met through other funding sources. To learn more visit: Education and Training Voucher (ETV) | Idaho Department of Health and Welfare

To qualify for the ETV, youth must participate in the Independent Living program and have either aged out of foster care, or achieved permanency (through reunification, adoption, or legal guardianship) on or after their 16^th birthday.

The Independent Living (IL) program is designed to help you get the skills and knowledge you’d need to be successful on your own as an adult. This is different for every youth.We’d start by assessing where you’re at with life skills, then come up with a plan together on what would be most beneficial for you and your goals.

Your FGDM Coordinator can help you choose a neutral environment where everyone participating feels safe and comfortable.

You may suggest as many people as possible who may be sources of support to your children and you. Your coordinator can help you select who among these will be the most appropriate to attend the meeting. Out-of-state family members, friends, supporters, and those who are providing services to your family and children can be meeting participants through the use of phone technology if needed.

In order the qualify for the IL program, youth must be in care for at least 90 cumulative days after their 14^th birthday.  Youth must be between ages 14 and 21 for Independent Living services and 16 to 26 for the Education and Training Voucher (ETV).

Because the FGDM process directly affects your children, they will be included in the meeting in some capacity. Your FGDM Coordinator will discuss with you the best way they may be involved. Your child's involvement may range from having them represented by names or pictures, having them write a letter, or having them attend and participate in all or part of your meeting.