Foster families in Idaho have a new way to engage the kids their fostering by exploring Idaho’s outdoors.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare joined forces with the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation along with Regence BlueShield of Idaho and Idaho Business for the Outdoors to create the program which gives foster families free entry into all 30 Idaho state parks.
The program will also have events and will provide some instruction on practical outdoor skills like how to set up a camp or properly put out a fire.
“We all know that Idahoans love the outdoors,” said Laura Denner, the division administrator of Family and Community Partnerships with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. “So, this is one way to get those families some awesome bonding time out in the wilderness and just attempt to show them that the Department of Health and Welfare is working hard to create these unique partnerships that help support them as family units.”
Right now, Idaho has a shortage of foster families. Denner says the department hopes that programs like this passport program will encourage more people to become foster families. She says there are about 1,400 children in foster care in Idaho and there are about 1,100-1,200 foster families.
The idea for the program came from new Health and Welfare Director Alex Adams who is a big outdoorsman, according to Denner.
To learn more about becoming a foster family, it’s simple, just dial 211 or go online to the department’s website.
“Idaho’s kids need their support and their love, and the department is ready to support them as foster parents,” Denner said.