BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — The most recent data CBS2 obtained from Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reveals 2,756 children were in foster care in 2022. The state reports there were 1,209 licensed foster homes.

Cameron Gilliland is the Administrator of Family and Community Services. He tells CBS2 the state needs more foster parents and more foster parents with special training.

There has been a lot of reporting on the case load for case workers. Idaho approved funding for 24 new caseworkers last year.

The goal is to reduce case loads, and Gilliland says that is happening. He says last year there were about 20 cases per case worker, and that number is down to 15 this year. The goal is 12-15 cases per caseworker.

Gilliland added, “Between 95% and 98% of positions are full, which is higher than it’s been in a while.”

He says more caseworkers means more time for families, “They have time to see those families, they have time to write up the documentation right, they have time to work with those kids.”

When case loads are high, it has a negative impact on children and families.

“That translates into longer periods for people to be reunified with their children, longer periods for children to go into adoption, longer periods for people to get the services they really need.”

To become a foster parent, click HERE.

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