BOISE, IDAHO (CBS2) — Idaho Voices for Children serves as a beacon of hope for the nearly 3000 kids placed in foster care each year.
The organization gives a voice to foster kids in the Idaho legislature. Christine Tiddens the director of the organization calls this work unique.
"Foster care policy is really unique work, it's a system based on trauma. So when we are talking about system improvements we are talking about actual children's life," she said.
The past couple of years has been bumpy for foster care families. Still, that hasn't stopped voices for children from advocating for foster care by bringing lawmakers together.
The organization is a non-partisan entity that works with both sides of the aisle to pass legislation aimed at improving the lives of foster kids.
"The reforms and some of the budget packages that we've been able to get passed over the last several years were passed almost unanimously if not unanimously," she said.
However, Tiddens says foster kids still face an uphill battle as they transition from their teenage years to adulthood. She says Voices for Children worked hard to create budget reforms to increase workforce and foster care stipends for families. She says they've also worked to establish an extended foster care program where youth aged 18-21 can continue to stay with foster care families as they transition to adulthood.
"There's still a lot of hurdles when they turn 18, inflation and housing costs are the number one issues that are resulting in foster youth having to couch surf or be homeless," she said.
Something Ivey Smith echoes, a former foster kid and community relations specialist with Idaho Voices for Children
She says the transition into adulthood is challenging
As cbs2 has reported, several foster kids are being sent out of state or being placed in hotels, and Airbnb's.
Smith says the lack of foster families in the state is concerning.
"To see foster youth being put into hotels or Airbnb's..those aren't loving nurturing homes," she said. "These are the youth that belongs to the community and we have a duty and responsibility to care for them as our own," Smith said.
Both Smith and Tiddens agree mental health could be improved within foster care.
Tiddens says roughly 80% of foster care youth are in need of mental health services. Something they hope could be more accessible in the future.
For Smith, it's all about the bigger picture when it comes to her advocacy work. She hopes to see things improve down the line.
"I would like to make a system that is so entrenched in trauma easier for future youth to go through as much as possible."
For more information on Idaho Voice for Children click here.
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