Child Advocacy

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants wishes to children with life threatening medical conditions between the ages of 2 1/2 and 18 to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

LLife's Kitchen is an intense 16 week job and life skills training program for young adults (16-20) with barriers to employment. Life's Kitchen is dedicated to transforming the lives of at-risk young adults by building self sufficiency and independence through comprehensive food service and life skills training, placement in the food service industry, and continuing education. We help at-risk teens prepare for, find, and maintain employment and live as financially independent young adults.

Trainees that apply and are accepted into the program attend daily (Monday - Friday) for 16 weeks. The day typically runs from 8am to 4pm and includes intensive hands-on food service training, life skill classes, and employability. Trainees work with professional chef mentors to in one of three training businesses: café, catering, and contract foods. Culinary topics include: Sanitation, kitchen organization, food temperature, food storage, knife skills, volume and batch cooking, sautéing, customer service, pantry, portion sizes, food and labor costs, sauce making, and menu planning. Trainees earn their Idaho Safe Food Handler certificate and become professionally certified through the National Restaurant Association Managers ServSafe certification.

Life Skills topics include communication, problem solving and conflict management, making good decisions, financial literacy and managing money, understanding harassment, transportation, insurance, relationships, nutrition, sex and responsibility, housing, and community resources, and health.

Employability topics include resume and cover letter writing, mock job interviews, how and where to search for jobs, worker rights and responsibilities, understanding health care and benefits, harassment in the workplace, and appropriate social media use.

Trainees who did not complete their high school diploma can receive free GED tutoring, as well as GED testing at no cost. Two college credits through the College of Western Idaho are available for trainees who plan to enroll in the culinary arts at CWI.

The Ada County Sheriff's Youth Foundation helps provide role models and safe places after school for at risk youth to prevent drug alcohol use and gang activity. The Foundation offers mini grants through a simple application process for schools and non profit organizations who work with at risk youth. Grant applications can be accessed online.

Services for Nez Perce Tribe.

Commodity Food Distribution is provided to low-income inviduals/families who meet the qualifications and live within the Nez Perce reservation boundaries. No Dual participation either commodity foods or food stamps.

Womens Outreach Program
Child Protection Program
Elder Protection
Veterans Services

Housing for families with seriously ill children who are being treated at any of the local medical facilities. 17 bedrooms available, two handicapped accessible. Patient has to be 18 years or younger and family member(s) must be 18 years or older. Housing only available to family members residing outside of Ada County.

CASA/GAL is a court appointed advocate program to provide trained volunteers for abused, neglected, or abandoned children. Our mission is to speak for the best interest of these children.
A Guardian ad Litem (GAL) is a trained volunteer who is appointed by the court to advocate for the best interests of an abused or neglected child. In court, the GAL serves as an important voice for the child. Guardian's ad Litem are also called Court Appointed Special Advocated (CASA).

CASA/GAL is a court appointed advocate program to provide trained volunteers for abused, neglected, or abandoned children. Our mission is to speak for the best interest of these children.
A Guardian ad Litem (GAL) is a trained volunteer who is appointed by the court to advocate for the best interests of an abused or neglected child. In court, the GAL serves as an important voice for the child. Guardian's ad Litem are also called Court Appointed Special Advocated (CASA).

Agency is not clinical and does not provide evaluations, diagnoses, counseling, medication management, IBI or PSR services.

Agency provides support, information and training for parents of children with mental health diagnoses. Help with navigating systems such as Health and Welfare, Juvenile Justice and Education. Statewide clearinghouse for respite care; provide training to respite care providers. Support group; opportunities for youth involvement including youth volunteer and youth advocate program.

The Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children (Idaho AEYC) is the state affiliate of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the largest early childhood organization in the US. Idaho also has five local affiliated chapters: North Idaho AEYC, Eastern Idaho AEYC, Snake River AEYC, Treasure Valley AEYC, and Palouse Area AEYC. Our vision is to inspire and lead those who touch the lives of Idaho's children and encourage commitment to the ideal that every Idaho child deserves to live a satisfying childhood that allows them to develop to full potential. We work to fulfill our mission of improving the quality of life for Idaho's young children and their families by (1) improving professional practice in early care and education, (2) building public understanding and support, and (3) building and maintaining a strong, diverse and inclusive organization. The following projects are administered through Idaho AEYC:

...IdahoSTARS Professional Development System includes Registry, Career Pathway, Incentives and Scholarships, Mentor/Coaches, Reaching the STARS Quality Rating System, Trainer and Training Approval, and 7 Regional Child Care Resource and Referral Offices(CCR&R).
..Scholarships Academic scholarships to increase the level of education of people working in child care centers and family child care homes while making the educational process more affordable, increasing wages and reducing staff turnover. Scholarship funds are offered toward a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential, an Early Childhood Associate Degree, a technical certificate, or Bachelor Degree in the field of early childhood education. ..Mentoring for Early Care and Education Project (M.E.C.E.)
The vision of M.E.C.E is to develop a pool of qualified professionals throughout Idaho's seven regions. Under the IdahoSTARS initiative, early care and education practitioners and/or directors can obtain financial assistance for mentor services in the following categories: Idaho Quality Child Care Apprenticeship program, 2) Individual Projects, 3) Accreditation support, 4) Environment Assessments, 5) and Child Care Health Consultants. M.E.C.E. is currently accepting applications for mentors wishing to work with providers as well as providers seeking mentor/coaching. To be eligible for mentoring services you must be enrolled in the IdahoSTARS Professional Development system. IdahoSTARS Quality Child Care Rating System is being piloted in 2008 to ensure that the assessment process is fair and equitable. The end result will include an assessment of child care programs, technical assistance and reassessment that results in a STAR rating of 1-5 stars. This will allow parents to determine the level of quality based on nationally recognized measures of quality in early care and education. A key component of the Quality Rating System is the STRENGTHENING FAMILIES training that helps child care providers include parents in their program planning and become a link to community services for the parents of the children they serve in child care.

..Idaho STATE TRAINING AND REGISTRY SYSTEM (IdahoSTARS) is responsible to monitor Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP) providers' eligibility for subsidy payment, Parent Child Care Referrals, Child Care Resource & Referral in all 7 Regions of Idaho, and Professional Development System for child care professionals.

The National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) is the nation's leading public policy center dedicated to promoting the economic security, health, and well-being of America's low-income families and children. NCCP has a list online of publications on the following topics:

• Child Poverty
• Children’s Mental Health
• Early Care and Learning
• Healthy Development
• Immigrant Families
• Infants and Toddlers
• Integrated Systems
• Low-Wage Work
• Social Security
• Welfare
• Work Supports