Art as a bridge: how expressions illuminate the importance of kinship care in Idaho

October 8, 2024

DHW Communications

Idaho's kinship families came together last month to celebrate Idaho Kinship Family Day, which recognizes and honors families in which relatives or adults with a significant relationship with a child take on the responsibility of parenting when parents aren't able to.

The Kinship Day events DHW hosted in Boise, Idaho Falls, and Coeur d'Alene were hosted in outdoor spaces and included presentations, games, lunch, and exhibitions of artwork submitted as part of My Family. My Story., an art and expression series DHW has sponsored annually since 2011.

The intent of My Family. My Story. is to help children, youth, and kinship caregivers express and feel connected to others in kinship care, and to celebrate and honor the contributions of kinship caregivers. It's also an opportunity to celebrate partners who walk alongside kinship families in their journeys.

This year's art and expressions were moving. Through drawings, photography, poetry, and essays, kinship caregivers and children who submitted entries to My Family. My Story. helped illustrate the important contributions kinship care makes for Idahoans.

Some examples from this and previous years include:

• A grandchild expressing that her grandpa is her "hero in real life" because he teaches her how to do many things
• A grandchild who drew a picture of herself looking out her bedroom window thinking "I don't have to wish upon a star because all of my dreams have come true"
• Children expressing feelings of safety and security
• Children expressing love for their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other family members
• Children describing the feeling of broken dreams followed by restored hope
• A grandmother expressing her journey as a kinship caregiver by creating a photo quilt

In addition to the My Family. My Story. story walks, the Kinship Day events also included presentations from DHW staff, a reading of a Kinship Day proclamation signed by Idaho Gov. Brad Little, celebrations of kinship champions, and resources and information from DHW and community partners.

Though there are many kinship caregivers in Idaho, the majority aren't aware of assistance that's available to them. There is a list of resources available on the 2-1-1 Idaho CareLine: Kinship and Caregiving.

Resources include financial, legal, kinship navigation, support, respite and educational information. If you are a kinship caregiver, please take a look, and if you know a kinship caregiver, please pass along this information about the resources available to help them in their labor of love.

For more information about resources and supports available to kinship caregivers and children, visit the DHW website at https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/kinship-and-caregiving.

Kinship caregivers are an important part of the supports provided to children and families in need. Unfortunately, the need for additional foster families in Idaho is constant, with a specific demand for those who can care for sibling groups, adolescents, and children with more complex needs. Foster and kinship parents provide a lifeline, offering stability and care to children who need it most.

If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, please call 2-1-1 or 800-926-2588, or visit DHW's foster care page for more information. Your willingness to open your home can make a profound difference in a child's life.

DHW would like to recognize the community partners who attended this year's Kinship Family Day events and provided information to families, including: The Infant Toddler Program, Children's Developmental Disabilities, Public Health, Resource and Service Navigation, 2-1-1 Idaho CareLine, WIC, Casey Family Programs, Family Caregiver Navigator Program, Relatives As Parents, Fostering Idaho, Idaho Children's Trust Fund, Friends of Children and Families Inc., Head Start and Early Head Start, Mountain States Early Head Start, Area Agency on Aging, Optum, The Autism Society, Children's Village, Canvas Church, Canvas Food Pantry and Clothing Closet, CASA, Village of Health, and Panhandle Health.

Follow this link to view entries to the My Family. My Story. arts and expressions series.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.

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