BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — The Freedom Youth Foundation hosted the first-ever foster care summit, bringing together the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and several foster care non-profits. The non-profits shared their mission statements as well as the challenges they are facing, and IDHW shared their goals and hopes of collaboration.

Shane Hanson, the summit organizer and the founder of the Freedom Youth Foundation said coming together was overdue. He said he knew it may start small, but the first step of having conversations needed to be taken, and now they have something to build on. He said, “We needed to get everybody that is working for foster youth together in a room to talk about our common goals and initiatives and challenges.”

The Summit began with the Director of Idaho Health and Welfare, Alex Adams, sharing the journey the department has been on in the last 6 months. He highlighted changes that have already been made such as shutting down short-term rentals and the increase of foster families, while also speaking on the work that needs to be done. Director Adams said, “It’s going to take all of us working together. The department cannot do this alone. I’d be absolutely crystal clear on that the department alone will not be successful through collaborations like this where we will be successful.”

Afterward, each organization shared their mission statements and current needs. This was to increase the momentum and support and remove barriers for each other. During the summit, each organization was able to offer up their help or share resources to help bridge gaps. Hanson said, “We host 100 events a year, and every single event has to be a logistical challenge. And now, if we have a community partner that’s willing to let us use their facility, that’s a huge barrier that’s removed, so we can focus our energy elsewhere. God is opening incredible doors for us right now.”

Leaders of the non-profit said the positive energy and commitment shown was overwhelming, and called it an incredible opportunity. Kate Wilson, the founder of Foster and Heart said, “I was challenged and inspired by every organization that shared today, and it was just beautiful to see how different needs are being met, from Freedom Foundation, which focuses on sports, to the foster care furniture.” The Freedom Youth Foundation is planning on making the summit a bi-annual event, they say now is the time to maximize the impacts and make Idaho’s Foster Care System a template for the country.

Freedom Youth Foundation is launching an app on Friday the 22nd to help better connect with foster families, and spread awareness about events. The app will also include ways to contact other foster care non-profits as resources for foster families.