Gov. Gianforte Reports Nearly 50 Percent Decrease of Montana Children in Foster Care

Recognizes May as Foster Care Month, hosts roundtable discussion with advocates

Governor's Office

KALISPELL, Mont. - Governor Greg Gianforte this week announced the number of Montana children in foster care has been reduced by nearly half since he took office in 2021, recognizing his administration's priorities to strengthen Montana families.

"Since taking office, it's been a top priority for my administration to find permanent, loving homes for all Montana children," Gov. Gianforte said. "I am proud to report we've made great progress, reducing the number of kids in foster care by nearly half while prioritizing stronger families, reunification, and encouraging adoption."

Gov. Gianforte holding a roundtable discussion in Kalispell joined by Aaron Scolfield of Rooted Families (left) and Rep. Courtenay Sprunger, R-Kalispell

According to the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, the number of Montana children in foster care is 1,749, down from over 3,300 in early 2021. The reduction marks a 47 percent decrease in the number of kids in care since the governor took office.

During a roundtable discussion hosted at Flathead Valley Community College, the governor worked with Rooted Families to bring together child welfare specialists, school superintendents, legislators, foster and adoptive parents, faith-based organizations, churches, and advocates to provide an update on the state's progress and to discuss ways to strengthen Montana families and support adoptive and foster parents.

Opening the discussion, Gov. Gianforte asked the group what the greatest needs are in the Flathead. Participants shared the decline of the family and the growing need for care as mental health crises are occurring more often and earlier on in a child's life. A child welfare specialist serving Flathead County through the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Children and Families Division shared how kinship placements are lower and more difficult as families in their care are increasingly struggling with drug and alcohol abuse along with the rising cost of housing.

Highlighting the role of churches and faith-based community organizations to serve needs of local students, the group discussed the use of Care Portal, an online care-sharing technology operated by Rooted Families for school superintendents to indicate needs of students for churches to help fulfill requests for items from mattresses to clothes to instruments for after-school programs. Another participant noted the role of schools and community support for children in need of care and intervention.

To address the state's child welfare needs, the governor in 2022 established the Office of Faith and Community Based Services at the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services to support foster and adoptive families through faith and community partnerships. Partnering with organizations like Child Bridge and Rooted Families, formerly Promise 686, the state has prioritized helping to find, train, and connect foster families with supports needed to successfully foster children who have suffered abuse and neglect.

"Rooted Families equips and connects churches with simple, practical ways to engage vulnerable children and strengthen families - we help churches build systems that turn care into the effective consistent, coordinated support that's needed statewide," said Aaron Scofield, Executive Director of Rooted Families.

To encourage adoption and support Montanans with adopted children, in 2023, the legislature passed and the governor signed into law an adoption tax credit of $5,000, or $7,500 if the child is adopted within Montana.

"In 2023, I was proud to carry the bill to establish the Adoption Tax Credit to encourage adoption and to support adoptive families in Montana," Rep. Courtenay Sprunger, R-Kalispell, said. "Children in foster care deserve hope, reunification, or a future with families willing to open their loving homes to support them. I proud to support the governor's efforts to strengthen for Montana kids and families."

Concluding the discussion and recognizing May as Foster Care Month in Montana, the governor signed a proclamation to support the children and parents in Montana's foster care system. You can view the governor's proclamation here .

###