The Children’s Home Society of Idaho has been serving the children of this community since 1908.
The Children’s Home Society of Idaho’s headquarters on Warm Springs Avenue

Facts About CHS

  • CHS opened in 1908 to care for orphaned, abandoned, abused and neglected children
  • All donations to CHS stay in Idaho
  • CHS is one of the oldest operating 501(c)(3) charities in Idaho
  • The last adoption from CHS took place in 1968
  • CHS turned a century old on
    May 2, 2008

About the Children’s Home Society of Idaho

Mission

CHS provides behavioral health programs and related services to children and the families who care for them, regardless of their ability to pay.

History of the Children’s Home Society

The Children’s Home Society of Idaho (CHS) is a 100-year old non-profit organization dedicated to the welfare of children in this community. Founded in 1908 to privately oversee the state orphanage, the Children’s Home Society has cared for thousands of Idaho’s abandoned, abused, and neglected children for over a century. As a privately funded organization, CHS has long been supported by this community’s generosity and does not receive any state or local tax dollars.

The Children’s Home Society was dramatically impacted in 1966, when national legislation created the foster care system, and as a result, orphanages became obsolete. Rather than closing its doors, the Board of Directors enlisted the services of Boise State University faculty to conduct a statewide needs assessment for children. It was determined there was a strong need for affordable outpatient counseling services for children and their families, and so began a gradual transition from orphanage to treatment facility. Under the umbrella of CHS, Warm Springs Counseling Center has provided behavioral health services within the Treasure Valley since 1975.

Today CHS operates three programs: Warm Springs Counseling Center, Warm Springs Training Institute and The Bridge.

Leadership

W. Stewart Wilder, Executive Director
Thomas Young, M.D., Director of Operations
Megan Crouch, Director of Development
Yvette L. Ward, Psy.D., Director of Training

Board of Directors

Teri Ahrens
Oscar Baumhoff
Paul Bennett
Dr. Lee Binnion
Terry Bowman
Michele Carrington
Dr. Ann Cordum
Tom Donahoe
Rocco D’Orazio
Brian Doster
Patsy Fedrizzi
Jim Graham
Jo Hopkins
Mark Houston
Katie Kerby
Victoria Loegering
Margo Neef
Gary Morton
Vicki Rice
Scott Schoenherr
Bonnie Schwenkfelder
Brian Scigliano
Laura Shealy
Dan Sprague
Marilyn Whitson
Chuck Winder