Two local agencies honored by Idaho Children’s Trust Fund

Idaho Children’s Trust Fund Board began a new tradition to recognize people and groups who have made significant contributions in the past year and the organization’s Pinwheel Awards were announced for 2023-24 in Boise. 

Locally, two agencies were praised for their efforts to help children and families.

Local winners:
Lakeside Pediatrics
Children’s Village

Lakeside Pediatrics was founded in 2002 and staff have been turning more attention and resources to focus on marginalized and high-risk groups. Lakeside Pediatrics have integrated behavioral health into their practice, understanding that physical and behavioral health are integrally connected.

They have gone through additional training in recognizing and assisting in case of child abuse and neglect. Gaps in care are addressed and the practice addresses medical neglect due to family hardships and stressors.

Lakeside Pediatrics has secured counseling for siblings/parents and hired a social worker.

Children’s Village, Inc. has taken on the development of North Idaho’s assessment center. The nonprofit opened in 1990 as a residential care facility and haven for children displaced from their families due to abuse, neglect or severe family crisis.

In 2015, they opened a five-year program to impact the cycle of abuse and neglect causing many of the children to need the Children’s Village resources in the first place.

Respite, shelter, emergency shelter and residential treatment are offered.

Since it opened, the agency has helped more than 2,500 families.