How To Navigate Family Tension During The Holidays

The several-million-dollar project is in its first phase out of four. Author: Abby Davis Published: 8:49 PM MDT May 14, 2024 Updated: 8:49 PM MDT May 14, 2024 BOISE, Idaho — One of Idaho's oldest community resources — the Children's Home Society of Idaho — is undergoing much-needed renovations. “Because of focusing on providing the service to the low-income families and making sure that every kid actually gets a chance to be served, we had to put aside major maintenance of the building," Executive Director Anselme Sadiki said. The Children's Home opened in 1908 as an orphanage, he said. Around 1970, it became a temporary foster care home before transitioning to an outpatient mental health clinic for children ages 2 to 18. Sadiki said they serve at least 90 kids a day and allow everyone, regardless of their ability to pay, to get help. The children's home offers a variety of mental, emotional and behavioral services. Because of growing demand, he said they even had to open up another location in Meridian. "Idaho is kind of ridiculously known for not having sufficient resources for children's mental health," Sadiki said. "It's rare to find actually an organization that solely focuses on children." He said they started a capital campaign about a year and a half ago to raise money to renovate the historic Warm Springs Avenue building in Boise. They are currently in phase one of four. Teal Point Custom Homes is leading the project. Founder Chomo Santana said crews will get the building up to seismic standards, replace the rood, completely redo the interior, etc. To preserve the historic value of the building, he said the building will look the exact same on the outside. “It definitely goes in stages; [ it's] a very unique project. Very methodical. But we have a good game plan for it," Santana said. "If we can have some input on this project and deliver a project that can stand here for another 100 years, we're very proud of that.” Annika Klein, who said the Children's Home helped save her life as a teenager, said she cannot wait for the plan to become a reality. "The Children's Home kind of bridges that gap between needing care and actually getting it," she said. "So, seeing steps taken to ensure that that extends into the future is really promising and hopeful." The Children's Home has raised just over $2 million for renovations. That money came from grants and community members. However, they are still about $1.5 million short. People can donate online . Santana said they will renovate as money comes in. He thinks the project will take about a year. 

The topic of suicide is a difficult discussion for most parents to have with their children, but it is also a very crucial conversation.

A traumatic brain injury impacts more then a person’s physical health, it also impacts their mental and emotional health. It’s a relationship that not many people are aware of and it’s impact can be felt through-out an entire family unit. It’s something that counselor Todd Williams from Warm Springs Counseling Center knows firsthand. He suffered a traumatic brain injury and the following months after suffered greatly from the mental impact on his emotions and personality. ‘It was hard on my wife and six sons,’ said Todd in a conversation with Idaho Today’s Mellisa Paul. Williams was on the show to help promote National Brain Injury Awareness Month. To learn more watch this video from Idaho Today.

After multiple teen suicides struck the Boise community this year, the Warm Springs Counseling Center is hosting an event, giving people the space to mourn.

Boise Schools are one district seeing what they say is an alarming number of suicides recently.

A conversation about teen suicide prevention

Idaho Today’s Mellisa Paul speaks with a counselor with Warm Springs Counseling center about how we all can be more diligent and aware of the warning signs of suicide and self-harm and where to go for help if needed.

Idaho Today’s Mellisa Paul gets the details on the Children’s Home of Idaho event for kids managing anxiety. Kristin Armstrong will be in attendance.

Parent and host of Idaho Today, Mellisa Paul talks with Todd Williams, a counselor of The Warm Springs Counseling Center about balancing fall school schedules and navigating stress