IFF Mission
IFF is committed to improving, preserving, and restoring the mental health of youth and families by:
- Promoting youth and family voice to youth-serving systems;
- Partnering with families to navigate and access resources and community supports;
- Operating youth programs that empower youth to advocate for themselves and others;
- Educating parents, professionals, and others working with youth in a broad spectrum of topics relevant to youth mental health and illness.
IFF Vision
A world in which all children are offered opportunities to experience and realize their full potential.
IFF Purpose
The Idaho Federation of Families educates policy makers, professional organizations, legislators, educators, and the public about the needs of children with emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges and their families. Fundamental to the Idaho Federation of Families is a focus on family participation and support.
Our History
Families of children in Idaho with emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges identified a need for a statewide family organization so that their voices would be heard and their needs met. The Idaho Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health, Inc. was incorporated July 1, 1999 to provide an opportunity for families to work with all groups and individuals who wished to improve the lives of children.
Over time IFF has created partnerships with local, state and federal agencies to work on behalf of Idaho families experiencing youth mental health challenges. We have received federal funding from SAMHSA for almost 2 decades to be the Statewide Family Network for Idaho. We have a contract with Idaho’s Department of Health and Welfare to provide family support, statewide education and advocacy on behalf of Idaho families with children and youth experiencing serious emotional disturbance.
In 2011 IFF created an Idaho Chapter of Youth MOVE National that continues to run youth programs that focus on peer support and advocacy.
In 2021 IFF created FYIdaho (Families and Youth of Idaho) as the new name under which they offer their direct support and educational work with families.