Marjean Hazen | IDHW Foster Care Program Manager

Marjean obtained her BSW in 1999 from Idaho State University and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Boise State University in 2009. She has worked with the Department of Health and Welfare since January of 2001 but has been the Foster Care Program Manager since October 2020.

What she loves most is the people she works with and for. She loves meeting new families who are willing to serve others by opening up their hearts and homes to children and families in need. Marjean also loves her co-workers and peers! She views her region 5 office and the team as her extended family. And now, that is growing and she has am learning to build a family across the state, although visitation is more difficult due to covid.

Julie Sevcik | IDHW Program Specialist

Julie has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Boise State University and has been working with Child and Family Services since 1994. She has had the opportunity to work in many different areas over the years including safety assessment, case management, and foster care licensing in both Region 3 and 4. Julie has been a Child Welfare Program Specialist since November 2018. Her role as a policy program specialist includes child safety and foster care licensing recruitment and retention.

As a program specialist, Julie really enjoys the opportunity to engage with staff, community members, and other stakeholders to identify areas of our program that can better meet the needs of the children and families we serve and our staff and then help provide guidance on ways to affect that change.

Julie wants to thank each and every one of our amazing foster parents who care for the children of Idaho and their families. She knows this has been a challenging couple of years for each of you personally, professionally, and as foster parents. Yet, you have continued to open your hearts and your homes to children while supporting their return home. There are no words for the gratitude Julie and her staff have for you!

Mark Dalton | Criminal Investigator at Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (ICAC).

Mark is currently assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (ICAC). He investigates child sexual abuse and exploitation cases. He has assisted in multiple inter-jurisdictional child enticement operations in the state of Idaho. Mark also conducts public and school educational programs to enhance awareness of online safety and trends.

Mark has served in the county jail and as a patrol deputy for several years. He investigated all felony crimes as a detective, including child and sex crimes, and served on the Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET). He has presented in public and at school awareness campaigns on drug abuse and awareness. Mark is also a certified Crisis / Hostage Negotiator for the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (SERT) for six years. And has served as Field Training Officer (FTO) and departmental new officer / CSI trainer.

Susan Baca | Region 5 Recruitment Coordinator & PRIDE Trainer

Susan has recruited, trained, and supported foster parents as well as foster youth aging out for 25 years. One of the greatest parts of her work is watching the beauty of reunification and the amazing foster parents that facilitate that process. Susan has the greatest respect for the hard work that foster parents do to accomplish these goals. Susan and her husband, Charles, have 5 children and 8 grandchildren.

Wendy Brown | Idaho Foster & Adoptive Parent

Wendy has a BA in Business Management and Leadership, minors in education and psychology.

Wendy (and her husband of 28 years) has been a mentor and leader to over 300 teens, an Idaho foster parent to over 80 children, an adoptive parent to three children and one teen, and a birth parent to five children. With a degree in business management, education and psychology, she is now a Facilitator of the FASCETS Neurobehavioral Method, training and working with other caregivers and support personnel in positive ways to find the right fit for each individual they care for or support.

Wendy is actively parenting children and young adults with FASD, brain trauma, emotional trauma, Autism, cancer, multiple learning disorders, and more. She is mama to nine, grandmother to two, and calls the East Coast home where she leads a zoom faith-based support group for families affected by FASD and other Neurobehavioral Disorders between pruning, planting, and harvesting her orchard and garden.

Shannon Foust | Idaho Foster & Adoptive Mama

Shannon is a mom of 9 amazing people and "Ama" to 7 grandbabies so far! She and her husband, Greg, fostered in Idaho for 16 years during which time they adopted five children.

Shannon became involved in the Resource Mentoring Program at its inception in Region 3 where she mentored foster parents through the licensing process, placement transition, and crisis situations. She also helped train new foster parents for many years and coordinated the Idaho Wednesday’s Child Program briefly. Shannon is not only knowledgeable about the ins and outs of fostering and adoption, but also passionate about encouraging and supporting foster and adoptive families as they walk through the parenting journey, particularly when it gets rough.

In her spare time she loves to write (and has contributed to two books so far), spend time with her family, and sit quietly watching movies with her Great Pyrenees, Max, as a footstool.

Tennille Kober| Trainer with the Child Welfare Workforce Training & Development at FRTC

Tennille graduated in 2003 from Idaho State University with a Bachelor in Social Work. In 2014, she completed her Master of Social Work from Northwest Nazarene University. Tennille has worked in the child welfare system for about 20 years in a variety of roles including practicum experience, safety/case work, regional centralized intake unit, and safety/case management supervision. In addition, Tennille has volunteered over 13 years facilitating a variety of women’s recovery groups in her community. She has experience in hospice work and currently teaches adjunct social work classes for Boise State University.

Tennille’s family spends the long winter months snow skiing, and hot summer days mountain biking, gardening, and household projects. Tennille loves spending her extra time with their extended family. Tennille and her husband have a blended family of two girls and two boys. They have recently become foster care licensed to provide respite care.