Parent Cafés Take Root in Idaho with Parent Leader as Catalyst

Parent Cafés, structured, peer-to-peer conversations that build protective factors in families, are beginning to emerge in Idaho thanks to a determined parent leader and committed community partners.

Right People, Right Time

Mindie Bentcik, a single mother of four, first experienced the support of Parent Cafés in Iowa while rebuilding her life after escaping domestic violence. Cafés had such a profound impact that when she relocated to Idaho in 2018, she immediately sought out Parent Cafés as a support. However, Cafés weren’t offered in Idaho.

Bentcik's advocacy was needed in a state with limited parent engagement infrastructure. "Parents here need these Cafés,” she often thought.

At a Spring 2024 national Parent Partner Learning Collaborative meeting, Mindie met members of the Birth Parent National Network and staff from Casey Family Programs based in Idaho. Mindie plugged an upcoming Be Strong Families Taste of Cafés online experience, and the next Friday, one of her new Idaho contacts attended.

Not long after, Mindie heard that a Parent Café training was scheduled for November in Boise. Her personal mission met organizational support.

Partnership Powers Implementation

At the same time Mindie was spreading the word about Parent Cafés, Lutheran Community Services Northwest (LCSNW) was researching evidence-informed practices that would help struggling families provide peer support. Parent Cafés were already on their radar.

Michelle Batten, Program Manager for Safe Families for Children (a program of LCSNW), explains their motivation: "We see that families are socially isolated, and that's often the reason they need Safe Families’ support. If they weren't, they would ask someone else to care for their kids. Families in crisis don’t have a great way to meet each other, and we were talking about how to make that happen.”

Three organizations – Casey Family Programs, LCSNW, and the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children (IDAEYC) – came together to bring the first Parent Café training to Boise, the seat of the Treasure Valley region. Casey Family Programs and IDAEYC provided funding, LCSNW hosted the training, and IDAEYC committed to statewide practice implementation. Mindie attended both as a parent representative and experienced Café host.

Early Impact: "It Was Mind-Changing"

Following the initial training in November 2024 with Be Strong Families’ trainers Tiffany Murphy and Dayo Banks, LCSNW conducted two pilot Cafés. One was for professionals and the other was a Café demonstration hosted at the Strengthening Families Training Institute held by the Idaho Children's Trust Fund.

In the workshop evaluation feedback, one conference participant described the experience as "mind-changing." Others agreed. "I love quick deep connections and this provided that opportunity!" remarked one attendee. Another shared, "I've never told anyone that."

Adrian Amo, Director of Family and Community Engagement at Idaho AEYC, noted one way the Café model is special: "They do such a great job of making a safe space... you're not allowed to give feedback, so as the parent who's speaking, you feel safe to share.”

Amanda Mills, Strengthening Families Specialist at Idaho AEYC, added, saying: "The format is designed in such a way that people felt really comfortable to be vulnerable. People said, 'I can't believe how quickly we went so deep.'"

Beyond Traditional Networks

Idaho has a culture with strong family values. At the same time, there can be stigma against reaching out to others for support beyond one's family or religious community. Cafés create safe spaces for transformative conversations where parents are the experts. With that, support-seeking and support-giving happen naturally. We are eager to see how families in Idaho use this community-building approach to make connections in their own unique ways.

A Statewide Vision

As 2025 unfolds, both implementing organizations are pursuing thoughtful plans. LCS will host monthly Cafés in Boise, with King of Glory Church donating space. "Our hope is that we can grow Café leaders throughout the Treasure Valley, so we can grow our reach," said Michelle.

 Idaho AEYC is also developing plans for potential expansion through their network of 25 Early Learning Collaboratives in Idaho's seven health districts. "We're laying foundations to launch more widely next year," said Adrian. Their vision includes training regional Café hosts by fall 2025, with hopes for implementation in more collaboratives by 2026. They also aim to have at least one male Café host in each of the seven districts, matching their vision for growing father engagement throughout the state.

 As a member of Be Strong Families' National Parent Café Leadership Team, Mindie continues advocating for expansion to eastern Idaho. "I’m hoping this year we'll be able to have a training here in Pocatello, to get the east side of the state trained, and then move farther north into the Panhandle."

Despite health challenges that keep her mostly home-bound, Mindie hosts virtual Cafés and remains committed to expanding the model throughout Idaho. "It's a pure, wholehearted benefit – mind, body, and soul. It fills my cup."

Bring Cafés to Your Area

For Mindie and the organizations championing this work, each Café represents another step toward their shared vision: a sustainable infrastructure for family support throughout Idaho.

Will you be the first to introduce Parent Cafés in your state or region? Drop us a line and let’s get started!