David Brinkman

Melinda and I have been hosting students in our home for programs since the early part of the decade. We have been blessed to work with a variety of students. I have had a chance to work in a direct care, host family and admissions director role with various schools. Outside of the therapeutic school environment I have had a chance to serve as the Idaho Drug Free Youth Adviser for Boundary County School District, have served as a substitute teacher, coached high school lacrosse and call the local sports games for our radio station. I am a member of the Boundary County School Board, Boundary County Parks and Rec. Board, Kaniksu Healther Services Board of Directors and I have served on the state board of governors for the Head Start Programs. I have also been the chairman for the Boundary County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition. I attended North Idaho College and the University of Idaho Majoring in Psychology with a minor in history.

I truly feel blessed for the opportunity I have been given to help young men and their families when they need it most. Working with them to reintegrate into a community and learn which tools will help make them better men is what drives me.

When I am not working (and when I am) you will find me snowboarding, cycling, playing basketball and spending time with my amazing wife and our two children, Liliana and Logan!

Melinda Brinkman:

I often refer to myself as David's support staff when it comes to working with the boys, after all it is he who has the amazing ability to reach out and touch the heart of every boy that enters our home.  But the truth is, I too enjoy working with the boys that come into our lives and I have always considered them as a blessing.  While, I admit, that I had never planned on working with teenage boys, I have found that the time with them has been rewarding and I have learned so much by each and every one of them.  Simply put, it has been an amazing experience.

In our time spent as a host family, I found myself working directly with the boys themselves in areas such as cooking, cleaning, and communicating.  I have also done the behind the scenes work that directly effects the boys.  I have been in charge of scheduling medical and dental appointments which allowed me to develop a strong relationship with our local medical providers in North Idaho.  I have also worked closely with the Idaho Department of Idaho Health and Welfare to ensure that program standards were up to state levels.  I have worked with in our local school district in a variety of rolls from America Reads to providing reading testing of children in kindergarten through the third grade to working with the counseling staff at the high school itself.

My personal interests include gardening, reading, writing, an assortment of crafts, and spending quality time with my wonderful husband and two amazing children, Liliana and Logan.