Cara Walsh, LSW, has been part of A New Beginning since 2004, bringing more than 20 years of experience in adoption services across Idaho. She served as Social Work Director for many years before stepping into the role of Executive Director in 2025, where she now leads the agency’s mission and long-standing commitment to ethical, licensed adoption services.
Cara works closely with women facing unplanned pregnancies and with adoptive families, helping guide them through some of the most important decisions of their lives. She is known for creating a steady, supportive environment where people feel informed, respected, and not alone. Her work reflects what sets A New Beginning apart as an Idaho adoption agency: local expertise, licensed social workers, and real, in-person support.
She developed Adoption 101, an educational program presented in schools throughout Idaho that provides honest, accurate information about unplanned pregnancy and adoption. Cara was the co-creator of the essential adoption training curriculum for families going through the process. She also hosts the agency’s podcast, Recognizing Courage, where real adoption stories and perspectives are shared to educate and support others.
Cara is committed to the future of social work and actively mentors interns from Boise State University, Northwest Nazarene University, and Idaho State University. She was recognized as a “7’s Hero” by KTVB Channel 7 for her impact in the community. In 2025, Cara accepted the Angels in Adoption award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) in Washington DC on behalf of A New Beginning Adoption Agency.
What matters most to Cara is seeing families come together through thoughtful, supported decisions and watching children grow and thrive in those families over time.