I’m pleased to announce that the Department of Health and Welfare’s (DHW) publication 2022-2023 Facts, Figures, and Trends is now available online.

This reference provides a robust look at DHW – who we serve, the services we provide, and how those services are paid for. It also provides information about the department’s budget – how much it gets, how much is spent, and who and what it is spent on.

For each of the department’s eight divisions, the book covers funds approved by the Legislature for the current state fiscal year as well as highlights and work done in the previous state fiscal year.

I use it often to remind myself about a specific program or to check some data. It’s a valuable tool for anyone who wants to have a better understanding of the work we do. The book is created each year by the Office of Communications, in close teamwork with all the divisions and councils.

Here are some of the highlights outlined in the book from state fiscal year 2022:

• SFY 2022 was the first full year of operation for State Hospital West, a 16-bed psychiatric facility for youth ages 12 through 17 in Nampa. State Hospital West opened in May 2021, replacing the adolescent unit at State Hospital South in Blackfoot. The new hospital allows the majority of patients to get help closer to home in the Treasure Valley. In SFY 2022, State Hospital West had 58 admissions, with an average length of stay between 50 and 60 days.
• During SFY 2022, Child and Family Services struggled to hire and keep social workers, who are critical to do the child welfare work. Bonuses, pay increases, and adjustments to working requirements were put in place to address the lack of social
  workers. Finally, more non-social worker employees were recruited to do many child welfare tasks.
• The Division of Licensing & Certification licensed 221 new facilities, homes, and agencies.
• The Division of Medicaid worked with hospitals and primary care providers to develop the Healthy Connections Value Care Program to move from traditional volume-based payments to value-based payments. Value-care organizations are responsible for controlling costs and improving health outcomes of their patients. This program went live on January 1, 2022.
• The Division of Public Health led a cross-department team to establish an Adverse Childhood Experiences Data Framework. The framework contains recommendations for sharing and using data regarding adverse childhood experiences, commonly called ACES, in a coordinated way across the department. The Division of Public Health also published two data reports showing how adverse childhood experiences impact Idahoans.
• Self-Reliance provided additional support through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to Idaho child care providers. Having safe, affordable, and high-quality child care for families throughout Idaho allows parents to go to work while children are being cared for. The Idaho Child Care Program issued more than $34 million to the Idaho Community Program Grant. This grant helped groups provide activities that support student learning, learning loss, and behavioral health supports for children ages 5-13.

I encourage to take a look at the book.

I hope you have a safe and healthy weekend.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.