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Mental Health Matters: Recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and remind people that mental health is an important part of overall health.Mental health affects how we think, feel, connect with others, and handle life’s challenges. Just like physical health, mental health can change over time and can be influenced by many factors—including stress, relationships, life events, physical health, and daily routines
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With about 80 million dogs living in U.S. households, there are unfortunately about 4.5 million dog bites each year, with many dog bite victims being children.
In Idaho, dog bites are increasing, and visits to Idaho emergency departments by children for dog bite injuries are
Can you imagine a place that offers services to stabilize people in a behavioral health crisis as well as treatment for those with serious and complex mental illnesses and substance use disorders? A place that serves everyone -- regardless of age, where they live, or their
A total of 153,837 Idaho residents are in Medicaid Protection, which means they couldn’t be removed from Medicaid during the pandemic unless they died, moved out of state, or asked to be removed based on federal law. Since Congress removed that protection, DHW has been working
In his 2022 budget, Idaho Gov. Brad Little included $15 million to establish facilities called psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTFs). They provide children with inpatient psychiatric services that are not offered at Idaho’s existing facilities.
In December, the
The Idaho State Behavioral Health Planning Council (BHPC) has shared State of Mind 2022, its annual report, with the Governor’s Office, the Idaho Legislature, and the Idaho Judiciary. The report evaluates the value of behavioral health services for adults and children provided
Most poisoning emergencies are unexpected and happen quickly in our homes. A majority of non-fatal poisonings involve children younger than 6. For adults, poisoning is the number one cause of injury death in the United States. This week is National Poison Prevention Week, so it’
DHW is dedicated to making sure children who have experienced abuse or neglect have safe, permanent homes. We are also focused on improving the behavioral health system for Idaho’s young people and the crisis care system for adults with developmental disabilities.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, federal regulators allowed some flexibility in who could be defined as a Personal Care Services (PCS) caregiver. DHW received approval to allow agencies to hire parents of minor children and spouses as paid caregivers. The flexibility, however, was
Every child should grow up happy and healthy in a safe, loving home. Child and Family Services in the Department of Health and Welfare is committed to making sure children in Idaho who are at risk of child abuse, neglect, or abandonment are safe and supported.
Groundwater—water that comes from the ground via wells—is the water most of us drink every day. People also use water for numerous activities including bathing, cooking, recreating, cooling, manufacturing, food production, and medical use
Four new youth crisis centers in Idaho will make it easier and faster for young Idahoans to get help when they’re experiencing a behavioral health crisis.
In December, the Department of Health and Welfare and the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections finished awarding grant