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Idaho’s Foster Parent Bill of Rights enhances support and respect
Foster parents provide an indispensable service to the state of Idaho by caring for thousands of foster children each year. They open their homes to children separated from their families and are committed to offering love and stability during the most challenging and important times in a child’s life.
Acknowledging their selfless dedication, the Foster Parent Bill of Rights serves as a guiding framework ensuring that foster parents are supported, respected, and treated as
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During my short time as interim director at DHW, I’ve been impressed with the dedication, passion, and professionalism displayed by hundreds of the agency’s staff.
From caring for foster children to helping coordinate emergency responses, DHW’s work touches the
If you’re a manager or owner of an organization that offers behavioral health services in Idaho, you could help the Department of Health and Welfare better understand gaps and needs of Idahoans in the service of others.
The department’s Division of Behavioral
Three Youth Crisis Centers opened in Idaho in 2023 to serve communities in Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, and Boise. A fourth, the Western Idaho Youth Support Center, opened yesterday, Jan. 29, in Nampa.All four centers provide a calm environment for youth aged 12-17 to de-escalate.
Senior leaders at the Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) have a tradition of starting meetings with three good things that have taken place in the previous week or two. Practicing gratitude has been shown to benefit personal wellbeing, and I believe it also benefits us as a
Every day, people across the country and here in Idaho need blood to treat a variety of life-threatening conditions. Donating blood is always important because blood has a short shelf life, and there is constantly a need.
This January, National Blood Donor Month,
Radon gas is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas that may be silently present in many homes across Idaho. The Environmental Health Program in the Division of Public Health at DHW helps has programs to help distinguish radon facts from radon fictions and to help ensure the well
The Idaho Legislature convened on Monday, Jan. 8, marking the start of this year’s session. It’s an exciting time in Idaho as lawmakers from around the state travel to Boise to set policy and establish a budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
In the coming weeks, the
The oldest groom in Idaho in 2022 was 92. The oldest bride was 87. The shortest marriage was 34 days. The longest marriage ending in divorce was 59 years.
These and many more statistics about marriage and divorce in Idaho are available in the 2022 Marriage and
When Gov. Brad Little reached out to me in November to discuss the Department of Health and Welfare (DHW), I thought he wanted help finding the next director. I was first surprised, and then humbled and honored, that he asked me to serve as interim director following Director
Winter in Idaho poses significant challenges for many households, as they contend with high heating bills and various other difficulties throughout the year. The Department of Health and Welfare’s Division Self-Reliance offers a variety of programs to ease the burdens faced by
As I reflect on my five years at DHW, I’m filled with gratitude. Most of all, I’m grateful to DHW’s 3,000 competent, compassionate employees who are selfless, passionate, and dedicated in their service to Idahoans.
I frequently say that my job at DHW is to support