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Shedding light on the impact of viral hepatitis and encouraging testing and vaccination during Hepatitis Awareness Month
May is Hepatitis Awareness Month, and May 19 is Hepatitis Testing Day. This is a great reminder to learn about the dangers of viral hepatitis, how to prevent the spread of the disease, and what to do if you become infected.Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that is often caused by a virus. The most common types of viral hepatitis's are A, B, and C. Both hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) can lead to liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and viral hepatitis-related deaths. In Idaho,
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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
A home test-to-treat option for COVID-19 and influenza is available to Idahoans through a National Institutes of Health (NIH) program.
The Home Test to Treat program is a virtual community health program that offers free COVID-19 and influenza (flu) at-home rapid
During my five years with the Department of Health and Welfare the state’s three psychiatric hospitals have made incredible strides to improve their level of service for Idahoans. The Southwest Idaho Treatment Center, a center that serves people with developmental disabilities,
During the past year the Department of Health and Welfare has worked to make sure that those eligible for health insurance through Medicaid remain enrolled. One of our chief concerns through that process has been to keep eligible children covered—a concern shared by our federal
The Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) tackles numerous challenges in its day-to-day service of Idahoans, and one of the biggest the department undertook during my tenure was mandated by Idaho voters.
In 2018, just a few months before I was appointed director,
In response to the pressing need for suitable housing for foster children, a new placement is set to open in Payette in the coming months and offer a lifeline to kids who were previously placed in short-term rental accommodations.
During the past couple of years
Working at the Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) has been the highest honor of my career, and it’s also been the most challenging job I’ve ever had. That’s in part due to the dynamic range of daily tasks that come up. With eight divisions and 3,000 staff, we maintain
Last month the Great American Smokeout served as a reminder for people who smoke to make a plan to quit for a healthier future. But quitting smoking is possible any time, and it’s one of the best choices a person can make to improve their health and protect their loved ones from
For the rest of 2023 I plan to use my weekly blog to reflect upon some of the Department of Health and Welfare’s (DHW’s) accomplishments during my five-year tenure as director.
To be sure, these accomplishments are not my own, but have been planned, deliberated, an
The Division of Behavioral Health at the Department of Health and Welfare recently refreshed its media campaign to reach Idahoans facing substance use disorders. The Lose Focus campaign uses evocative, out-of-focus images and reflections in mirrors, and aims to stir emotions
Research shows that taking a few minutes to recognize and express gratitude each day does wonders to improve mood and mindset.
Our minds are wired to watch out for risks and to identify potential problems. This likely comes from our ancient ancestors for whom