DHW Voice
Latest Post
Simple steps can help Idahoans stay healthy during respiratory illness season
As the weather cools and we spend more time indoors, the chances of spreading germs that can cause respiratory infections increase. While most people who catch a respiratory virus will recover after a short illness, some people can get sick enough to be hospitalized. Going into the fall and winter, this viral respiratory season is anticipated to look like what we experienced last year with seasonal influenza (flu) virus, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and SARS-CoV-2 virus
Older Posts
Older Posts
The Idaho Child Support program is celebrating a major milestone: 50 years of service to families across the state. Launched in 1975 as part of the federally
For Anne, fostering isn’t about numbers—it’s about growth. Still, the numbers tell part of the story: 18 years, 29 youth, four adoptions, and a home that rarely stands
Eastern Idaho has reached a milestone worth celebrating. As of June 30, Idaho’s Region 7—which covers eight counties in central and eastern Idaho—became the first of
When children are removed from their homes for safety reasons, the next best option is often a familiar face — a grandparent, an aunt, or a close family friend, for
Earlier this summer, the Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) launched a hiring campaign to fill 63 new positions aimed at improving outcomes for children and
As summer arrives in Idaho, so do a series of seasonal health hazards. With the first heat-related deaths of the year already reported this June, and with temps
Over the past year, I’ve pursued a mission of accountability, transparency, fiscal responsibility, and improving the lives of Idaho’s vulnerable children in need.Central to that has been strengthening child welfare—expanding foster care through legislative reforms that
When Jamie told Tyler early in their relationship that she wanted to foster children someday, she meant it. “If he didn’t want that, it wasn’t even an option,” she said. Years later, the couple has fostered more than 20 children—short-term, long-term, and everything in between—
DHW Deputy Director Monty Prow throws one of the opening pitches at Foster Family Night June 6.
Idaho’s foster families were guests of honor
For 12 years, Gene and Sandy tried to have a child. Gene worked as a pastor in Jerome, and she taught special education. They seemed destined to raise children in a
More than 150 foster parents and foster children gathered last Saturday at Bruneau Dunes State Park to launch the second year of the Foster Family Passport Program—a growing partnership between the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) and Idaho Department of Parks and