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Treasure Valley foster families gather for fun in the park
Treasure Valley foster families converged on Lucky Peak State Park last Sunday to take advantage of a new program offered jointly by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation and Department of Health and Welfare (DHW). In all, more than 100 people gathered in the park to learn about camping, boating safety, fire safety, fishing, and a lot more.
This was the first of a planned series of events for foster families that will take place statewide in the coming year. Called Outdoor
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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
November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and an opportunity to reflect on ways we can support those with an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis, and measures we can take to reduce the chances of developing Alzheimer’s ourselves.
Many people we’ve spoken
Anyone who’s heard me talk very long about my work at the Department of Health and Welfare has also heard me say it’s the best and most challenging job I’ve ever had. It’s also been the greatest honor of my career.
My decision to retire at the end of December has
In the past five years I’ve signed 1,596 adoption papers for children being adopted from foster care into new families.
Signing adoptions is part of my job as director at DHW and one of the most moving and emotionally wrenching thing I do at work. I read each and
Fit and Fall Proof is a program in our Public Health Division that improves the lives of Idahoans. This program works for seniors in our communities to help prevent injuries and the subsequent loss of independence. Class participants learn simple exercises to increase strength,
The Department of Health and Welfare marked a significant milestone this month as it implemented a cutting-edge new background check system. The new system’s primary objective is to drastically reduce processing times for background checks, ensuring a smoother and faster
The vision of the Department of Health and Welfare’s Get Healthy Idaho plan is healthy people living and thriving in safe, healthy, and resilient communities. Differences in communities and neighborhoods can impact how long and how well people live. Get Healthy Idaho is a