DHW Voice
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New newsletter and forum provide direct support for foster families
Foster parents play a vital role in creating a safe and nurturing environment for children and youth in their care, and it is the Department of Health and Welfare’s priority to ensure they have the resources and support they need to succeed. One of the department’s opportunities is to communicate as much as possible with foster families. To address this, we’re excited to announce two new initiatives designed to enhance connection and provide better access to information: a
Older Posts
Older Posts
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
Halloween is an exciting holiday for children and adults alike, and we’d like to remind parents and caregivers to take some simple precautions to make sure that everyone has a safe and happy Halloween. Here are a few tips:
Glow sticks can be dangerous
Glow
This Thursday, Oct. 19, marks the Great Idaho ShakeOut. As part of the worldwide Great Shakeout, it’s a day dedicated to reflecting on and preparing for the possibility of a significant earthquake. At 10:19 a.m. local time, people throughout Idaho will participate in the
Oversized scissors cut through a big blue ribbon and a giant door opened for the youth of Idaho. Tuesday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony at Pathways Youth Community Support Center on Emerald Street celebrated the launch of Boise’s first Youth Behavioral Health Community Crisis Center
Ageism is a subtle yet pervasive bias that infiltrates our lives, often without us even realizing it. It’s a prejudice based on age that can affect people of all generations, from the young to the elderly. While this past Saturday, Oct. 7, is known as as Ageism Awareness Day,
Southwest Idaho is experiencing an outbreak of measles (“rubeola” or “red measles”), with 10 cases reported to date. Measles stopped being continuously spread in the United States in 2000. Only two cases of measles were reported in Idaho during the last 20 years, both in 2019.
Respiratory disease season has arrived, and public health officials are urging Idahoans to protect themselves and their loved ones.
Seasonal influenza (flu) virus, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, are all expected to be part