DHW Voice
Latest Post
Healthy backyard flocks and healthy families: Tips from the Division of Public Health
Backyard birds such as chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys are increasing in urban and suburban areas. Raising these birds is a popular way to have homegrown eggs and poultry, and a fun way for children to learn about caring for animals. While keeping poultry flocks can be fun and educational, they can carry harmful germs that can make you sick. Follow these tips to keep yourself and your family healthy while enjoying your backyard flocks.
Wash your hands. Wash your hands and your children’
Older Posts
Older Posts
The top three leading causes of death in Idaho in 2021 were diseases of the heart, cancer, and COVID-19. Almost 9,000 Idahoans died of those causes out of 18,334 total deaths. The next three categories--accidents, respiratory diseases, and Alzheimer's disease--resulted in fewer
One child abused is one child too many.
All children deserve to feel safe in their homes, with their families.
Too often, that is not the case. The Department of Health and Welfare receives nearly 23,000 reports of child abuse, neglect, and abandonment each year in Idaho.
With about 80 million dogs living in U.S. households, there are unfortunately about 4.5 million dog bites each year, with many dog bite victims being children.
In Idaho, dog bites are increasing, and visits to Idaho emergency departments by children for dog bite injuries are
Can you imagine a place that offers services to stabilize people in a behavioral health crisis as well as treatment for those with serious and complex mental illnesses and substance use disorders? A place that serves everyone -- regardless of age, where they live, or their
A total of 153,837 Idaho residents are in Medicaid Protection, which means they couldn’t be removed from Medicaid during the pandemic unless they died, moved out of state, or asked to be removed based on federal law. Since Congress removed that protection, DHW has been working
In his 2022 budget, Idaho Gov. Brad Little included $15 million to establish facilities called psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTFs). They provide children with inpatient psychiatric services that are not offered at Idaho’s existing facilities.
In December, the
The Idaho State Behavioral Health Planning Council (BHPC) has shared State of Mind 2022, its annual report, with the Governor’s Office, the Idaho Legislature, and the Idaho Judiciary. The report evaluates the value of behavioral health services for adults and children provided
Most poisoning emergencies are unexpected and happen quickly in our homes. A majority of non-fatal poisonings involve children younger than 6. For adults, poisoning is the number one cause of injury death in the United States. This week is National Poison Prevention Week, so it’
DHW is dedicated to making sure children who have experienced abuse or neglect have safe, permanent homes. We are also focused on improving the behavioral health system for Idaho’s young people and the crisis care system for adults with developmental disabilities.
The second
During the COVID-19 pandemic, federal regulators allowed some flexibility in who could be defined as a Personal Care Services (PCS) caregiver. DHW received approval to allow agencies to hire parents of minor children and spouses as paid caregivers. The flexibility, however, was
Every child should grow up happy and healthy in a safe, loving home. Child and Family Services in the Department of Health and Welfare is committed to making sure children in Idaho who are at risk of child abuse, neglect, or abandonment are safe and supported.
We believe the