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Crisis prevention training paying off for SWITC; new video helps residents and families get oriented
Crisis prevention training is paying off for staff and residents at the Nampa-based Southwest Idaho Treatment Center (SWITC), a department-run home for adults with intellectual disabilities.
Since 2019, SWITC has used programming from the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) to implement tailored training across the facility, providing all staff with proactive de-escalation skills to recognize and prevent incidents of violence. SWITC was featured in September in a CPI case study
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Idaho WIC, also known as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, is a federally funded initiative designed to promote healthy choices for pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children up to their fifth birthdays.
It’s
Thirty-three years ago this week, on July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. This historic civil rights law protects the rights of people with disabilities.
The ADA prohibits discrimination based on disability in employment,
Caring for a person living with memory loss or dementia is a journey that can last many years. It’s not usually a straight path, as each person with a mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s, or another type of dementia may progress differently and in their own time
In June, I resumed my summer tradition of traveling to various locations in Idaho to visit DHW’s incredible staff. This is my favorite part of my job, and I’m consistently awed by the talent, dedication, and compassion exhibited by the people who choose to work here
Historical mine sites and ghost towns provide a unique recreational opportunity to explore a fascinating part of Idaho’s heritage. The buildings and structures are historical artifacts, and many are privately owned. Awareness of potential health and safety risks at these sites
I am pleased to announce the completion of DHW’s new five-year Strategic Plan, a living document that DHW leadership updates each year on the cusp of the new state fiscal year, which renewed July 1.
This year we’re rolling out a new goal to focus on recruiting
As temperatures increase, so does the likelihood of a cyanobacterial harmful algal bloom (cyanoHAB). CyanoHABs are caused by cyanobacteria, and the toxins they produce are harmful to humans, pets, livestock, and wildlife. CyanoHABs can change and increase rapidly if conditions
During the pandemic, federal law required that states continue Medicaid coverage for all members. Exceptions could be made if they died, moved out of state, or asked to be removed. As a result, 153,857 Idahoans were enrolled in Medicaid despite eligibility not being confirmed
The Ada County Weed, Pest, and Mosquito Abatement agency reported the first 2023 detection of West Nile virus (WNV) in samples of mosquitoes found in the Ada County city of Meridian on June 14 and 15. Mosquito abatement personnel were sent to the area to initiate control
Idahoans gathered in Nampa on Wednesday, June 14, to celebrate a multi-phase, multi-tiered project that is improving the system of care at the Southwest Idaho Treatment Center, a state-run facility for people with developmental disabilities.
Called SWITC, the
Wildfire smoke contains a mixture of air pollutants that are unhealthy for anyone to breathe but are especially dangerous for people in sensitive groups such as children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with heart or respiratory conditions. It is important for every