Idahoans in crisis always have someone to talk to by calling or texting 988. This three-digit phone number for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline connects directly to a call center in Idaho, at the Idaho Crisis and Suicide Hotline (ICSH).

The latest episode of the “Idaho Behavioral Health Authority Podcast” spends 40 minutes discussing 988 and the crisis system in Idaho. The podcast will come out monthly and discuss programs in DHW’s Division of Behavioral Health (DBH).

Hosts Jeremy Storton and Dustin Lapray interviewed three panelists for the podcast about 988:

• Lee Flinn, Executive Director at the ICSH
• Kelly Rhoads, Statewide Crisis Program Manager at DBH
• Nicole Coleman, 988 Program Manager at DBH

The 988 switchover in July 2022 simplified the process of reaching out for help for Idahoans in crisis.

The old 800 numbers still work, but 988 is short, easy to remember, and streamlines the process. Veterans can call, press +1 and connect to a special line. LGTBQ+ individuals can call, press +2 and connect to a special line. The line is not just for people considering suicide; it’s for anyone in any kind of crisis.

In Idaho, the crisis system is undergoing more change, beyond 988. New crisis centers now operate in seven cities. Four children’s crisis centers are open across Southern Idaho. In the future, a statewide mobile crisis system will ensure that people in crisis can get help where they are.

Listen to the podcast series, now available on YouTube and Spotify,  or visit the home page for the “Idaho Behavioral Health Authority.”

Test 988 before you need it

Call 988 now. Test it, before you or someone you know is in crisis, so when the time comes, you’ll know what to expect. Familiarity leads to confidence, especially in a crisis. The hotline encourages you to call for this reason.

Dustin Lapray is a public involvement officer with the Division of Behavioral health at DHW.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov. 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are spread through sexual activity or intimate physical contact. They don’t always cause symptoms, or cause only mild symptoms, making it possible to have an infection without being aware. It’s important to know this because an untreated infection can cause severe health issues. 

The most reliable way to avoid an STI is to not have sex. If you’re sexually active or thinking of becoming sexually active, you can take some simple steps to protect your health and the health of your partner.

STIs are preventable. They also can be treated with medication, and some can be cured. If you have sex, know how to protect yourself and your sexual partner from STIs. Regular testing is crucial. For STI testing and free services in your area, check out www.findidahotesting.com.

April is STI Awareness Month, and the second full week in April is STI Awareness Week. Both are opportunities to talk about STIs, get tested for STIs, and, if need be, get treatment.

TALK: Talk openly and honestly with your partner(s) and your healthcare provider about sexual health and STIs.

Starting a conversation about sexual health with your partner can be hard, but it’s needed to help keep you both safe. You can start your conversation with your partner by saying: 

• “Let’s talk about our sexual health openly and honestly. It’s important for both of us to feel safe and cared for.”
• “I value our relationship and want to make informed decisions about our sexual health together.”

During the discussion, talk about your STI testing history and suggest getting tested together. Share any known STI status and consider only having sex with only each other and/or agree to use condoms each time you have sex.

Talk with your healthcare provider about your sex life as it relates to your health. This helps your healthcare provider understand what STI tests you should be getting and how often.

Here are a few questions you should expect and be prepared to answer honestly:

• Have you been sexually active in the last year?
• In the past 12 months, how many sexual partners have you had?
• What are you doing to protect yourself from STIs?

Don’t assume that routine medical checkups include STI testing. Ask about testing if it’s not discussed. Also ask about vaccines for STIs like hepatitis B or HPV, they might be right for you. 

TEST: Get tested. It’s the only way to know for sure if you have an STI.

Many STIs don’t cause symptoms, so testing is the only way to know for sure if you have one. If you’re having sex, getting tested is one of the most important things you can do to protect your health.

Find testing and free services near you at www.findidahotesting.com. Options may include virtual appointments, urgent care walk-ins, or at-home sample collection.

If you’re not comfortable talking with your regular healthcare provider about STIs, find a clinic or local public health district that provides free or low-cost confidential testing.

TREAT: If you test positive for an STI, work with your healthcare provider to get the correct treatment.

Some STIs can be cured with the right medicine, and all STIs are treatable. Make sure your treatment works by following these guidelines:

• Take all the medication your healthcare provider prescribes, even if your symptoms go away.
  Don’t share your medication with others.
• Abstain from sexual activity until you and your partner(s) have completed the prescribed treatment.
• Get a follow-up STI test, if needed, to make sure the treatment worked.
• Consult with your healthcare provider to determine the most suitable medications for your condition. 

Learn more:

• From DHW: About sexually transmitted diseases: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/health-wellness/diseases-conditions/sexually-transmitted-disease
• From Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/std/

Kimberly Matulonis-Edgar is the Prevention Programs coordinator of the HIV, STD, and Hepatitis Section in the Division of Public Health. Kimberly has worked for the department since 2015 and focuses on educating the public about sexually transmitted infections.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov. 

The Department of Health & Welfare is proud to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. Since 1974, Idaho WIC has educated pregnant women and new mothers, empowering them to make healthy choices for supporting themselves and their families. 

Here in Idaho, local WIC clinics educate families about resources available to them — such as best healthcare, breastfeeding, and nutrition practices — as well as funding the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables, other healthy foods, and infant formula. 

From Pineville, Kentucky, to Yellow Pine, Idaho

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the rates of iron-deficiency anemia were unusually high in rural communities like Pineville, Ky. — a town similar to many small towns in rural Idaho. Community healthcare providers noticed a pattern: local infants and children had unusually high rates of iron-deficiency anemia stemming from malnutrition and a lack of education about healthy food, and breastfeeding.

In 1972, Dr. David Paige piloted a groundbreaking preventative health program in Baltimore, Md., aiming to reduce health issues in women, infants, and children. Two years later, the first WIC clinic opened to the public in Pineville, Ky. WIC clinics were available in 45 states in its first year of existence, and it has since extended to cover women, infants, and children in all 50 states. 

As the 50th anniversary celebration illustrates, it takes teamwork from all members of a community — from nurses and doctors to neighbors, legislators, and families — for meaningful change to take place. After two years of hard work and advocacy, the WIC program was successfully funded and implemented nationwide in 1974. This success, born in a small mountain town, demonstrates how grassroots resilience and compassion, along with political will on the state and national level, can change lives. 

Who participates in WIC in Idaho?

• 30,607 WIC participants:
  • 2,212 pregnant women
  • 3,170 breastfeeding women
  • 1,332 postpartum women
  • 6,413 infants
  • 17,480 children

WIC helps keep moms and babies healthy

WIC’s educational benefits assist mothers and children by meeting them where they are, from pregnancy through infancy and early childhood. Proper nutrition and breastfeeding practices ensure families are provided with the daily nutrition they need to thrive. 

WIC matters during pregnancy because WIC clinics educate women about the importance of nutritious foods during pregnancy. The correct balance of nutrients like protein, calcium, iron, and vitamin D is essential to a healthy pregnancy. Connecting with healthcare providers allows pregnant women to feel supported by their community before and after childbirth. 

WIC matters during infancy because WIC can support moms in meeting their breastfeeding goals through access to professional breastfeeding resources and peer-to-peer support. WIC can provide infant formula for infants who are partially breastfed or fully formula fed including medical formulas for high-risk infants. Because of WIC, breastfeeding in Idaho increased by 4% between 2010 and 2020. Infancy is a critical time for brain development, and nursing mothers need access to healthy food for that nutrition to be passed down to their child during breastfeeding. Trained professionals can help advise women and point them to resources like the Idaho Breastfeeding Coalition, connecting mothers to peer counseling or free weekly support groups. 

WIC matters during early childhood because infancy to the fifth year of life is an essential time for families to make nutritious food choices, building eating habits that can last a lifetime. When parents provide the correct balance of calcium, protein, iron, vitamins, and minerals to form the basis of a healthy diet, children thrive. Making nutritional choices like eating a variety of food, choosing healthier options, and limiting the amount of sugar consumed each day can prevent malnutrition, obesity, and iron-deficiency anemia.

WIC is cost-effective and benefits the local economy

Every dollar spent on prenatal service through WIC saves an average of $2.48 in healthcare costs. Currently, 44% of all eligible families in Idaho use WIC. WIC supports not only working families but the local economy by working with 200 Idaho grocery stores in urban and rural communities.  In fiscal year 2023 alone, WIC provided $17.4 million that was spent at Idaho grocery stores.

For more information about WIC eligibility & how to apply for benefits—or to apply to be a WIC-certified vendor:

• Are you eligible and how to apply:
  • Find your local WIC clinic 
  • Schedule an appointment
  • Know what to bring to your first appointment
• About WIC
  • WIC food list / Lista de alimentos de WIC
• WIC vendors

Leah Sallas is the Idaho WIC program director. She has worked for the department since 2015.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov. 
 

Although Idaho and the rest of the United States have made significant progress in reducing tuberculosis (TB), 15 Idahoans and thousands of people in the U.S. were reported to have active TB in 2023.

Too many people still suffer from this potentially life-threatening disease. As World TB Day was recognized Sunday, March 24, the Idaho Division of Public Health TB Program in the Department of Health and Welfare is asking everyone to help prevent TB in our communities.

Healthcare providers are encouraged to “Think, Test, and Treat TB” because TB knows no borders. If healthcare and public health partners continue to test people at risk and treat those who are infected with the germ that causes TB, before the germ makes them sick and before they can spread it to others, Idaho can move closer to eliminating this serious disease that thousands nationwide still suffer from.

If not treated promptly and with proper medications, TB disease can be fatal. Across the globe, 1.6 million people died of TB and another 10.6 million became ill with the disease in 2021, making it the leading infectious disease killer after COVID-19.

What causes TB?

TB is caused by a germ called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a type of bacteria. Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. In fact, most people will initially develop latent TB infection (LTBI), a condition in which the bacteria lives in the body without making a person sick. However, in some people, especially those who are older, or who have weakened immune systems, the bacteria can cause TB disease, which can be deadly if not identified and treated.

The TB bacteria usually attack the lungs but can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. When a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, speaks, or sings, TB bacteria can get into the air and people nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.

When a person breathes in TB bacteria, the bacteria can settle in the lungs and begin to grow. People with TB disease are most likely to spread it to people they spend time with every day. This includes family members, friends, and coworkers or schoolmates.

TB is not spread by shaking someone’s hand, sharing food or drink with them, touching bed linens or toilet seats, or by kissing. TB in other parts of the body, such as the kidney or spine, is usually not infectious, but still requires treatment with medication.

Recognizing world TB Day

Recognition of World TB Day commemorates Dr. Robert Koch’s discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The department’s TB Program also promotes recognition of World TB Day as an opportunity to acknowledge the dedication public health and healthcare community partners across Idaho have to combating TB and providing the highest quality service they can to those with LTBI and TB disease.

Although typically identified in small numbers throughout Idaho, TB is a preventable and curable disease that is still with us. Public health and our healthcare partners are working diligently, and remain committed, to accurately identifying and treating people with TB, recommending strong measures that prevent spread, and to moving closer toward elimination by supporting treatment for those in Idaho with LTBI before they develop infectious TB disease.

More information about TB

The Department’s TB Program, in collaboration with all seven public health districts, can provide additional information on TB, and can help support screening, diagnosis, and treatment services to help Idahoans become as healthy and self-sufficient as possible. To better understand the burden of TB in your community, visit the TB Program’s annual summary at https://www.gethealthy.dhw.idaho.gov/tuberculosis.

Resources

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Tuberculosis (TB), Basic TB Fact: https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/default.htm

CDC, Latent TB Infection and TB Disease: https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/tbinfectiondisease.htm

CDC, TB Risk Factors: https://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/basics/risk.htm

CDC, World TB Day 2024: https://www.cdc.gov/tb/worldtbday/

Get Healthy Idaho, Tracking Tuberculosis in Idaho: https://www.gethealthy.dhw.idaho.gov/tuberculosis

Dr. Scott Hutton is the Epidemiology Section Manager in the Division of Public Health.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov. 

As the weather warms and vacations are around the corner, it’s a great time to start planning for any travel you hope to do this summer. Part of your planning should include evaluating whether any special vaccines would help keep you healthy, or whether bringing yourself and your family up to date on routine vaccines is needed.

While most of us think additional vaccines might be important if traveling far overseas, it’s important to check out any health risks at your destination ahead of time, even those nearer to you. For example, there is an outbreak of measles in Chicago at present. Checking to be sure you and your family are up to date on measles and other vaccinations before traveling can prevent the risk of contracting this very contagious illness. 

The ideal time to get vaccines before travel is usually at least a month before you leave. That gives your body time to build immunity before your travel starts. However, even if you’ve left it to the last minute, you can still benefit from vaccines.

As you’ll read below, immunization can help protect from a variety of illnesses

Vaccine recommendations for adults

Depending upon your age, adult routine vaccinations should be up to date to help protect you from becoming sick during your vacation or when you return. You can see the recommended vaccines for your age on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Adult Immunization Schedule. 

If you are traveling within the United States, being up to date with routine immunizations such as hepatitis A, influenza, and Tdap, should be enough to help your immune system protect you. You might need other vaccines if you are traveling internationally. (More about international travel below.)

Vaccine recommendations for children

Before you go on any trip, your children should be up to date on their routine immunizations. The CDC’s recommended childhood immunization schedule is effective and is why we don’t see as many of these diseases in the U.S. today as we did 100 years ago. 

However, outbreaks still occur. There is currently an increase in global and U.S. measles cases. There have been 58 cases reported in 17 areas of the U.S. so far this year. In some cases, routine childhood vaccination schedules may need to be adjusted to provide extra protection for travel. 

International travel vaccine recommendations

Traveling internationally exposes us to new adventures but can also expose us to unfamiliar diseases or diseases not covered by routine vaccines at home. 

Travel vaccines are a key part of preparation for travel to certain countries or regions. Pre-travel immunizations at a travel clinic can protect you and your children while you’re abroad, keeping everyone safe and happy as you explore. Travel clinics can also provide other helpful advice in how to stay healthy while you travel.

Children have a similar risk as adults, but for international travel, different routine vaccination recommendations sometimes apply to children. For instance, the vaccine for measles is usually not started until babies are at least 1 year of age. However, if they are travelling internationally, the recommendation is that babies 6-11 months of age should get one dose of MMR before departure. Among the 58 U.S. measles cases reported in 2024, nearly all were linked to international travel. Last year, a measles outbreak in Idaho was associated with international travel. 

Recommended or required vaccines for travel depend on the destination. In some cases, recommended vaccines are based on specific health risks. Start by checking the CDC’s travel vaccination website to see what vaccines are required for any country you plan to visit, and follow up with a visit to your healthcare provider, or a travel clinic or travel medicine specialist. 

Dr. Kathryn Turner is deputy state epidemiologist in the Division of Public Health.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov. 

A head injury that causes damage to the brain is known as a traumatic brain injury. Repeated or severe traumatic brain injuries may increase the risk of dementia.

March marks Brain Injury Awareness Month, and the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Program at the Department of Health and Welfare is focusing on how keeping our brains safe can also lower the risk of dementia.

Every nine seconds, someone in the United Sates sustains a brain injury, which may include a trauma, concussion, or non-traumatic injury from factors such as lack of oxygen, exposure to toxins, or pressure from a tumor.

Although studies cannot tell whether head injuries were the direct cause of dementia, research indicates a strong correlation, and there are everyday actions we can all take to protect our brains. Wearing helmets during high-hazard activities, playing it safe in sports, and avoiding activities that can hurt our heads can all make a difference.

A healthy lifestyle can also help steer away from dementia. Staying active, eating well, managing stress, and keeping your mind engaged can all play a part in keeping your brain healthy and sharp.

And practicing kind and open communication can go a long way. Remember to look out for each other and encourage discussion about brain health openly, without shame.

The bottom line is that Brain Injury Awareness Month is an opportunity to remind ourselves and our loved ones about the simple steps we can take to keep our brains in good shape.

By doing so, we're not just avoiding injuries; we're also fighting against the chances of dementia later on. Together, we can make a difference to keep our minds healthy and resilient.

Tiffany Robb is health program manager for the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Program in the Division of Public Health at DHW. A self-described compassionate extrovert, she’s had a diverse career that’s included personal training, business ownership and management, teaching, research, and project management. Tiffany finds working on brain health, Alzheimer’s, and dementia an honor and a tribute to family members who have been impacted by dementia.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening Idahoans' health, safety, and independence. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.

In July of last year Idaho signed a new Idaho Behavioral Health Plan (IBHP) contract with Magellan Healthcare, Inc, a managed care provider that will provide coverage for the majority of the behavioral health services system of care in Idaho. Changes to services are scheduled to begin in July 2024.

Earlier this week I joined officials from DHW and Magellan for an open house to commemorate this milestone, which aims to improve the behavioral health delivery system to promote recovery and resiliency for Idahoans. 

The new IBHP contract will be a single plan administering medically necessary Medicaid and non-Medicaid covered behavioral health services on behalf of DHW’s divisions of Medicaid and Behavioral Health, and making the same provider network available to the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections.

Under the contract, Magellan will cover behavioral health services for Idahoans with Medicaid and for some without Medicaid. A number of services historically provided through the Division of Behavioral Health will transition to being Medicaid covered services and rendered by providers in Magellan’s provider network. 

What this means for you:

If you have Medicaid and access behavioral health services, you’ll continue to access outpatient behavioral health services through Optum Idaho and any inpatient and residential services through the Idaho Medicaid program directly until Magellan Healthcare becomes the new contractor in July 2024.  At that time your service coverage will be transitioned to Magellan.

If you have Medicaid and want to access behavioral health services, you can access services through the current plan and Idaho Medicaid until the new plan begins. 

If you have access to behavioral health services through the Division of Behavioral Health, you’ll continue to access behavioral health services through your current providers until Magellan Healthcare becomes the new contractor in July 2024. At that time, you’ll need to receive services from an IBHP network provider. Your current provider will give you more information about when this change will take place. 

If you use services at a statewide crisis center or community resource center, there will be no change in accessing crisis or community resource centers when the new IBHP begins. Regional crisis centers will continue to be available to all Idahoans regardless of ability to pay.

Additional resources:

• For more information about the new IBHP access our website at https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/newIBHP or Magellan’s website at www.MagellanofIdaho.com
• For eligibility questions, please contact the Division of Self-Reliance at 877-456-1233.
• For general referrals, please contact the Idaho CareLine at 2-1-1.
• For questions about the future IBHP or other questions, please email IBHP@dhw.idaho.gov to connect with the IBHP governance bureau.

DHW is here to serve you. Have a great weekend.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.

Groundwater Awareness Week takes place March 10-16 each year. This annual observance was first established 25 years ago and highlights responsible development, use, and management of groundwater. 

The United States uses 82.3 billion gallons per day of fresh groundwater for public and private entities. It’s used for irrigation, livestock, manufacturing, mining, and thermoelectric power, according to the US. Geological Survey.

In Idaho approximately 95% of the state’s drinking water comes from ground water sources, with the remaining water coming from surface water in our lakes and rivers. About one-third of Idahoans get their drinking water from private wells. 

However, private wells are not regulated by any public agency in Idaho, so it’s the well owner’s responsibility to ensure they are drinking healthy water. Testing your well at least once a year for contaminants and routine inspections ensures your best chance at having healthy drinking water for your family. 

There are over 42,00 known residential wells in Idaho. Protecting the water that supplies these wells is an important priority, and it is everyone’s responsibility. Most of the time groundwater is safe, but sometimes it can become contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites, and chemicals, such as fertilizers and pesticides. 

In addition, there are many natural germs and harmful chemicals from the environment, such as arsenic, nitrate, and radon. You can’t taste or smell many contaminants, so testing is the only way to know water is safe.
Groundwater wells also provide jobs for geologists, hydrogeologists, and engineers in Idaho, and that helps grow our robust agricultural economy.  

National Groundwater Awareness Week is a great time to learn where your drinking water comes from and how to protect it. Please visit the Department of Health and Welfare’s Environmental Health drinking water webpage or contact the department at 800-445-8647 for more information on how you can protect your groundwater, including testing and maintenance.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening Idahoans' health, safety, and independence. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.