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 sticks can cause a stinging and a burning sensation if the liquid comes in contact with the mouth or eyes. Be careful when children put these in their mouths as they are soft to chew on and can easily break open. If this happens, rinse with water and call the Nebraska Regional Poison Center at 800-222-1222.

Check treats carefully

When children trick-or-treat, treats should be carefully checked by adults. Homemade treats or anything out of its original wrapper should be thrown away unless parents are positive of the identity of the person from which it came.

Think about costume safety and visibility

Costumes should be warm, well-fitting and non-flammable. Masks should allow adequate vision and should be removed while children are crossing streets. Make sure children are accompanied by an adult and take a flashlight along if it’s dark.

Use nontoxic face paint as an alternative to masks. All makeup and fluorescent hair sprays should be removed before going to bed. Consider using reflective tape on costumes worn after dark.

Be heads-up about surroundings

Safety on Halloween means paying attention to everything from cracks in the sidewalk to erratic traffic patterns. Fall mushrooms may have popped up in lawns and under trees, and some mushrooms are poisonous.

Dry ice can cause frostbite

Punch containing dry ice is not considered dangerous if the ice is not swallowed in its solid form. Small pieces should not be put in individual glasses. Frostbite can occur if dry ice touches the skin or mouth.

Treats can be poisonous for pets

Chocolate and xylitol are very poisonous to dogs. Xylitol is the sweetener found in sugar free candies and gum. Store all candy up and out of reach of dogs and other pets.

Keep alcohol out of reach of children

If hosting or going to a Halloween party, make sure alcohol is out of reach of children and animals.

For more information about responding to an incident involving poisoning visit DHW’s poison response webpage: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/health-wellness/emergency-planning/poison-response.

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

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 ShakeOut, engaging in earthquake safety drills within their homes, workplaces, and community organizations.

The Great Idaho ShakeOut provides an array of valuable resources, including instructional manuals and guidelines for conducting earthquake safety drills in schools, workplaces, museums, and government offices.

Earthquakes, however, aren’t the sole natural disaster concern in Idaho. This week’s ShakeOut is a reminder that Idahoans should be ready for a variety of emergency situations, such as floods, droughts, wildfires, or severe blizzards. Preparedness is about minimizing the immediate adverse impacts when disasters occur and starts with devising a well-thought-out plan that facilitates swift communication and connection with family and friends in times of crisis.

In the event of a public health emergency, access to essential resources such as food, water, and medications may become limited. To ensure readiness for all public health emergencies, individuals, families, businesses, and communities can take a few straightforward steps:

How to prepare:

Create a comprehensive plan that covers the acquisition or provision of five fundamental necessities: water, food, energy, shelter, and security.

Safeguard copies of essential documents, including medication lists, marriage certificates, birth certificates, and medical insurance information.

Additionally, your plan should address:

• The safest routes to reach safety within your home and away from it.
• Methods of communication during a crisis, considering the potential failure of phone lines and cell towers.
• Reunification procedures after a disaster strikes.
• Establishing communication signals with your family and designating a point of contact with a person who lives outside your immediate area. This person can serve as a central hub for everyone to check in. During a crisis, sending text messages may be more effective due to the likely overload of phone call networks.

When to prepare:

Preparation for an emergency should start well in advance of an event. Your plan should be created and practiced. Early preparation should also involve assembly of an emergency preparedness kit that you or your family can quickly access.

For additional information on emergency preparedness, you can visit DHW's Emergency Preparedness webpage, where you will find resources to help you assemble a kit, formulate a plan, and stay informed about potential emergencies.

Denise Kern is the public health preparedness and response 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. 

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 (YBHCCC) October 10, 2023. The doors officially open Oct. 16 and the hope is they will never close.

The YBHCCCs welcome youth aged 12-17 who are in a behavioral health crisis. After the first year of implementation, the age range of youth served will expand to 5-17. These are free, safe places for youth and their families to get immediate assistance without an appointment. They stand as an alternative to juvenile detention and/or the hospital system.  

“Youth and their families can come in here any time, without consideration of their ability to pay for these services,” said Pathways Executive Director Ryan Jones. “They can come in to see a clinician for a behavioral health assessment, a nurse for a medical assessment, and meet with a case manager to link them to the resources they need.”

The space welcomes youth with bright colors and spacious offices. There are beds to take respite, meeting rooms for staff, and private rooms for clinicians to conduct assessments. Youth can stay for 23 hours, 59 minutes.

The 24/7 youth crisis center is the third to open in Idaho this year. Idaho Falls and Twin Falls YBHCCCs are open, and another center will open in Nampa in January 2024. 

“This facility and the others [across Idaho] are really meant to be a service to kids, without being part of the juvenile corrections system,” said Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections Director Monty Prow.

IDJC worked to secure the initial funding for the four YBHCCCs, and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare will now work to secure their long-term future.

Youth often first enter the continuum of care in Idaho after a crisis becomes an emergency. They end up committing a crime or being taken to a hospital. “That’s not necessary,” said Ross Edmunds, Behavioral Health administrator at DHW.

“We can’t define what crisis means for an individual,” Edmunds said. “With kids and adolescents, it might just be conflict between them and their family. The kid does something, breaks a window, and there’s no place else; they get arrested, go to a detention center, or parents are recommended to take the youth to a hospital.”

Youth in crisis who enter the juvenile justice system may receive mental health treatment, and often their records are expunged. Youth who go to the hospital may receive medical care, behavioral health information, and a safety plan. If they do not have Medicaid, they will have a copay for ongoing community treatment. Incarceration, cost, stress, complication, embarrassment—these are obstacles the YBHCCCs intend to help families avoid.

“I think [YBHCCCs] will be a great way to divert from unnecessary hospitalization,” said Belinda Dalrymple, St. Alphonsus emergency department psychiatric clinician, and a member of the Boise center’s advisory board. “Just looking through the windows, you can see there is happy painting on the walls. You walk into the emergency room, and it’s all wires and beeps and sounds. Here it’s a lot more relaxed, laid back, super chill.”

The most important aspect of the YBHCCCs is that they’ll ensure the appropriate level of crisis treatment is obtained. Most youth don’t need hospitalization and certainly don’t need incarceration.

“The revolving door we see in detention centers and emergency departments and psychiatric units at hospitals is completely unnecessary,” Edmonds said. “We started this journey with crisis centers, but we’re not done yet in terms of our crisis development. We also need people to respond within our community. We have our partners in law enforcement who respond, but they need the support of mobile response teams to join them. We’re working on developing the entire continuum.”

Youth and their parents, schools, law enforcement, hospitals, 988, DHW, IDJC, the Idaho Behavioral Health Council, the State Legislature, the Governor’s Office and many private partners like Pathways and their counterparts in other Idaho cities join in this together. Many hands are needed for heavy work.

Edmunds said 10 years ago there were zero crisis centers in Idaho. Now there are seven for adults and three for youth, with one more on the way. With the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Idahoans have someone to call any time they need. Now, with YBHCCCs, youth in crisis also have a place to go.

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. 

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, the fight against ageism should be a year-round endeavor, drawing attention to the issue and promoting a more equitable and age-inclusive society.

Ageism is a multifaceted problem, encompassing stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination rooted in age-related biases. It’s not just about older individuals being marginalized; it also involves stigmatizing the young. This complex issue affects our interactions, our language, and our perceptions, often shaping how we view ourselves and others as we age.

The World Health Organization, through its Global Campaign to Combat Ageism, provides a clear definition of ageism: stereotypes (how people think), prejudice (how people feel), and discrimination (how people act) based on age. Ageism is not an isolated problem. It’s deeply embedded in our society, and it’s something most people will encounter at some point in their lives.

The impact of ageism

Ageism manifests in various ways, including workplace discrimination, healthcare disparities, and social exclusion. In the workplace, older individuals may face challenges in securing employment or promotions due to assumptions about their abilities or adaptability. On the other hand, younger employees may be underestimated or not taken seriously because of their age.

In healthcare, ageism can lead to unequal treatment, with older patients sometimes receiving less aggressive care than their younger counterparts. These biases can have life-altering consequences and perpetuate disparities in health outcomes.

Ageism also affects the way we communicate and perceive older individuals. Common phrases like “She looks good for her age” or “I was having a senior moment" may seem harmless, but they reinforce stereotypes and diminish the value of aging. Ageism also lurks within the media and advertising, perpetuating unrealistic standards of beauty and vitality while neglecting the diversity of aging experiences.

But what is the value of aging? The aging process is happening to us every second from the time we are born. In our society due to ageism, we have diminished all the things that we could appreciate that come with age. Generally speaking, as we age our emotional and social intelligence improves. While our processing time may slow that, also provides the benefit of being contemplative and deliberate rather than reactive.

Fighting ageism year-round

To combat ageism effectively, we must acknowledge that it’s not just a problem for one day of the year. It’s a challenge we need to address continuously. Here are some steps we can take to raise awareness and promote change:

• Education: Learn about ageism, its impact, and how it manifests in society. Recognize that it affects people of all ages.
• Self-awareness: Reflect on your own biases and assumptions about age. Challenge stereotypes and prejudices you may hold.
• Language: Be mindful of the language you use. Avoid ageist remarks and stereotypes when talking about age or aging.
• Advocate for change: Encourage others, including your workplace to adopt age-inclusive practices. Promote intergenerational collaboration and mentorship.
• Media literacy: Critically evaluate media portrayals of age and aging. Support media that promotes positive and realistic depictions of older individuals.
• Support organizations: Engage with organizations like AARP and the American Society on Aging, which work to combat ageism and promote positive aging.
• Start conversations: Initiate conversations about ageism with family, friends, and colleagues. Raise awareness of the issue and encourage open dialogue.

Ageism Awareness Day serves is an annual reminder of the work that needs to be done to combat ageism, but the fight against ageism should extend beyond a single day.

It’s about creating a society where people of all ages are valued, respected, and empowered to live fulfilling lives. By fostering awareness, promoting positive language, and advocating for change, we can work toward a future where ageism is a relic of the past, not a part of our present.

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.

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.

Why are we worried about measles? Isn’t it a childhood disease that doesn’t last long?

Measles is a serious, highly contagious disease. Complications can lead to hospitalization, disability, and death.

• About one in five unvaccinated people in the U.S. who get measles is hospitalized.
• About one child in every 1,000 who get measles will have brain swelling that can cause seizures, permanent deafness, or intellectual disability.
• About one to three of every 1,000 children with measles will die from lung and brain complications.
• Measles may cause nonimmune pregnant women to give birth too soon or have a baby with a low birth weight.
• A rare, fatal brain disease can occur seven to 10 years after an individual has measles, even if they appear to have fully recovered. About seven to 11 of every 100,000 individuals with measles could get this condition.

Complications from measles can occur in people of any age, but are more likely in:

• Children younger than 5 years of age
• Adults older than 20 years of age
• Pregnant women
• People with compromised immune systems, such as from leukemia or HIV infection

How did this measles outbreak happen?

The current measles outbreak in Idaho originated with an unvaccinated, nonimmune person who traveled to a country where there is an ongoing outbreak of measles. The person was exposed there and started having symptoms after returning to Idaho.

Several unvaccinated, nonimmune children were exposed to the first case in a household setting, and nine became ill with measles.

Because measles can be spread through the air, people seated near an infectious person on a plane or in a room,  or in a room within two hours after an infectious person, are considered exposed. Idaho public health officials are monitoring known exposed Idahoans. Nearly all were determined to be already immune except for an infant too young to receive vaccination against measles. None have had symptoms of measles to date. Although this is encouraging news, cases among unknown people exposed at one of the airports might yet be identified.

How can we prevent measles?

The most effective way to prevent measles is to get vaccinated against measles. The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles. Children 12 months through 12 years of age may get MMRV vaccine, which also protects against varicella (chickenpox). See measles vaccine recommendations at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mmr/public/index.html#who-gets-mmr.

Many countries abroad are reporting more measles cases. Make sure you and your loved ones are fully vaccinated at least two weeks before traveling abroad. Before travel, check if you are protected against measles or need a measles vaccine at https://www.cdc.gov/measles/travel-vaccine-assessment/index.html.

Call your healthcare provider if you or your child get sick with a rash and fever within three weeks after you return from abroad. This is especially important if you have a medical condition that prevents you from receiving MMR vaccine.

Could measles be continuously spread in the United States or Idaho again?

Yes. Several countries that had eliminated continuous spread of measles lost that status after 2019 because of ongoing outbreaks among the unvaccinated, nonimmune population. The United States almost lost measles elimination status the same year.

About 95% of a population needs to be immune from measles to prevent ongoing spread. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that less than 95% of young children and adolescents are vaccinated against measles in Idaho and nationwide. In Idaho, only about 80.7% of kindergartners had records indicating receipt of two doses of MMR vaccine by the 2022-23 school year. Those are statewide percentages. In some communities, MMR vaccination may be even lower, increasing the risk of an outbreak if someone brings in measles.

Why has measles vaccination declined in Idaho?

Measles vaccination declined during the COVID-19 pandemic and after. Possible reasons for the decline during the pandemic include:

• Difficulty accessing healthcare
• Competing priorities
• Increasing distrust of the government, science, and the health care industry and increasing disinformation and reliance on social media for information

How can barriers to measles vaccination in Idaho be overcome?

Routine childhood vaccines are available to Idaho children, under the age of 19 years, at no or significantly reduced cost. Your local public health district might offer MMR vaccine or can help refer you to a provider. Idaho’s Community Health Centers provide affordable access to healthcare for all ages. Medicaid participants can find a Healthy Connections Primary Care Provider by searching here. Find a free clinic near you and ask if they offer MMR vaccine. The Idaho Medical Association’s physician finder tool can also help.

If you are hesitant to have yourself or your child vaccinated, see credible sources of vaccine information and talk to your doctor. To help you evaluate sources of health information, see:

• https://vaccineinformation.org/internet-immunization-info/
• https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/evaluating-health-information

For more information about measles and MMR vaccine, see:

• Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia: https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/vaccine-details/measles-mumps-and-rubella-vaccines
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html

What are measles symptoms?

Typical initial symptoms of measles include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Three to five days after those symptoms, a characteristic rash appears. Measles is highly contagious and can be spread for four days before and four days after the rash appears. Up to nine out of 10 nonimmune people who are exposed in a household will come down with measles.

Dr. Christine Hahn is Idaho’s state epidemiologist and the Division of Public Health’s medical director. She is board certified in infectious disease and works in an Idaho tuberculosis clinic twice monthly. She also serves on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Follow the Department of Health and Welfare on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for updates and information you can trust.

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

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 of the respiratory disease season this fall and winter.

As people move indoors during colder months, they spend more time in close contact with others, and the chances of spreading germs increases. While most people who catch a respiratory virus will recover after a short illness, some can get sick enough to be hospitalized.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of hospitalizations for respiratory diseases this season could be similar to last year for all three viruses. The great news is that there are vaccines that protect from flu, RSV, and SARS-CoV-2.

COVID-19

The updated COVID-19 vaccine is now available for everyone 6 months and older. The updated vaccine protects against the variant of the virus causing infections right now. Vaccination not only remains the best way to protect from severe COVID illness, it also reduces the chance of getting long COVID, which affects some people after the initial infection and can last for weeks or months.

Flu

To protect against the flu, everyone 6 months of age or older should get the flu vaccine before the season starts, usually before November. This year’s flu vaccines will protect against the influenza viruses expected to be circulating during the upcoming flu season.

High dose flu vaccines are available for people 65 years of age and older. The higher dose of ingredients in these vaccines gives older adults a better immune response and better protection against the flu. Getting the flu vaccine not only protects individuals who get it but can reduce spread to others.

RSV

For the first time, vaccines against RSV are available. RSV causes mild cold symptoms in most people but can lead to hospitalization and even death in older people and babies. People 60 years and older may receive a single dose of RSV vaccine and should talk with their healthcare provider about whether they should get it. Pregnant people are recommended to receive one dose of RSV vaccine as early as 32 weeks and as late as 36 weeks of pregnancy to protect their newborn infants from RSV.

A new immunization against RSV (nirsevimab) is also available for babies, who can become very ill from RSV. One dose of nirsevimab is recommended for infants younger than 8 months born before or during the RSV season. For children 8 to 19 months who are at increased risk of severe illness, nirsevimab or palivizumab (a similar monoclonal product) might be recommended. Parents should discuss using these products with their child’s healthcare provider.

Additional ways to protect yourself and others

In addition to getting vaccinated, everyone can reduce the risk of getting sick from respiratory viruses or spreading them by washing their hands, covering coughs and sneezes, staying home when sick, practicing physical distancing, and wearing masks when disease activity is high in a community.

The CDC has published guidance for the respiratory season, a respiratory season outlook, and publishes weekly respiratory disease season updates. Follow the situation in Idaho on the Influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 dashboards.

• Flu dashboard: https://www.gethealthy.dhw.idaho.gov/infectious-disease-idaho
• RSV dashboard: https://www.gethealthy.dhw.idaho.gov/resp-synct
• COVID-19 dashboard: https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/

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. 

One of my favorite parts of working at the Department of Health and Welfare is meeting the amazing and talented people who work here. This week I joined staff from the Division of Public Health to learn more about the newborn screening program.

Each year between 20 and 40 babies in Idaho are diagnosed with potentially life-threatening conditions through the program, and this early detection and treatment can prevent intellectual disabilities, life-long health problems, or death.

Program staff gave me an informative program overview and took me on a field trip to the genetic and metabolic clinic at St. Luke’s hospital where we met with a biochemical geneticist, three genetic counselors, a registered dietician, and clinic staff who partner with DHW to screen newborns for rare genetic, metabolic, or other congenital disorders that may not be apparent at birth.

Many of the illnesses are treatable, and early detection can make a big difference for newborns. Timely treatment allows for normal growth and development, and a reduction in infant death and chronic disease.

Screening allows treatment to begin within the first weeks of life and can address disorders like congenital hypothyroidism, phenylketonuria, and cystic fibrosis.

Newborn screening is so effective that it’s widely considered one of the most successful public health achievements in modern history.

This program is truly making a difference for the most vulnerable Idahoans, and I’m excited that earlier this month Gov. Brad Little recognized it by signing a proclamation to honor and commemorate the program’s importance by declaring September Newborn Screening Awareness Month.

For more information about the program, read this recent news release about Newborn Screening Awareness Month or visit the program’s website.

I hope you have a safe and healthy 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. 

This September, for the second year in a row, the Division of Behavioral Health’s Substance Use Disorder Services Program has published a booklet titled “Who’s Who, Idaho Recovery Month 2023.”

The booklet features stories about some of the incredible Idahoans who work in, work with, or are in the substance use disorder recovery community, and I’d encourage you to read about the inspiring people who are featured.  At a time when deaths from addiction are at an all-time high, they’re some of Idaho’s heroes. Many of these heroes are in long-term recovery themselves, offering hope and help to those who are still struggling.

Idaho has a strong and proud recovery community made up of a diversity of programs and people at DHW, and thousands of everyday Idahoans who have committed to recovery, whether as professionals, advocates, recovery champions, or those working to overcome addiction.

September—National Recovery Month—is a time when we go out of our way to celebrate those in recovery from the disease of addiction, as well as the people and organizations who support those in recovery. Recovery Month is a time to unify and empower people, families, friends, and peers throughout Idaho’s communities. It’s also the perfect time to work together to reduce the stigma that surrounds substance use disorders and engage in alcohol and drug-free activities together.

It’s a privilege to bring awareness to recovery from addiction and to further recognize the hard-working people who are invested in helping those afflicted by the disease of addiction. I’m honored to work with those in Idaho’s recovery community as they strive to unify and empower those in treatment and recovery while reducing the stigma surrounding substance use.

Throughout the month of September and beyond, we’re encouraging communities to come together to show support for those in recovery, remember people we’ve lost, and recognize that we’re all in this together.

In honor of Recovery Month, Monday, Sept. 25, will be a day when wearing or displaying purple will be a way to recognize the recovery community. Purple can be worn, displayed, or even lit up as a sign of solidarity for recovery.

For more information about Substance Use Disorder: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/behavioral-health/about-substance-use-disorder

I hope you have a safe and healthy 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.

The Division of Public Health embarked on a journey starting in 2019 to improve the likelihood that all Idahoans have the same opportunity to live and thrive in safe, healthy, and resilient communities. To do this, the division led a statewide assessment to identify Idaho’s top health priorities. The assessment included data that identified the most common reasons Idahoan’s get sick or die, and interviews with regional and local organizations to better understand the needs of the people they serve.

The result was a list of health risk and outcome measures that included the top causes of death, rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, health behaviors such as diet and exercise, and community factors such as poverty levels and access to healthy food (known as social determinants of health).

Once all the data were collected and organized, the division brought partners together to vote and agree on the state’s top health priorities, which are:

• Diabetes
• Overweight and obesity
• Behavioral health
• Unintentional injury (specifically motor-vehicle accidents, falls and accidental poisoning/drug overdose)

Following the assessment, the division developed a five-year plan to impact those priorities. The assessment and health improvement plan is known as Get Healthy Idaho: Building Healthy and Resilient Communities (GHI).

Following is more information about the four priority health issues.

Diabetes

In 2022, more than 145,661 Idaho adults, nearly 10 percent of the state population, were living with diabetes.

In general, people with diabetes are more likely to have severe symptoms and complications if they get sick from any virus regardless if they have type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes. The risk for severe sickness is likely to be lower if the diabetes is well managed. Being up-to-date on immunizations and sticking with treatment regimens to manage diabetes are key prevention strategies.

The Idaho Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Stroke Prevention Program is working with heart disease and diabetes associations, state universities, national diabetes prevention programs, Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Programs, health systems, and pharmacies throughout Idaho to prevent and manage diabetes.

Overweight and obesity

Idaho, like most states, is seeing a steady increase in the percentage of its population that is overweight or obese. According to the Idaho Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), the percentage of Idaho adults aged 18 and older who report having obesity increased from 20.5 percent in 2001 to 31.6 percent in 2021.

The same is true for Idaho youth. In 2021, 28.1 percent of Idaho high school students described themselves as slightly or very overweight, and 11.9 percent were obese, according to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

Obesity rates vary by population and county. Idahoans who are Hispanic, Latino, American Indian and Alaskan Native experience the highest obesity rates, as do those who live in Canyon and Power counties compared to people living in Valley County, for example.

To impact overweight and obesity, communities must come together to ensure supports are in place for families and individuals. Some of these supports include ensuring healthy foods are available and affordable and outdoor environments are safe for exercise and activity.

The Idaho Physical Activity and Nutrition Program (IPAN) is working with several partners to support obesity prevention efforts statewide, including local public health districts; the Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) Idaho Network; Idaho Hunger Relief Task Force; the SNAP-Ed Program; and Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Program in the Division of Public Health.

Behavioral Health

Behavioral health conditions include both mental health and substance use disorder diagnoses. These affect millions of adults and young people in Idaho and the U.S. every year.

Mental health professionals are few in numbers, and demand is high in all of Idaho’s 44 counties. For those who live in rural areas of Idaho, finding treatment services for behavioral health issues can be especially hard.

The Division of Public Health works closely with the Division of Behavioral Health, the Idaho Office on Drug Policy, and other key stakeholders to help Idahoans who need behavioral health and substance use disorder services get access to those services when they need them.

The Drug Overdose Prevention Program, in the Division of Public Health, works with partners and stakeholders to focus specifically on the growing opioid crisis. Their efforts include working with and educating prescribers to use the Idaho Prescription Drug Monitoring Program; funding naloxone trainings to help prevent overdoses, supporting prescription-drug take-back events, and educating healthcare providers and the public through local public health districts and tribal public health events.

Unintentional injury (specifically motor-vehicle accidents, falls and accidental poisoning/drug overdose)

Unintentional injuries involving motor vehicle accidents, discharge of firearms, drownings, suffocations, falls, and unintentional drug overdoses, are a big concern in Idaho. They were the fourth leading cause of death in Idaho in 2021, with a total of 1,163 deaths.

Unintentional injury can result in permanent disability and cause serious financial impacts to people and their families. These injuries can be prevented by understanding the risks for injury and adopting proven intervention strategies. Accidental falls, motor vehicle accidents, and accidental poisoning from drugs and other harmful substances were selected as Idaho’s top injury priorities.

The Division of Public Health is working with several partners, including local public health districts, Idaho Department of Transportation, Idaho Office on Drug Policy, the Division of Behavioral Health, and the division’s Drug Overdose Prevention Program to study and address these issues.

More details about each of these Public Health priorities is available in the Get Healthy Idaho: Building Healthy and Resilient Communities (GHI).

Traci Berreth, PhD, MPH, is a deputy administrator in the Division of Public Health. She leads the division’s cross-cutting efforts around performance, policy, and strategy. Traci has worked in the division for 23 years.

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

I was honored last Saturday, Sept. 9, to join some of Idaho’s kinship families and DHW staff in Boise to celebrate Idaho Kinship  Day, which recognizes families in which relatives or adults with significant relationships with a child takes on the responsibility of parenting when parents are unable to.

The Kinship Day events DHW hosted in Boise, Pocatello, and Coeur d’Alene were hosted in outdoor parks and included story walks, each featuring artwork and expressions submitted as part of My Family. My Story., an art and expression series DHW has sponsored annually since 2011.

The intent of My Family. My Story. is to help children, youth, and kinship caregivers express and feel connected to others in kinship care, and to celebrate and honor the contributions of kinship caregivers.  It is also an opportunity to celebrate our partners who walk alongside kinship families in their journey.

Walking among the art and expressions in Boise was a moving experience. Through drawings, photography, poetry, and essays, kinship caregivers, children, and partners who submitted entries to My Family. My Story. helped illustrate the important contributions kinship care makes for Idahoans.

One kinship grandparent described how proud of and amazed they are by their grandson, and even though they hadn’t pictured their lives raising him they wouldn’t want it any other way. They talked about how much hope and excitement they have for his future. 

One young person in kinship care described her earlier years of turmoil and homelessness, and how when she went to live with her aunt and uncle it was the best day of her life.

Some additional examples from this and previous years include:

• Children expressing feelings of safety and security
• Children expressing love for their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other family members
• Children describing the feeling of broken dreams followed by restored hope
• A grandmother expressing her journey as a kinship caregiver by creating a photo quilt

In addition to the My Family. My Story. story walks, the Kinship Day events also included presentations from DHW staff, a reading of a Kinship Day proclamation signed by Idaho Gov. Brad Little, celebrations of kinship champions, and resources and information from DHW and community partners.

Though there are many kinship caregivers in Idaho, the majority aren’t aware of assistance that’s available to them. There is a list of resources available on the Idaho 2-1-1 Careline: Kinship and Caregiving. Resources include financial, legal, kinship navigation, support, respite and educational information. If you are a kinship caregiver, please take a look, and if you know a kinship caregiver, please pass along this information about the resources available to help them in their labor of love.

For more information on resources and supports available to kinship caregivers and children, visit the DHW website at https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/kinship-and-caregiving.

I’d like to offer a special thanks to Idaho’s kinship families for making a difference in Idaho, and to DHW staff for helping to recognize the efforts of Idaho’s kinship families.

I’d also like to recognize our community partners who attended and provided information to families, including: Area Agency on Aging, Boise Community Schools, Boise Urban Garden School (BUGZ), Casey Family Programs, Family Caregiver Navigator Project, Idaho Relatives As Parents (IRAP), Friends of Children and Families, Inc., Head Start & Early Head Start, Morrison Knudsen Nature Center, Idaho Botanical Gardens, and The Wardrobe.

I hope you have a safe and healthy 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.