Navigating the complexities of the health care system can be a challenge, but organizations throughout Idaho are turning to staff called Community Health Workers to add value to their organizations and the communities they serve.

Community Health Workers are frontline public health workers with the goal of connecting people with their health care systems. They promote trust and build relationships in their communities to expand access to care.

The Division of Public Health at DHW recently published two new videos to help illustrate the value Community Health Workers add to the organizations that employ them and the communities they serve, and to encourage more organizations to consider implementing Community Health Worker programs.

Titled “The Value of Community Health Workers,” the videos showcase the vital contributions these workers make in their organizations and communities.

“The doctor can sit there and talk to you for 15 minutes, but I’ve got a Community Health Worker who can go out and talk to you for an hour,” Robin Mangan from Lost River Medical Center points out in one of the videos. (View the videos: Video A, Video B.)

A growing body of research shows that a Community Health Worker program can:

• Help people with or at risk for chronic health conditions
• Improve health outcomes and access
• Promote better patient experience with a relationship-building approach
• Decrease overall costs through a reduction in emergency department visits, hospital admissions, and missed healthcare appointments

Visit DHW’s Community Health Worker employer webpage to find Idaho-specific reports on Community Health Workers, national resources to help start a Community Health Worker program in your organization, and information about Community Health Worker training in Idaho.

Jackie Amende Lewis is a Health Program Specialist with the Chronic Disease Section in the Division of Public Health.

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

Late last week the Department of Health and Welfare completed its reevaluation of Idaho Medicaid participants whose benefits were protected under federal law during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In all, DHW staff processed 153,196 renewals, and 31,900 were determined eligible, and 121,296 were ineligible.

During the pandemic, federal law required states to maintain Medicaid coverage for participants unless they died, moved out of state, or asked to be removed. The federal requirement expired March 31, 2023, and DHW started sending notices to the Medicaid protection population for eligibility re-evaluation in February.

This has been a large and important undertaking that DHW has taken very seriously. We committed more than 300 eligibility staff to the effort and an additional 42 staff from our call center, and our operation design and policy teams provided amazing support. 

We made attempts to reach every Idahoan on Medicaid by mailing multiple renewal notices, sending text messages, and developing an online portal. We reached out via social media campaigns, collaborated with community stakeholders, made media appearances, and wrote extensively about the process on our website.

I also want to make sure Idahoans understand that people who were determined ineligible aren’t being cut off from healthcare coverage. Of those who were determined ineligible, 30% obtained coverage through the state’s health insurance marketplace at Your Health Idaho.

Moreover, Medicaid is always available to people who need it and who qualify for the program. Unlike private insurance that has specific open enrollment periods with limited exceptions, any person, including those who failed to complete a renewal, can apply for Medicaid coverage at any time.

Even if a person loses eligibility because they haven’t been able to respond in a timely way or only learn they’ve lost eligibility when they visit the doctor, Medicaid always remains available. Idaho’s program also includes an eligibility reconsideration period and will retroactively restore people who qualify as they reapply within 90 days.

Idaho was one of the most prepared and first states to begin the unwinding effort and has one of the most efficient timelines for completing reevaluations in the nation. This efficiency resulted because, unlike many states, Idaho never stopped completing Medicaid renewals during the COVID-19 public health emergency. That gave Idaho the ability to better support unwinding activities.

Finally, as we transition back to routine processing of Medicaid redeterminations, I want to acknowledge the huge amount of effort this required from our staff. The task of processing more than 150,000 renewals was in addition to their day-to-day workloads, and I’m humbled by their dedication to the people of Idaho to do this work efficiently and accurately.

For more details about Medicaid Protection in Idaho: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/medicaidprotection

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 Idaho Violent Death Reporting System staff are pleased to announce that an updated and expanded version of the IdVDRS Data Dashboard is now published on the Get Healthy Idaho website. This dashboard contains updates to the look and feel, expanded mortality rate data, and two new tabs of circumstantial data relating to suicides and homicides.

Violent deaths are those that result from the use of force or power against oneself or another person. The definition includes homicides, suicides, deaths from legal intervention, deaths of undetermined intent, and deaths resulting from the accidental discharge of a firearm.

All of these data are compiled each year and published to the Idaho Violent Death Reporting System dashboard, which was updated with 2022 data on Friday, Sept. 1.

The Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics within the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare was funded in 2018 by the CDC to establish the Idaho Violent Death Reporting System (IdVDRS), which collects data from three primary sources: death certificates, coroner’s reports, and law enforcement reports.

By combining information on a violent death from these three sources, the national reporting system builds a comprehensive picture of the circumstances in a victim’s life that have led to, or contributed to, their violent death.

The IdVDRS collects data on all violent deaths that occur each year in Idaho. By collecting comprehensive data about violent deaths, IdVDRS partners can create targeted, evidence-based prevention strategies to help reduce the burden of violent deaths in Idaho.

Following are some details about violent deaths among Idaho residents from 2014 to 2022:

• Most violent deaths in Idaho happen among people 25 to 54 years old, with the highest concentration in the 35 to 44 years-old age bracket. The majority of Idaho’s violent deaths happened in Idaho’s more populated counties including Ada (955), Canyon (465), Kootenai (378), Bannock (309), Bonneville (279), and Twin Falls (241).
• For homicides recorded in the database, 56.8% involved an argument that preceded death, and 27.3% involved intimate partner violence.
• The majority of violent death victims (77.3%) were men.
• For suicides in the database, 68.9% involved a crisis that preceded death, 24.9% involved people diagnosed with depression, and 58.2% involved alcohol.
• The two leading causes of violent death in Idaho from 2014 to 2022 were firearm and suffocation/hanging, followed by drug poisoning.
• While incomplete, preliminary 2023 data show violent deaths trending lower than the previous three years.

The data presented on the IdVDRS dashboard are for Idaho residents. The exception is the up-to-date suicide and violent death tab, which includes deaths occurring in Idaho, regardless of resident status.

The IdVDRS is a part of the National Violent Death Reporting System, which since 2002 has provided a comprehensive, state-based public health surveillance system overseen by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

• View the updated Idaho Violent Death Reporting System dashboard here.

Emily LaFrance is principal research analyst and program manager for the Idaho Violent Death Reporting System in the Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics. She holds a PhD in Experimental Psychology from Washington State University.

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 and Welfare (DHW) uses our Strategic Plan as a roadmap to define and share who we are as an agency, what our goals are, and how we plan to get there.

Over the past year, we have worked to follow our roadmap toward our mission of strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Our new Strategic Plan cycle began in July and goes through June 30, 2024.

Each week, the senior leadership team discusses real-time updates about progress in our strategic work. Today I want to highlight some of the progress and key achievements we’ve made.

Strategic Goal 1: Become an employer of choice for current and future DHW employees 

An engaged and skilled workforce is at the heart of the department’s work to serve Idahoans, so we want to make sure our team is supported and feels accomplished by the work they do.

Enhancing the work environment for staff, boosting employee retention rates, and recruiting new staff to increase accessibility and deliver uninterrupted services to Idahoans will make DHW an even better place to work.

The first Strategic Objective for our new Goal 1 is to use engagement surveys and employee feedback to improve the employee experience. To help us achieve this objective we’ve established Task 1.1.1: Create and implement an Employee Engagement Advisory Council (EEAC) by June 30, 2024.

We’re excited to report that we received 118 nominations, representing 103 unique individuals to serve on the council. This is a terrific response and shows how invested our employees are to help improve employee engagement across the department.

The committee will eventually seat between 16 and 20, so in the coming weeks nominations will be vetted and selections made with an eye toward finalizing the committee by Sept. 29.

As we reflect on the progress we hope to make through the work this new employee committee will undertake, I’m filled with gratitude and admiration for the hard work put in every day by DHW staff, and by the countless partners who continue to help us along the way.

As we prepare to move our focus toward next steps, I’m confident we’ll continue to innovate and collaborate in our work together to serve Idahoans.

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. 

Imagine a world where everyone has an opportunity to live their healthiest life, whether they live in a rural, frontier, or urban area, and regardless of their income. This is the essence of health equity in Idaho – making sure that every person has a fair and impartial chance to be as healthy as possible.

For the Idaho Division of Public Health, health equity is not just a policy, it's a vision that drives us to start and nurture prevention-focused solutions that build and support Idaho communities where everyone has a fair chance at their best health and well-being. We’re focused on giving these communities a hand up.

What is health equity?

Health equity is all about making sure that every person has the same opportunities to achieve an optimal quality of life that accounts for any health issues including mental health. Imagine if everyone had an equal chance at living their healthiest, happiest lives. That's the goal of health equity and is the foundation Idaho Public Health is built on!

Why does it matter?

Different people face different challenges (many outside of their control) when it comes to living a healthy life. A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work for all communities in Idaho. The issues that make the healthy choice the hard choice are specific.

Where you are born and live, work, and play makes a difference in how healthy you are in Idaho. Your ZIP code is a better predictor of health and longevity than your genetics.

Racial and ethnic diversity also plays a role and has increased in Idaho over the past decade. Idaho is home to five federally recognized tribes, as well as an increasing Hispanic or Latino population and people from other states, countries, and cultures.

Many Idahoans live in areas with limited healthcare facilities, making it harder for them to see a doctor or a dentist. Some Idahoans don’t have much money to spend on nutritious food, exercise equipment or gym memberships, or have the resources or time to participate in sports clubs and after-school activities. Many live in communities with no sidewalks, bike lanes, or other types of physical structures or spaces like parks that make it safe to take a walk, go for a run, or ride a bike. And even more live in communities without public transportation, which makes it harder to go to the grocery store or to medical appointments.

Factors like income, education, housing, access to healthy food, transportation, and quality healthcare are interconnected and play an important role in how healthy we are. This concept is especially relevant here because Idaho is one of the most rural states in the nation. More people live in rural or frontier areas than in cities in our state, making some of these issues even more challenging.

Mapping life expectancy by these different areas shows staggering differences of up to 20 years between the areas with the highest and lowest life expectancies across the state. This shows that your neighborhood can be a powerful factor in health and opportunity.

Idahoans are wonderfully diverse and come from different backgrounds and experiences and have different challenges, but we all deserve the opportunity to live our healthiest lives.

By considering socio-economic, demographic, geographic, and other related issues that make it hard to make a healthy choice, Idaho is working toward creating a healthier future. The goal is to make the HEALTHY choice the EASY choice for everyone.

Elke Shaw-Tulloch is the administrator of the Division of Public Health, and the state’s public health officer. She has worked for the department since 1996 and was promoted to division administrator in 2012.

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

In 2022, 381 Idaho residents died from an overdose.

On Thursday, Aug. 31 at 10 a.m. I’ll join the Department of Health and Welfare’s Drug Overdose Prevention Program at the Idaho Capitol to help honor those we’ve lost, and to raise awareness for those we can still help. Please join us for this special International Overdose Awareness Day event.

International Overdose Awareness Day

• Thursday, Aug. 31
• 10 a.m. MT
• Idaho State Capitol, second floor rotunda

Overdose Awareness Day is the world’s largest campaign to remember lives lost to fatal overdose. Communities across the globe will gather to remember those who have died from an overdose, discuss opportunities to reduce drug-related harms, save lives, and promote healthier communities.

This year’s event at the Capitol will highlight stories of loss, hope, and compassion. The event will feature first-hand accounts and information about how the overdose epidemic is affecting communities in Idaho from people who are in recovery and who support people in recovery.

There will be 381 picture frames with silhouettes of individuals placed on the steps toward the entrance of the Capitol to represent the Idaho residents who died from an overdose in 2022.

Overdose deaths are increasing in Idaho

Overdose deaths continue to increase in Idaho. From 2020 to 2022, there was a 33% increase in all drug overdose deaths.

Idaho has also seen an increase in fentanyl-related overdoses and overdose deaths. Also from 2020 to 2022, the rate of fentanyl-related overdose deaths tripled in Idaho—with approximately 49% overdose deaths involving fentanyl.

An overdose can happen to anyone

An overdose occurs when a drug is stronger than a person’s tolerance. Tolerance is how the body responds to varying levels of drugs.

Idaho has seen an increase in fentanyl-related overdoses. With higher amounts of illegal fentanyl within street drugs, anyone who uses street drugs is at risk for fatal and non-fatal overdose.

Due to fentanyl’s strength, small amounts of the drug can result in non-fatal overdose or overdose death. This leaves people with low tolerance levels, such as recreational drug users, at risk for overdose.

In Idaho, fentanyl is often found in counterfeit pills made to look like prescription pills such as oxycodone or Xanax. Pills containing fentanyl are often purchased illegally through social media and e-commerce websites. Pills purchased outside of licensed pharmacies may contain deadly amounts of fentanyl. 

Overdose death is preventable: what you can do to protect yourself and loved ones

Talk to your loved ones about their substance use. If loved ones are using drugs that are not prescribed by a doctor, guide them toward resources to help reduce harm.

Get naloxone. One of the key ways to protect yourself and loved ones is to obtain doses of naloxone. Naloxone is the medication that reverses an opioid overdose. It is safe and effective to  use during a suspected overdose. Naloxone is available in two forms—nasal spray and injectable. Naloxone nasal spray is known by the brand names, Narcan and Kloxxado. Narcan, Kloxxado, and injectable naloxone are available through pharmacies and community organizations.

Resources:

• Learn more about International Overdose Awareness Day: https://www.overdoseday.com/
• Visit the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s Overdose Response webpage to learn how to prevent overdose deaths: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/behavioral-health/overdose-response
• Find naloxone near you: www.FindIdahoTesting.org

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. 

A recently released federal report recognized the Department of Health and Welfare’s work to help low-income families buy food as the timeliest food assistance program in the nation.

Idaho’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was recognized Aug. 11 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which gave Idaho a score of 100% for federal fiscal year 2022. The next closest state was Wisconsin at 97.74%.

SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps, helps low-income families buy the food they need to stay healthy. Nearly 125,000 Idahoans received benefits in April 2023. The federal program is run in Idaho by the Division of Welfare/Self Reliance, which is part of DHW.

The national benchmark for processing SNAP applications is 30 days. In Idaho, families typically receive benefits within four days of applying.

To evaluate programs among the 50 states, District of Columbia, and U.S. territories, the national Food and Nutrition Service evaluated application processing timelines as part of the quality control review process.

A case was considered to have been processed in a timely manner if the household had an opportunity to participate within seven days of the application date for expedited service, and within 30 days of the application date for regular service.

This incredible recognition comes down to the excellent work performed by dedicated DHW employees in the Division of Welfare/Self Reliance to process SNAP applications quickly and efficiently for Idaho families.

If you’re in need of food assistance, please visit https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/food-assistance/apply-snap or call 877-456-1233.

Kristin Matthews is the Policy Bureau Chief with the Department of Health and Welfare and works with the SNAP program.

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

You’ve probably heard it said that prevention is the best medicine, and that’s the core purpose behind a DHW program that some of you may not know about. It’s called the Resource and Service Navigation Program, and its goal is to help divert families from needing to rely on longer-term department programs, including Child Welfare and benefits.

I had the great fortune during my summer job shadowing this year to sit with several of DHW’s navigators, who taught me more about their day-to-day work and displayed the kind of care, support, and empathy that makes a difference for Idahoans.

The 28-person Navigation Program team, including 22 navigators, covers every region in Idaho. It serves individuals, children, and families who may benefit from one-on-one assistance to develop a service plan to meet their goals for stability, self-sufficiency, health and safety. The program is entirely voluntary for participants.

Here are some more specifics about what the Navigation Program does:

• It identifies and develops resources and support services.
• It partners with families to develop customized service plans that focus on family strengths and community supports.
• It provides support to families in need so that children can be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives.
• It works collaboratively with other programs and agencies.
• It supports needs around obtaining and maintaining employment.

The Navigation team has internal funding that can be used when all criteria is met and can assist families with meeting needs that include rent, deposits, utilities, car repairs, training and uniforms for jobs, licensure fees, and supports for kinship caregivers and the children for whom they’re caring.

The majority of the Navigation team’s referrals come through the 2-1-1 Idaho CareLine. The Navigation Program also has referral forms that are used by department programs and community partners that are sent directly to Navigation. Individuals and families can refer themselves by calling 2-1-1.

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. 

I had the great honor yesterday to attend the ribbon cutting and grand opening of a beautiful new facility that’s going to make a difference for thousands of Idaho children in the years to come.

The Residential Center for Healing & Resilience, built and operated by the Idaho Youth Ranch, is located north of Caldwell and will serve children with complex mental health needs. The facility will provide children with inpatient psychiatric services that haven’t been offered in Idaho for a long time.

More than 100 community partners attended the grand opening under clear-blue skies and cheered as a ceremonial ribbon was cut, then toured the facility’s 10-building campus.

Located on 258 acres, it includes a welcome center, therapy and wellness facility, charter school, recreation center, kitchen and cafeteria, four residential lodges, and an equine center. The center will admit eight additional young people each month until it reaches its capacity of 64 in eight months.

“To see this remarkable dream come true—today is a day to say hooray,” said Idaho Youth Ranch Board Chair Sheila Hennessey.

The Residential Center for Healing & Resilience is one of three psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTFs) that Idaho helped fund through $15 million made available by Gov. Brad Little and the Idaho Legislature in 2022.

The Department of Health and Welfare awarded grants to three partners that will serve different regions in Idaho. They are the Idaho Youth Ranch in southwest Idaho, Northwest Children’s Home in north Idaho, and Jackson House in east Idaho.

This level of mental healthcare hasn’t existed in Idaho, so these three facilities are filling a critical gap in our continuum of care for children and youth. Previously, about 100 kids were getting treatment in other states because we didn’t have these services available in Idaho. Now many of these kids will be able to stay in Idaho and close to their families.

I’m thrilled the state could help make this project happen, and I’m confident these three partnerships will further our ability to serve children with complex mental health diagnoses and help reduce the number of children who need to leave the state for care we didn’t offer.

Being up to date on recommended immunizations is the most effective way to protect yourself and your family against serious or deadly vaccine-preventable diseases. August marks the annual observance of National Immunization Month, a great reminder to review and update vaccinations for everyone in your family.

What vaccines do people need?

Recommended vaccines can vary based on vaccine history, age, and current health status. Consult your healthcare provider or visit www.immunizeidaho.com to see recommendations. High immunization rates within communities play a vital role in protecting the health of vulnerable populations, including infants, young children, older adults, and people with chronic health conditions. Additionally, widespread immunization helps prevent or slow the spread of communicable diseases.

What immunizations do adults need?

There are specific vaccines that adults should prioritize each year. Adults should receive the flu vaccine each year, along with staying current on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.

The Tdap vaccine offers protection against pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, and diphtheria. Pregnant women should receive the Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy to safeguard their babies until they are old enough for their own vaccinations.

A Td booster is recommended every 10 years to renew protection against tetanus and diphtheria.

Adults 50 and over are encouraged to get the shingles vaccine. Other adult vaccines, such as the pneumococcal vaccine, are recommended based on age, occupation, previous vaccinations, and health status.

What are vaccine recommendations for students?

There are specific requirements for children attending Idaho schools to be vaccinated against diseases that spread easily in group settings.

Contagious diseases like whooping cough and measles can easily spread in schools and at home, potentially affecting unvaccinated infants. Whooping cough poses a significant risk to babies.

For more information on school immunization requirements, visit www.immunizeidahoschools.com.

College students should also prioritize staying up to date on their immunizations. These should include the seasonal influenza, MMR, Tdap, meningococcal disease, and HPV vaccinations. The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, while the HPV vaccine helps prevent certain types of cancer and is recommended to be given to boys and girls at 11-12 years of age.  Young adults who weren’t vaccinated as pre-teens can still receive the HPV vaccine until they reach 26 years of age.

The meningococcal vaccine is particularly important for college students, especially those living in residence halls or participating in sports programs, as it safeguards against bacterial meningitis.

Additionally, COVID-19 vaccines are available for everyone aged 6 months and older.

How to get your immunization record?

To access your immunization records in Idaho, download the Docket® app[LSC41]  , which allows you to access your vaccination history recorded in Idaho’s Immunization Reminder Information System (IRIS). The Docket® app is voluntary and provides a convenient way to keep track of your immunization status. The app is available for both iOS and Android operating systems.

Alternatively, you can request your records from your healthcare provider or submit a request to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare through this link: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/news-notices/public-records-requests.

During National Immunization Awareness Month, take proactive steps to ensure you and your family are protected against vaccine-preventable diseases. Prioritize vaccination and stay informed about the latest immunization recommendations for all age groups. A collective effort towards high immunization rates can lead to healthier communities and a safer future for everyone.

Resources:

• Idaho Immunization Program: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/children-families/about-immunizations
• Find your Idaho Public Health District for back-to-school immunizations: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/health-wellness/community-health/public-health-districts
• Vaccine and immunization resources from the Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/index.html

Sarah Leeds is manager of the Idaho Immunization Program in the Division of Public Health. She has served in this role since June 2019, focusing on increasing vaccine coverage among Idahoans.

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