The Department of Health and Welfare is committed to optimizing health and preventing crises. We believe that all Idahoans should be as healthy and self-sufficient as possible. We believe it so much that it’s the third goal in our Strategic Plan.

There are several ways to support being as healthy and self-sufficient as possible, but we’ve settled on four objectives.

Reduce Idaho’s suicide rate.

• The Suicide Prevention Program is working in local communities to support healthcare providers who are using Zero Suicide Institute trainings and programs. The goal is to have four pilot sites in Idaho by June 2024.
• The Suicide Prevention Program is also working to improve state, tribal, and local capacity to use data to identify and address equity and risk disparities in high-suicide-risk populations.
• The department also is supporting and increasing the use of 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and behavioral health crisis centers in Idaho through partnerships and collaboration between separate programs in the department, the Idaho Suicide Prevention Action Collective, and the Idaho Crisis & Suicide Prevention Hotline.

Address health disparities in Idaho communities with strategies that focus on conditions where people live, work, and play.

• The department has invested in two high-risk communities so far -- Elmore County - Western Idaho Community Health Collaborative (WICHC) and Bannock County - Southeastern Idaho United Way. Both communities provided an update on their activities recently. The Bannock County United Way of Southeastern Idaho’s team shared details about the new Ride United transportation service, which provided 500 miles of rides to Pocatello Free clinic and recovery center clients in February. The Elmore County team reported the Elmore County Commission approved a new Community Health EMS (CHEMS) position, and they will soon be ready to hire and implement the program. Extensive groundwork to build capacity and develop a CHEMS program suited for Elmore County has been ongoing for the past year and a half.
• The department is collaborating across divisions to determine how Medicaid data and possibly other division’s data may be geo-coded to look at the impact of social determinants of health on the clients we serve. Ideally, these results would help drive prevention and intervention work in a more effective way. The group also discussed potential school-based data or other data our partners have that would be useful.
• The Idaho Legislature approved a rule change to in the 2023 session to increase the Federal Poverty Limit to 175 percent, which will allow more working families to have childcare and maintain their employment.
• Data analysts in the Division of Public Health have developed the GHI Index to provide an in-depth analysis of factors impacting community health. Indicators include measures of social vulnerability and social determinants of health at the census tract level. The GHI Index will be publicly available in May.

Prevent or reduce the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) across the lifespan of Idahoans by creating a coordinated DHW program delivery framework.

• The department has established a cross-division ACEs team and is in the process of identifying cross-divisional and collaborative efforts with internal and external partners.
• The department has created a staff training program called How Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Impact Adult Health and Functioning. This program focuses on social-emotional learning to build awareness of how ACEs affect the health and daily lives of adults.
• The department is in the initial stages of identifying opportunities to increase the number of trauma-informed providers in the state.

Reduce the department’s employee voluntary turnover rate.

• The department is in the process of reviewing and updating its process for exit interviews for use in the development of a stay interview program. Staff have started using a new format for exit interviews for employees who have accepted new jobs outside the department.
• The department is working with Idaho Division of Human Resources to start a leadership program for DHW’s current and future leaders.

You can read more about each of these objectives in our Strategic Plan.

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 top three leading causes of death in Idaho in 2021 were diseases of the heart, cancer, and COVID-19. Almost 9,000 Idahoans died of those causes out of 18,334 total deaths. The next three categories--accidents, respiratory diseases, and Alzheimer's disease--resulted in fewer than 3,000 deaths.

At the same time, there were 14,030 marriages, 6,392 divorces, and 22,427 babies born to Idahoans in 2021. More than 6,000 babies were born to unmarried parents.

The total population in the state in 2021 was 1,900,923 people.

We know all of this and more because the Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics at the Department of Health and Welfare registers and documents records of vital events that happen to all Idahoans, including births, deaths, marriages, and divorce.

The bureau also issues copies of vital records, such as birth certificates, to those who are legally allowed to have them.

The bureau also provides public health data and analysis of health trends that can be used to develop and shape future health interventions and programs.

The bureau has recently published two items:

• The annual update to the violent death reporting dashboard.
• The 2021 Vital Statistics Summary for Idaho fact sheet.

The violent death reporting dashboard collects information about deaths of Idaho residents that are a result of force or power against self or others. It includes homicides, suicides, deaths from legal intervention, deaths of undetermined intent, and deaths from the accidental discharge of a firearm.

The fact sheet is a summary of Idaho’s population, births, deaths, marriages, and divorces for residents for 2021, the year for which we have the most current and complete data.

See more fact sheets and annual reports at: https://publicdocuments.dhw.idaho.gov/WebLink/browse.aspx?id=11588&dbid=0&repo=PUBLIC-DOCUMENTS

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 child abused is one child too many.

All children deserve to feel safe in their homes, with their families.

Too often, that is not the case. The Department of Health and Welfare receives nearly 23,000 reports of child abuse, neglect, and abandonment each year in Idaho.

This month, as we recognize National Child Abuse Prevention Month, I urge you to learn what to do if you think a child may be in an abusive situation.

To report suspected child abuse, neglect, or abandonment call:

• Statewide: 855-552-KIDS (5437)
• Treasure Valley: 208-334-KIDS (5437)
• 2-1-1 or local law enforcement

Everyone in Idaho is required to report child abuse, neglect, or abandonment when they know about it. This includes doctors, hospital residents, therapists, interns, nurses, coroners, teachers, daycare providers, social workers, relatives, and friends. 

If you aren’t sure if a child is unsafe, it’s important to make the call anyway. It might feel scary and difficult to make the call, but a child’s life could depend on it. When a report is made, a social worker will determine if the report meets the criteria to do a safety assessment. All reports are documented in the department’s database and will be reviewed if more calls are received about the same family. 

Callers can choose to provide their name and phone number so they can be contacted to confirm the report or provide more information, or they can remain anonymous. Department staff do not disclose caller information to the family. If the family requests their records, information about the caller is redacted.

Children do best when they can remain safely with their families, and the department works hard to make that happen if possible. Our Child Welfare staff are dedicated to protecting Idaho children, keeping Idaho families together, and putting others first. The work they do is difficult and sometimes unappreciated. I am so grateful for their service.

But they can’t protect children without your help.

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. 

With about 80 million dogs living in U.S. households, there are unfortunately about 4.5 million dog bites each year, with many dog bite victims being children.

In Idaho, dog bites are increasing, and visits to Idaho emergency departments by children for dog bite injuries are trending up.

Hospitalizations for dog bite injuries are increasing as well, particularly for boys 5 to 17 years old. Most years, there are about 20 people hospitalized for dog bite injuries in Idaho. In 2020, that number more than doubled to 46. In 2021, the most current data available, there were 34 dog bite-related hospitalizations, which was a decrease from 2020 but still increased compared to the years prior.

Dog bite injuries can be severe and may cause mental, emotional, and physical trauma. From 2018 through 2021, dog bites caused more than 165 fractures, 40 partial or complete amputations, and 10 detached ear lobes or lips in Idaho.

Dog bites also carry a risk of bacterial infection, which can be reduced with prompt medical care. A dog infected with rabies can transmit the virus before showing signs of rabies, which is fatal without prompt medical care after a bite.

Although dog bites can come from any dog at any time, most bites requiring hospitalization occur in summer months in Idaho.

Steps you can take to protect yourself and your family:

• Remember that any dog can bite. At least one in five dog bites treated in Idaho are from a family dog. Any dog can bite, especially if it’s scared, injured, or sick. Read a dog's body language and give it space if it seems stressed. Leave a dog alone when it’s eating or sleeping. Make sure your dog is vaccinated against rabies.
• Supervise babies and toddlers around dogs – even if it is the family dog. In Idaho, three out of 10 dog bite-related hospitalizations were for children 4 years and younger. Some of these bites occurred when the child and dog were alone together, even for just a minute. A bite can happen quickly, so supervise young children around all dogs, all the time. 
• Prevent dog fights to prevent dog bites. Breaking up dog fights leads to more than 100 emergency department visits a year in Idaho. Dog trainers say there is no safe way to break up a dog fight. Prevent dog fights by reading the dogs' body language and, if possible, separate dogs before they start fighting.
• Approach unfamiliar dogs with caution. Every year in Idaho, more than 90 emergency department visits are to treat patients with bites from stray or unfamiliar dogs. Approach any unfamiliar dogs with caution and contact Animal Control for assistance if needed. If you are bitten by a dog, you can also contact Animal Control for help getting the dog's vaccination history.
• Seek medical care early and take care of wounds. Delayed medical care leads to about 65 infections each year in Idaho. Puncture wounds from a bite may be deeper than they appear, and prompt and thorough wound care is needed to avoid infection. Dogs vaccinated against rabies can still carry other germs. Your healthcare provider may prescribe antibiotics, rabies post-exposure treatment, and a tetanus vaccine. The recommended treatment will depend on the injury and the vaccination history of you and the dog.

Learn more:

• Tips for children to prevent dog bites from World Health Organization: https://apps.who.int/rabies/resources/educational_material_children/en/index.html
• How to read dog body language from American Veterinary Medical Association: https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/how-read-dog-body-language
• Rabies information from Idaho Department of Health and Welfare: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/health-wellness/diseases-conditions/rabies

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

Can you imagine a place that offers services to stabilize people in a behavioral health crisis as well as treatment for those with serious and complex mental illnesses and substance use disorders? A place that serves everyone -- regardless of age, where they live, or their ability to pay?

I can. And I’m grateful that Idaho Gov. Brad Little and the members of the Idaho Legislature also could. Gov. Little recommended and the Idaho Legislature has appropriated $12 million over two years for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) to improve access and the quality of behavioral health services in Idaho. We’re grateful for the state’s support.

CCBHCs create access to an array of services, stabilize people in crisis, and provide necessary treatment for those with complex mental illnesses and substance use disorders. They also ensure an approach to healthcare that emphasizes recovery, wellness, trauma-informed care, and the integration of physical and behavioral health. 

The goals of the CCBHCs are to increase access to community-based mental health and substance use disorder services (especially in communities and areas that need more access), support the integration of behavioral health with physical health care, and increase use of evidence-based practices.

In a nutshell, they are health clinics that provide whole-person care under one roof. If some of the needed services are not directly provided by the health clinic, they have formal relationships in place that easily link a patient to the needed service.

Idaho has four clinics that became Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) /federal grant recipients in the fall of 2022. They are Heritage Health (based in the Coeur d’Alene area), Community Health Association of Spokane (expanding into the Lewiston area), Terry Reilly Health Services (clinic will be located in Caldwell), and Family Health Services (based in Twin Falls).

The grants are for four years and up to $1 million each year for each recipient. Based on the recommendation of the Idaho Behavioral Health Council, Idaho will initially use state funding to provide additional support for these four new clinics, with plans to add more clinics next year.

CCBHCs must provide nine core services, either directly or through formal partnerships.

These nine services must be provided by the clinic, or through formal relationships the clinics build with providers of those other services, so clients can access those services and doesn’t fall through the cracks.

Clinics have to develop plans on how those nine services will be provided.

The CCBHC model was developed by SAMHSA and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). It was tested during a federal demonstration project that started in 2017. It began in eight states with 66 clinics. CCBHCs are currently in 42 states and territories, with 430 clinics total. The U.S. Congress has invested $1.97 billion to date on CCBHCs. 

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 total of 153,837 Idaho residents are in Medicaid Protection, which means they couldn’t be removed from Medicaid during the pandemic unless they died, moved out of state, or asked to be removed based on federal law. Since Congress removed that protection, DHW has been working to determine which participants are still eligible.

DHW started sending notices in February for the first group and in March for the second group, for a total of 54,418 people (35% of the total people in protection) and are preparing to send out the third group in the first week of April.

So far, the program has processed more than 32,898 individuals in Medicaid Protection since the beginning of February. This count, current as of March 27, includes those in groups one and two, as well as people who have contacted the department to complete their renewal because they had a change in circumstances or who had another benefit (such as food stamps) that prompted the program to also complete their Medicaid renewal.

Of the total 32,898 people processed, 13,647 have been found to still be eligible (5,240 of those are in Medicaid Expansion) and 19,251 have been found to no longer be eligible (8,585 of those are in Medicaid expansion). Those who are no longer eligible will lose coverage starting April 1. Those determined to have too much income to qualify for Medicaid are being referred to the state-based health insurance marketplace, Your Health Idaho, where they can discuss their options and potentially buy health insurance.

The department will continue to send renewals each month through July for those in Medicaid Protection.

Starting April 10, the department will track the number of renewal notices sent, the number of people who remain eligible, and the number who are no longer eligible on our website at https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/medicaidprotection. The numbers will be updated weekly.

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. 

In his 2022 budget, Idaho Gov. Brad Little included $15 million to establish facilities called psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTFs). They provide children with inpatient psychiatric services that are not offered at Idaho’s existing facilities.

In December, the Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) awarded grants totaling $15 million to three partners that can serve different parts of Idaho. They are the Idaho Youth Ranch in southwest Idaho, Northwest Children’s Home in northern Idaho, and Jackson House in eastern Idaho. The new facilities will provide 80 or more beds for children who need this level of treatment.

What this means for Idahoans is that children and youth with complex mental health needs will receive care closer to their families. They’ll have someplace to go rather than being treated at a hospital emergency department or being sent to a treatment facility outside Idaho.

This level of mental healthcare doesn’t currently exist in Idaho, so these three new facilities will fill a critical gap in our system of care for children and youth. Previously, around 100 kids were getting treatment in other states because we didn’t have these service in Idaho.

The $15 million in earmarked funds were approved by the Idaho Legislature in 2022. DHW conducted a series of community stakeholder engagement sessions to clarify how best to meet the need.

We’re confident these partnerships will further Idaho’s ability to serve children with complex mental health diagnoses in Idaho. This will also reduce the need for children to leave the estate for care, and that will directly benefit Idaho families.

Ross Edmunds is administrator for the Division of Behavioral Health and has worked for DHW for 25 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. 

The Idaho State Behavioral Health Planning Council (BHPC) has shared State of Mind 2022, its annual report, with the Governor’s Office, the Idaho Legislature, and the Idaho Judiciary. The report evaluates the value of behavioral health services for adults and children provided by the state of Idaho.  

The BHPC was formed in 2014 with the passage of Senate Bill 1224 in the Idaho Legislature. It has 21 members from across Idaho, including two from the Department of Health and Welfare. Its mission is to promote advocacy, collaboration, education, and policy development to create a seamless behavioral health delivery system. The BHPC should not be confused with the Idaho Behavioral Health Council, which was formed by Gov. Brad Little and is tasked with developing a strategic plan for the behavioral health system in Idaho. 

The report contains valuable information about the complex work being done in Idaho to support people with behavioral health issues. It opens with updates from partners including the Division of Medicaid, Idaho Office of Drug Policy, Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections, Idaho Department of Correction, and the Division of Behavioral Health.  

Idaho’s seven regional behavioral health crisis centers contribute information on client populations, demographic data, staff training, and the impacts they have on their communities. The crisis centers are open 24/7 to people 18 and older who need assistance with behavioral health issues. These privately contracted crisis centers use state funds to help operate their facilities and are monitored by staff in the Division of Behavioral Health. 

The report also contains an update from DisAbility Rights Idaho (DRI) that focuses on protecting and serving Idahoans with disabilities, as well as input from each of Idaho’s seven regional behavioral health boards. 

According to the regional behavioral health boards, the 10 most critical gaps and needs in Idaho overall are: 

• Access to treatment providers 
• Stable housing 
• Child/adolescent mental healthcare 
• Substance use disorder treatment centers 
• Crisis intervention treatment for law enforcement 
• Suicide prevention 
• Peer support 
• Caregiver support 
• Anti-stigma education 
• Community crisis centers 

As we continue to promote recovery and help Idahoans get the behavioral health services they need when they need them, I encourage you to read the report for insights and opportunities for improvement for behavioral health in Idaho. 

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.  

Most poisoning emergencies are unexpected and happen quickly in our homes. A majority of non-fatal poisonings involve children younger than 6. For adults, poisoning is the number one cause of injury death in the United States. This week is National Poison Prevention Week, so it’s a good time to think about what you would do in a poisoning emergency.

Are young children most at risk for a poisoning accident?

Poisoning is one of the leading causes of unintentional injury deaths among all Idahoans, with children younger than 6 being most at risk. It is extremely important for those caring for small children to keep potentially poisonous items out of their reach. The Nebraska Regional Poison Center, which receives all of Idaho’s poison emergency calls, had more than 14,000 calls last year from Idaho residents. Almost half of those calls were from parents of children ages 6 and younger.

What are the most dangerous poisons for children?

The leading causes of poisoning in young children are things we commonly have in our homes and include household cleaning supplies; cosmetics and personal care products; aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen; vitamins and supplements; and toys and other foreign objects children can swallow. Many of the poison center’s calls from Idaho relate to children younger than 6 and household cleaning supplies, with 10,296 calls for liquid laundry detergents.

What are some things we can do to protect our children?

The first thing you should do is add the poison control number to your contact list in your cell phone or post it near your phone at home. That number is 1-800-222-1222. You can also order poison prevention materials with the number on them from the Idaho CareLine, which you can reach by dialing 2-1-1. The poison center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is staffed with health professionals who have had special training in poison management.

What else can be done in the home?

Store all of your medications, laundry detergent, and cleaning supplies in cabinets that children can’t open. Teach your children to take medicine only with permission and guidance from a parent or trusted adult. Laundry detergent pods MUST be kept out of sight and reach of children. Us the locks on laundry pod containers every time after removing a pod. Identify the plants in your house or yard – some may be dangerous if they are eaten. Remove them or move them to a place where curious children can’t get to them.

What should we do if we think we have a poisoning incident?

Call 911 immediately if a person has collapsed or stopped breathing. If the person is awake and alert, call the poison control number. When you call, try to have the person’s age and weight, the container of whatever it is the person ate or drank, how long ago they consumed it, and your location. Then stay on the phone and follow instructions.

Anything else?

Other household poisons are difficult to detect and include lead, radon, and carbon monoxide. There are lots of resources and fact sheets for those as well as poisoning information at DHW’s website at www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.

Other resources:

• DHW poison response page: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/health-wellness/emergency-planning/poison-response
• CDC Poisoning Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/safechild/poisoning/index.html
• Poison Control Poisonous and non-poisonous plants: https://www.poison.org/articles/plant

Brigitta Gruenberg is the Environmental Health Program 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. 

DHW is dedicated to making sure children who have experienced abuse or neglect have safe, permanent homes. We are also focused on improving the behavioral health system for Idaho’s young people and the crisis care system for adults with developmental disabilities.  

The second goal in our Strategic Plan captures this dedication and represents some of the most challenging yet rewarding work we do at the Department of Health and Welfare. 

We’ve established three areas of focus for this goal.  

Make sure children who have experienced abuse or neglect can get preventative services, preferably in their homes.  

Children and families do much better overall when they can receive services in their homes. There are several work streams at DHW to support this.  

• A workgroup is meeting monthly to enact a standardized preventative in-home case management structure in each region of the state.  
• The Division of Family and Community Services is working to provide or contract with at least three evidence-based services for in-home and foster care cases throughout the state. The 2023 Idaho Legislature approved rules that allow Family and Community Services to post reimbursement rates for these evidence-based services.   
• The division is also implementing a family risk assessment tool that identifies needs and services to be delivered through in-home prevention case management. Staff are being trained to use the new tool, and those who complete training and certification will soon begin using it for specific cases. 
• The division is working to shorten the time it takes to achieve permanency  for children in foster care as in-home and evidence-based interventions become available in Idaho.  
• The division has improved staff retention in important areas such as safety assessment, case management, licensing, and permanency. I’m very pleased to report that staffing is steady, and positions are filled.  

Develop and implement a behavioral healthcare system in Idaho that provides the services people need when they need them through the Youth Empowerment Services program and the Idaho Behavioral Health Council’s strategic action plan.  

• We’re currently distributing funding budgeted by Gov. Brad Little and the 2022 Idaho Legislature to establish psychiatric residential treatment facilities in three areas of the state, which will allow more children to receive needed services in Idaho, as well as certified community behavioral health clinics. Funds for Recovery Centers have also been approved by the Idaho Legislature and will be distributed soon.  
• The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline was launched last summer and was the first step to provide expanded access to emergency behavioral healthcare services. Work continues to expand emergency services available through the lifeline.  
• We’ve initiated work to develop a better service coordination system for Idahoans with developmental disabilities and mental illness.  

Implement three new crisis system components for adults with developmental disabilities so they can access a full continuum of crisis care that keeps them in their communities whenever possible.  

• The Division of Medicaid is working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on a strategy to reimburse for campus residential services and specialized teams to serve adults with developmental disabilities.  
• Medicaid is working to submit state plan amendments to CMS that would allow for new services to be covered under Medicaid for adults with developmental disabilities.  
• Family and Community Services has received initial approval for funding for a new program called START, which stands for Systemic, Therapeutic, Assessment, Resources, and Treatment. It will improve the quality and effectiveness of the division’s crisis prevention work with this group of people at the Southwest Idaho Treatment Center and in Idaho communities.  
• Family and Community Services is also evaluating new elements to determine whether they should be included in the new crisis system model.  

More details about all of this work can be found in our Strategic Plan, under Goal 2.  

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.