Idahoans who have survived cancer or work with cancer patients have a unique opportunity to help improve the care of future cancer patients in the state.

The Idaho Comprehensive Cancer Control Program in the Department of Health and Welfare is conducting a survey to identify gaps and needs within the state and to bring together partners to address identified needs. There are surveys for both cancer survivors and cancer healthcare providers.

According to Health Program Manager Becky Creighton, the program’s goal is to recruit participation from as many cancer survivors and providers as possible.

“People are living longer after a cancer diagnosis due to advances in early detection and treatment,” Creighton said. “That means the number of cancer survivors is expected to increase at a faster rate than the number of people getting cancer. We hope to assess the impact of cancer and cancer treatment on people’s physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being. The needs assessment will provide information for the department, so it can support Idahoans to live full, healthy, and active lives throughout their cancer journeys.”

Each year, approximately 10,000 Idahoans are diagnosed with cancer, and there are more than 3,000 cancer deaths. In terms of survivorship, there are at least 50,000 people living in Idaho who have had a cancer diagnosis in the past 10 years.

Nearly 60% of Idahoans with a cancer diagnosis will still be alive five years after their diagnosis. Although Idaho has made progress in cancer care, the state remains at or near the bottom of rankings for many cancer screenings, and high on some rankings such as those for skin cancer mortality.

“We encourage every Idahoan to join our call to action to reduce the cancer burden in our state, Creighton said. “This involves cooperative input and concerted action to reduce cancer risk, find cancers earlier, improve and increase access to quality cancer care, and improve the health and well-being of cancer survivors.”

• Cancer care providers: Those who work with cancer survivors include patient navigators, providers, nurses, nonprofit services and more. If you work with cancer survivors, please follow this link to take the survey.
• Cancer survivors: Patients who have received any type of cancer diagnosis in the last six years can take the survey by following this link.

The survey is open through March 31.

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

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are teaming up to host free educational sessions about the dangers of lead and how to reduce and prevent exposure.

There’s no known safe level of lead in the human body, and children are especially at risk because their bodies absorb more lead than adults. Educating yourself about lead is important because lead can be found in homes, air, soil, and water—all places where children live, learn, and play.

Lead exposure can cause negative health effects in both children and adults. Among children, lower IQ, slowed or stunted growth, and hearing problems are just some of the long-lasting health effects that can be caused by lead.

The good news is that there are many things you can do to reduce and prevent potential lead exposure.

The sessions will help those who attend understand what lead is, how people can be exposed to it, why people should be concerned about lead, how people can reduce potential exposure to lead, and where more information about lead can be found.

Registration for the following events is required:

• March 19, Pocatello City Hall, 2 – 3:30 p.m. Register
• March 19, Idaho Falls, Idaho Falls Activity Center, 6 – 7:30 p.m. Register
• March 20, Twin Falls, College of Southern Idaho, 2 – 3:30 p.m. Register
• March 21, Boise, Riverside Hotel, 10:45 – 11:45 a.m. Register
• March 22, Boise, Boise Center on the Grove, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Register

Train-the-Trainer lead awareness curriculum in Boise

The Train-the-Trainer lead awareness curriculum is for people who’d like to teach others about lead. The training will be March 21 from 1 – 4 p.m. at the Riverside Hotel in Boise. Registration is required to attend.

Participants will learn how to use and modify the Lead Awareness Curriculum to teach others in their communities about lead, lead exposure, and actions to reduce and prevent childhood lead exposure.  

The curriculum is a robust set of educational tools that provide practical, on-the-ground, community-based resources to reduce childhood lead exposure in communities. Those who attend will receive a digital certificate of participation after completing the training. Prior knowledge of lead or lead exposure is not required.  

Training will include:

• The potential sources of lead exposure and the impacts and effects lead can have on humans, wildlife, the environment, and cultural practices.
• Recommended cleaning techniques to reduce lead exposure in homes.
• How personal hygiene and nutrition can impact potential lead exposure. 
• Why hiring a certified lead professional is important for safe home renovations and cleanup.

To register for any of the trainings or for additional information, please visit the EPA’s Community Lead Awareness Sessions website or DHW’s Environmental Health Lead Webpage.

Kelly Berg is an Environmental Health Program Specialist for the Department of Health and Welfare.

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

The Division of Behavioral Health at DHW recently published an annual report on behalf of the Idaho Behavioral Health Planning Council, a 21-member governor-appointed council with the mission of advocating for those with behavioral health issues. Called State of Mind, the report details successes and challenges facing behavioral health in Idaho. 

Behavioral Health issues touch the lives of Idahoans in a variety of ways, and the report details the crucial partnerships among the Idaho Office of Drug Policy, Department of Juvenile Corrections, Idaho Department of Correction, and three DHW divisions: Family and Community Services, Medicaid, and Behavioral Health.

The report details a number of ongoing and unique behavioral health challenges for Idaho going into the coming fiscal year: 

Statewide access to treatment providers for mental health and substance use disorders continues to struggle to meet needs of individuals.

• Behavioral health services for children needs to continue to improve, including prevention and early intervention efforts.
• Stable housing and accessible transportation is challenging to find for those with mental health and substance use disorder needs.
• Increased availability of substance use disorder prevention and education initiatives is essential.
• Peer and caregiver supports such as education, training, and emotional support help promote ongoing recovery.
• Anti-stigma education and behavioral health awareness events and training should be  held in all regions to help encourage people of all ages with behavioral health needs to seek the care they need.
• Crisis Intervention Training for law enforcement officers, first responders, educators, and the general public can help de-escalate crises and provide connections. 
• Veterans’ mental health services must expand to address the needs of those who have served and struggle with behavioral health issues. 

We look forward to continued partnerships with the Governor, Legislature, and other state agencies as we continue to work toward a sustainable model for recovery and improve Idaho’s continuum of care.

The report is available here: https://publicdocuments.dhw.idaho.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=28343&dbid=0&repo=PUBLIC-DOCUMENTS

The Division of Behavioral Health recently launched a podcast, and the inaugural installment focuses on the Governor’s Report. You can listen to the podcast on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/nvK9nFWNP5I

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 a world filled with complex information, the ability to communicate effectively is invaluable. Writing in plain language is a skill that ensures your message is clear, concise, and easily understood by a diverse audience.

This is why Goal 4 of DHW’s Strategic Plan includes a task to “Expand the use of plain language throughout DHW to be audience-specific and to improve the customer experience.” And this work ”…will be a collaborative effort between the divisions preparing written communications and the Office of Communications.

Plain language makes it easier for the public to read, understand, and use government communications the first time they read or hear it. As a state agency, it’s critical for us to make sure people trust and understand what we tell them so they can make well-informed decisions about their lives.

DHW is committed to using plain language to improve communications with Idahoans. The Strategic Plan task will use a Microsoft Word readability tool to gauge our progress on moving communications toward plain language standards throughout the year. This article explores some general principles of effective writing and provides examples you can try out right now.

Use Clear and Concise Sentences: Plain language emphasizes simplicity. Instead of using complex sentences, opt for shorter and direct ones. Example:

     Complex: "It is imperative that we take into consideration the various factors that contribute to the overall success of our project."

     Plain: "We need to consider factors for our project's success."

Avoid Jargon and Technical Terms: Jargon can alienate readers who are not familiar with specific terms. Use plain language to make your content accessible. Example:

     Technical: "Utilize the interface to configure the settings."

     Plain: "Use the menu to adjust the settings."

Use Active Voice: Active voice adds clarity and immediacy to your writing. Compare:

     Passive: "The report was written by the team."

     Active: "The team wrote the report."

Break Down Complex Ideas: When discussing complex ideas, break them down into simpler parts. Example:

     Complex: "The algorithm utilizes a neural network to process data and make predictions."

     Plain: "The system uses a smart network to analyze data and make predictions."

Engage the Reader: Involve your audience by using inclusive language and addressing them directly. For instance:

     Detached: "Customers are advised to follow the guidelines."

     Engaging: "Follow these guidelines to make the most of your experience."

Provide Examples: Concrete examples make abstract concepts more understandable. Example:

     Abstract: "Promote teamwork for better collaboration."

     Concrete: "Encourage everyone to share ideas and work together as a team."

Use Visuals and Formatting: Visual aids, bullet points, and headings break up text and enhance comprehension. Example:

     Text-only: Long paragraphs explaining steps.

     Visuals: Bulleted steps with an accompanying diagram.

Writing in plain language is an essential skill for effective communication. By embracing clarity, simplicity, and inclusivity, we can better reach our DHW audience and ensure that our message resonates with Idahoans from various backgrounds and levels of expertise. DHW is striving to practice these principles, so that our writing is a powerful tool that reaches the people who use our services.

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 publishes an array of resources to support lawmakers as they evaluate programs across DHW’s eight divisions. Many of these are also valuable resources for Idahoans who want to understand how their taxpayer dollars are being spent.

Some tools that lawmakers have frequently requested are now compiled on the DHW website under the Resources for Lawmakers tab, which can be found under About DHW.

Here’s an overview of materials available:

2023-2024 issue of Facts, Figures, & Trends

Facts, Figures & Trends is a comprehensive reference about DHW. It provides an in-depth look at DHW—who’s served, services provided, and how services are paid for. It also provides information about the department’s budget: how much it gets, how much is spent, and who and what it’s spent on.

For each of the department’s eight divisions, the book covers funds approved by the Legislature for the current state fiscal year, as well as highlights and work done in the previous state fiscal year.

It’s a valuable tool for anyone who wants to have a better understanding of the work DHW does. 

The digital version linked in the Resources for Lawmakers page is also available here: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/about-dhw/facts-figures-and-trends.

2024 Idaho Medicaid Overview

New this year, the 2024 Idaho Medicaid Overview is a reference guide about Medicaid in Idaho and is intended to help Idaho state lawmakers and other Idaho citizens quickly understand the division’s programs, proposed budget, and people the program serves. 

The handbook is broken into sections to help readers quickly access information:

• Intro to Idaho Medicaid

• Medicaid programs and utilization

• Medicaid budget

• Medicaid Management Information System

Federal funding inventory archive

The federal funding inventory archive is new this winter and includes a report titled Idaho Department of Health & Welfare Grants. The report and lists all federal grants awarded to DHW that may fund payments or work done in State Fiscal Year 2024. 

Additional resources

Additional resources compiled in Resources for Lawmakers include an archive of DHW’s monthly Legislative Updates, the DHW Strategic Plan, the DHW Annual Report, and an overview of the Division of Medicaid’s SFY 2023 budget. 

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

Recent reports of carbon monoxide poisoning are a reminder that Idahoans get sick and die from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning every year.

During 2022 and 2023, Idaho emergency departments averaged 12 to 14 visits each month for accidental carbon monoxide exposure. In 2023 there were three accidental carbon monoxide-involved deaths not due to fire in Idaho. 

Carbon monoxide (abbreviated as “CO”) is found in fumes produced any time you burn fuel, such as in fumes from vehicles, small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges, clothes dryers, water heaters, and furnaces. 

Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur in many different situations. These include when people: 

• Use propane heaters, charcoal grills, or camp stoves inside

• Run a generator, pressure washer or other gasoline-powered engine too close to the house

• Turn on a vehicle inside a garage, even if the garage door is open

• Use a gasoline-powered tool in a partially enclosed space

• When a gas home appliance, such as water heater or furnace, is not functioning properly

Carbon monoxide has no odor or color. The only way to know you have a problem is when you get sick, or your carbon monoxide detector goes off.

The most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are often described as “flu-like.” If you breathe in a lot of carbon monoxide it can make you pass out or kill you. People who are sleeping or drunk can die from carbon monoxide poisoning before they have symptoms.

Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning 

• Know the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

• Install and regularly test carbon monoxide detectors wherever fuel is used indoors 

In your home:

• Install a CO detector outside of every sleeping area and on every level of your home and test monthly. CO detectors are available as battery operated units or as units that plug into a standard outlet

• Have oil and gas furnaces and hot water heaters inspected and serviced every year 

• Only use generators outside, more than 20 feet away from your home, doors, and windows

• Do not burn charcoal or use portable camp stoves indoors

• Do not use your stove or oven to heat your home

• Never run your car or truck inside a garage that is attached to a house, even with the garage door open. Watch out for accidentally pressing a remote start button for your car or truck while it is in the garage.

When recreating:

• Have engine and exhaust system maintenance inspections of your boat, car, or truck every year

• Do not use fuel burning equipment such as charcoal grills, camping stoves, camping heaters, or lanterns inside tents, campers, RVs, or other enclosed shelter

• Do not use a gas range or oven for heating – only for cooking

• Keep a safe space between RVs so CO from one RV’s generator can’t get into another RV through an open vent, air conditioner, or window

• Install a CO detector in your camper, motorhome, RV, or boat cabin and test it before each time you use the vehicle

When using small gas-powered engines:

• Do not use inside a building or partially enclosed areas unless the gasoline engine can be located outside away from the air intakes
• Place the pump and power unit of high-pressure washers outdoors – run only the high-pressure wash line inside.
• Use a personal carbon monoxide monitor with an audible alarm if working where potential sources of CO exist

Resources

Get to know carbon monoxide alarms:  https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/GetToKnow.pdf 

What to know about generators and carbon monoxide: https://www.cpsc.gov/safety-education/safety-guides/carbon-monoxide/what-know-generators-and-co 

Carbon monoxide hazards from small gasoline powered engines: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/co/default.html

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 Idahoans' health, safety, and independence. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov. 

During my short time as interim director at DHW, I’ve been impressed with the dedication, passion, and professionalism displayed by hundreds of the agency’s staff. 

From caring for foster children to helping coordinate emergency responses, DHW’s work touches the lives of many Idahoans, and often in very meaningful ways.

Tragedy unfolded in Boise last Wednesday, Jan. 31, when an under-construction airport hangar collapsed, killing three men and critically injuring five others. The Idaho State EMS Communications Center (StateComm) was a critical part of the response that followed.

StateComm is a 24/7 emergency communications center in Meridian, and it’s a component of the Bureau of EMS and Preparedness in DHW’s Division of Public Health. 

Emergency Communications Officers Ashley Collins and Rebecca Brockman have been partners on the same shift at StateComm since November 2022, and during this time have been directly involved in multiple, highly critical incidents, including the hangar collapse. 

At the request of first responders at the incident, Collins and Brockman initiated a call with regional hospitals to determine how many patients each facility could accept, stayed in close contact with first responders on the scene, and initiated contact with search and rescue teams. 

People who were either involved in the call with hospitals or at the scene commended Collins and Brockman for their professional and calm demeanor on the radio and phone throughout the incident. 

In briefing me about the incident response, StateComm managers stressed the importance of teamwork when dealing with what they call “low frequency, high intensity situations.” Managers told me that Collins and Brockman have proved time and again they are a team that can handle the toughest calls at any moment and highlighted a half-dozen incidents during which they made a vital difference for Idahoans.

Here are a couple more:

Highway 55 school bus crash

Collins and Brockman were working Aug. 4 last summer when a school bus crashed on Highway 55 and caused 30 students between the ages of 13 and 18 to be sent to regional hospitals. 

Due to poor radio communications and no cell phone service, StateComm became the most important link to informing hospitals when ambulances were on the way and to ensure the hospitals were able to treat the needs of specific patients. 

It was a large response involving 10 EMS units, and StateComm was a difference maker in its ability to coordinate communications for such a complex scene. 

U.S. 95 propane truck crash

In February 2023 a propane truck crashed on U.S. Highway 95 and was venting propane. Collins and Brockman coordinated deployment of Hazmat teams from Boise and Caldwell, and the highway was closed for three days while teams vented the balance of the propane.

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

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

If you’re a manager or owner of an organization that offers behavioral health services in Idaho, you could help the Department of Health and Welfare better understand gaps and needs of Idahoans in the service of others.

The department’s Division of Behavioral Health is conducting a needs assessment survey to help answer questions about services that Idaho’s behavioral health professionals offer. Feedback will help the division understand the state of Idaho’s care continuum, identify service gaps and areas for improvement, direct and inform clients, and tailor policy.

The survey only takes about five minutes and will be open until Feb. 16. Each behavioral health service location should complete the survey once. Large organizations should have each branch complete the survey.

The Division of Behavioral Health emailed this survey information to providers in January. If your organization did not receive the survey by email, and you’d like to be added to the distribution list for future surveys and communications, please send an email to bhcommunications@dhw.idaho.gov. 

Survey link: https://app.keysurvey.com/f/41695091/1365/

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

Three Youth Crisis Centers opened in Idaho in 2023 to serve communities in Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, and Boise. A fourth, the Western Idaho Youth Support Center, opened yesterday, Jan. 29, in Nampa.

All four centers provide a calm environment for youth aged 12-17 to de-escalate. This give parents or guardians time to regroup during crisis situation.

The four centers help young people who are experiencing mental health or substance use challenges that greatly disrupt their lives and negatively impact their families.

The centers provide supports and services during the early stages of a mental health crisis before more intensive, costly, and restrictive interventions are required.

Services for youth are 100% voluntary and free of charge. Walk-kins are welcome. No referral is needed. Youth can stabilize for up to 23 hours and 59 minutes. Doors are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Idaho’s Youth Crisis Centers

Pathways Youth Community Support Center of Southwest Idaho

9196 E. Emerald, STE 100 Boise, ID 83704 

1-866-527-4747

Visit: http://pathwaysofidaho.com

Rise Up Teen and Child Crisis Center of East Idaho

1140 Science Center Dr. Idaho Falls, ID 83403

208-826-0994

Visit: riseupyouthcrisiscenter.com

ProActive Youth and Family Support Center

264 Main Ave. South, Twin Falls ID 83301

208-969-9841

Visit youthidaho.com

Western Idaho Youth Support Center

204 10th Ave. S. Nampa, ID

208-899-4727

Visit: westernidahoyouthsupportcenter.org

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

Senior leaders at the Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) have a tradition of starting meetings with three good things that have taken place in the previous week or two. Practicing gratitude has been shown to benefit personal wellbeing, and I believe it also benefits us as a group to think about the ways we’re making a difference for Idahoans.

This week and periodically on this blog, I want to highlight three good things that DHW has done for Idahoans. 

Ten children adopted in my first weeks

As interim director at DHW it’s my job to sign legal adoption papers for children being adopted from foster care into new families. My authorization is needed for the court to grant that adoption. So far it is one of my favorite parts of my responsibility as director. 

Each adoption is a story of hope, and in my first four weeks I’ve signed adoptions for ten children. Today I signed one for two brothers to be adopted by the same parents. As I read the situation of these children and the backgrounds of the prospective parents, I experience a rollercoaster of emotions. My heart aches from the situations these children come from, and my heart swells with gratitude for the families and parents who open their homes. These children are of all ages, and some have physical and emotional challenges. 

This meaningful and important part of my job, is made possible by the work of hundreds of DHW staff who help care for children that come into state care, work to reunite them with their families, and sometimes place them in new families. In my mind there is no greater way of making a difference than to help children moving from unsafe situations to safe, nurturing, and loving adoptive families.

My admiration and gratitude goes out to the parents and all who work to help our children thrive and feel loved. 

Assigned to my responsibility are 1,554 foster children. Of those 1,531 are currently placed in foster care or residential treatment placements. We have 23 children in need of foster parents right now. We also have new children coming into foster care every day. Foster parents and adoptive parents are always needed, so I encourage Idahoans to learn more and consider helping a child:

• About adoption through foster care

• About foster care for prospective families

EMS leaders strive for sustainability 

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) leaders from throughout the state gathered at the Capitol on Monday to continue a conversation with lawmakers about challenges facing Idaho’s EMS system.

EMS in Idaho is provided within a framework of different organizations that vary in patient transport and clinical abilities, and the current system risks longer response times due to the dated model, personnel challenges, and Idaho’s rural nature.

EMS services are so critical to our citizens as they recreate and travel. Often those remote areas are the least able to sustain appropriate and needed services. Because of that a sustainability task force was created. 

The EMS Sustainability Task Force is a comprehensive group of EMS experts working together to find solutions to the challenges facing those who provide emergency medical response throughout Idaho. Please learn more about their work. 

I want to express appreciation to the task force members for their work and efforts. I want to also thank the legislators who have been working diligently on this issue. We stand ready to assist you in your efforts. 

Alzheimer’s and related dementias report finalized

In 2021 the Idaho Legislature provided funding to form the Idaho Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) Program as a public health approach to dementia in Idaho. The ADRD Program’s mission is to expand brain health and ADRD awareness, educational opportunities, supports, and services in Idaho.

The ADRD Program presented its 2023 annual report to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee on Wednesday. The report identifies policy gaps for Alzheimer’s disease and dementias in Idaho and highlights the prevalence of dementia, but focuses on Idahoans who have dementia and are in crisis.

Key issues include the need for protective placements; improved protections for assisted living residents; enhanced training for direct care workers, law enforcement, and emergency responders; public education; empowering primary care providers to provide early diagnoses; and supporting the family caregiver across the lifespan. 

As a son who lost our mother to Alzheimer’s I know firsthand the challenges to families. I am grateful to the team that dedicated time and effort to this report and look forward to next steps and working with legislators to address gaps. 

The report is available at DHW’s website, and I encourage Idahoans to read it.

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

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