Tissue donors save and change lives, but it only works if donors are matched with people in need. Since 2013, the team at the Idaho State EMS Communications Center has been helping make that connection.

Many tissue donors are connected to patients through hospital systems, but when a person passes away outside a hospital, police and other first responders can become their gateway into the donor system. If you’re an emergency responder or know someone who is, you can coordinate through StateComm at 800-632-8000.

Based in Meridian, StateComm is a component of the Bureau of EMS and Preparedness in the Division of Public Health. It routes emergency calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week—making it a logical point of contact for first responders reporting pre-hospital deaths.

When emergency responders reach out about a recently-deceased person, StateComm sends the name, date of birth, and location of the deceased to a referral center, which searches for matches.

This volunteer process is working. One of our partners at a tissue procurement center in Boise recently reported that StateComm is outperforming some of Idaho’s rural hospitals. This is a point of pride for emergency responders and dispatchers who are imperative to making these crucial connections happen.

Moreover, the process and feedback they often receive when there is a match can help emergency responders heal from calls they responded to.

Once again, if you or someone you know would like to participate, please coordinate through StateComm at 800-632-8000.

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 HIV, STD, and Hepatitis Section in the Division of Public Health has a big job – to prevent and treat HIV, sexually transmitted diseases (STD), and viral hepatitis in Idaho.

After people get HIV, they have it for life. There is no cure. But with proper medical care, HIV can be controlled. People with HIV who get effective HIV treatment can live long, healthy lives and protect their partners. 

Somewhat similarly, STDs can be treated with medicine, but unlike HIV, some can be cured entirely. They don’t always cause symptoms or may only cause mild symptoms, so it is possible to have an infection and not know it. That is why it is important for people who are sexually active to protect themselves and their partners, and to get tested.

The Department of Health and Welfare’s HIV, STD, and Hepatitis Section is made up of five separate programs that manage and monitor HIV prevention, HIV care, STD prevention, and prevention services related to viral hepatitis in Idaho. The Syringe Exchange Program was added in 2019 after the Idaho Legislature made syringe and needle exchanges legal.

The overarching goal for all these programs is to help Idahoans be as healthy as possible by preventing, treating, and controlling HIV and STDs in the state. 

The section works closely with local public health districts, community health centers, federally qualified health centers, and community-based organizations to ensure prevention and care services are available to the Idahoans who need it.

The primary HIV prevention services include HIV testing, counseling, and referral services for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and connection to HIV medical care; condom distribution; and HIV disease investigation services for newly infected people and their partners.

The section also manages services for those diagnosed with HIV, including medical case management, the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, and support services to enhance access to and retention in HIV medical care and treatment.

STD prevention-related services are offered through partnerships with local public health districts, community health centers, and federally qualified health centers throughout the state. Services include testing and treatment; education and outreach; and disease investigation services for newly diagnosed clients and their partners.

In line with the national emphasis on eliminating hepatitis C, the section has expanded access to hepatitis C screening and testing through a statewide network of partnerships with clinical and community-based organizations.

The section works closely with the Epidemiology Section to monitor HIV and STD trends throughout the state and deploys resources to combat the spread of disease. Rates of HIV and STD fluctuate year to year, but the 2021 rate of syphilis continued a multi-year increase and remains of concern.

The syringe exchange services provide technical assistance to community-based entities supporting syringe and needle exchange activities and implementation guidance, per statute requirements.

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. 

Project Filter offers free resources and support in Idaho to help people quit smoking, vaping, and chewing, as staffers work toward an Idaho that is free from tobacco-related deaths and disease.

The program promotes healthy behaviors and offers free Nicotine Replacement Therapy in the form of nicotine patches, gum, and lozenges, to help people on their journey to quit commercial tobacco. Staff works closely with Idaho’s seven local public health districts and two tribes to make sure free resources and classes are available to all Idahoans who want to quit using tobacco.

The program offers:  

• Up to eight weeks of free nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges for eligible participants.
• Personalized support from a trained quit coach anytime, day or night. (This is available in Spanish and 150 other languages)
• Personalized text or e-mail messages to help with your quit attempt when you sign up for eCoach.

The tobacco industry markets and targets their products to youth, racial and ethnic minorities, people who are LGBTQ+, veterans, people who live in rural and remote areas, and many others. To provide  services to the people who need it most, the program staff works hard to meet people where they are. That’s why Project Filter works with an array of groups in a variety of places and events, from fairs and festivals, to rodeos and stock car races, including:

• Canyon County Fair in Caldwell
• Eastern Idaho State Fair and Gem State Classic Pro Rodeo in Blackfoot
• Stateline Speedway in Post Falls
• Jerome County Fair and Rodeo in Jerome
• MRP RAcing in Coeur d'Alene
• Pride festivals – statewide
• Bull Mayhem at the Fort Hall Indian Reservation
• Flipside Festival in Garden City
• Boise Music Festival
• Treefort Music Festival in Boise
• World Village Festival in Boise

In 2011, 17 percent of adults in Idaho smoked cigarettes. In 2020, the smoking rate was under 14 percent, thanks to the many efforts of Project Filter and their partners across the state.

Idahoans can call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit projectfilter.org to sign up for free services from anywhere in the state.

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. 

Death by suicide is listed as the cause of death for far too many Idahoans. In 2020, Idaho had the fifth highest suicide rate in the United States. That is very concerning, but it’s also important to know that suicide is preventable and most people who make a suicide attempt don’t want to die. They just want the pain to stop. Providing care and hope to someone having suicidal thoughts can help save a life. There are things you can do to help.

What are some of the warning signs that someone might be thinking about suicide?

Warning signs include:

• Talking about wanting to die or completing suicide
• Looking for a way to kill themselves by searching online, stockpiling pills, or buying a gun
• Isolation and withdrawal
• Talking about feeling hopeless or trapped
• Feeling like a burden to others
• Having consistent nightmares
• Increasing use of drugs or alcohol
• Acting anxious or agitated
• Behaving recklessly
• Increased aggression, anger, or irritability
• Change in sleep habits – either too much sleep or too little
• Extreme mood swings

Are there certain times in a person’s life that are more likely to increase a person’s risk of suicide?

The risk that someone might attempt suicide is higher if these signs are linked to a painful or stressful event or a loss. The risk is also greater when these signs are new or begin to happen more frequently. The risk of suicide is even greater if a person has access to lethal means. Those experiencing a mental illness, especially a mood disorder, are at a higher risk for making a suicide attempt and dying by suicide. Most people who die by suicide are not seeking mental health treatment at the time of their death. They often feel alone and isolated.

What should you do if you recognize some of these warning signs?

Everyone has a role to play in suicide prevention. The best thing to do is to ask the question directly: Are you thinking about killing yourself? And then listen to their response.

Do not leave someone alone who is actively having serious thoughts of suicide. You can instill hope in that person with statements like, “I care if you live.” You also should do your best to work with the person to safely restrict his or her access to a method for killing themselves, such as firearms or drugs. Or you may need to encourage and help the person see a mental health provider. Call 911 or take the person to the hospital if you believe he or she can’t be safe.

What are some of the local suicide prevention resources we can use?

The most familiar and excellent resource is the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, accessible by simply dialing 9-8-8 anywhere. Also available day and night are local crisis centers in Boise, Caldwell, Coeur d’Alene, Lewiston, Moscow, Orofino, Twin Falls, Idaho Falls, and Pocatello. Information about the crisis centers and other resources can be found by calling the Idaho CareLine, which is available by dialing 2-1-1 anywhere in Idaho. 

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. Since February 2020, she has focused most of her time on responding to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Resources:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• Idaho Crisis & Suicide Hotline

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. 

Helping Idaho’s children and their families by making sure they are safe and supported is a very important goal for us.

We have many services and programs to help support Idaho’s children and families, but today I’d like to encourage those who work with young children and their families to consider attending the Early Years Conference on Nov. 1-2 in Boise. The theme is Vision for Success in Early Childhood.

Our biennial conference is organized by the Head Start Collaboration Office and the Infant Toddler Program. It provides members of Idaho's early childhood learning communities access to current research and best practices that benefit children from when they are born until they turn 8 years old. It attracts presenters with expertise in key and emerging issues related to strengthening and supporting families in unique and diverse populations.

This year, there are five tracks for attendees:

• Building Family Strengths: Identifies and supports the unique and specialized needs of children and their families.
• Health/Safety and Well-Being: Emphasizes the importance of supporting and nurturing young children, including safety issues, and child abuse and neglect prevention and intervention.
• Early Care and Learning: Focuses on early child development, research, and educational practices that enable infants and young children to reach their maximum potential.
• Program/Professional Development: Highlights program models and best practices to enhance professional work with young children and families.
• Infant/Early Child Mental Health: Centers on the social and emotional development of children from birth through age 5 and their families, including key issues, relationships, risks, and best-practice interventions. 

The conference is a great chance to learn, grow, and connect with other like-minded people in Idaho who are passionate about helping children be successful in life.

Learn more about the conference and find registration information on our website at https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/early-years-conference-2022

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 first updated COVID-19 vaccine boosters have now been authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These updated boosters are aimed more directly at the Omicron variants that continue to circulate in the U.S. and around the world.

To make the boosters more effective, Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 spike protein components have been added to the vaccines to help restore and increase protection that has declined since previous vaccination. The boosters are known as “bivalent” because they now include two components to more broadly cover the viruses that may circulate this fall.

Who should get the updated booster?

The updated booster from Pfizer-BioNTech is recommended for people ages 12 years and older. The Moderna booster is recommended for people ages 18 and older. 

The CDC recommends that everyone eligible should get the updated booster to get the best protection from the virus that causes COVID-19, which is still circulating in Idaho. It’s expected that the viruses causing COVID-19 illness will spread more, and that more people will get sick as they go back to school and spend more time indoors.

When should they get it?

People can get the updated booster if it has been at least two months since their last dose of COVID-19 vaccine. For most people, it’s been longer than two months since their last dose, so getting the booster as we head into fall respiratory illness season is especially important to avoid serious illness.

Where are the boosters available?

The updated boosters have started being sent to Idaho by manufacturers, but quantities are still limited. It’s best to visit vaccines.gov to find vaccine near you, check with your local pharmacy, or call your healthcare provider.

How often will we need to get a COVID-19 booster?

Unless a new, more contagious, or more dangerous variant evolves, the hope is that after getting the updated bivalent booster, most people will be able to get a yearly shot to maintain protection against severe illness and hospitalization from COVID-19. Those who are immunocompromised may need more doses.

It is impossible to know which new virus variants may appear this fall, so it’s important to stay aware of evolving recommendations and if you have questions to discuss your options with your healthcare provider.

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.

COVID-19 resources:

• Idaho’s Coronavirus website
• CDC COVID-19 website
• Find COVID-19 and flu vaccines/boosters near you: Use vaccines.gov to find a location near you, then call or visit their website to make an appointment. 

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. 

 

The COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), first declared in January 2020, was most recently renewed on July 15. The next decision about the PHE is not due until Oct. 15, but the federal government has agreed to notify states 60 days before it ends. Since that has not happened, it is expected that the PHE will be renewed in October. This is important to know for Idahoans who receive Medicaid.

The PHE declaration for COVID-19 provided continued Medicaid coverage for Idahoans who may have otherwise become ineligible. When the declaration ends, this protection also ends.

Idaho currently has about 131,000 people on protected Medicaid, which means we do not know if they are still eligible for Medicaid, but their benefits cannot be closed while the PHE is in place unless they request it.

When the 60-day notice is given to states that the PHE will end, DHW will send notices to those recipients telling them about any coming changes in their eligibility or benefits, and if they need to complete a re-evaluation.

We don’t know how many of the 131,000 will still get benefits. We have not had contact with many of them for more than two years because of the PHE. We do not know their current income or resource status.

For reference, about 430,000 people receive Medicaid in Idaho.

If you currently receive Medicaid, please take action to make sure you receive notices about your benefits and re-evaluations. Report any changes in your household information, including your phone number and address.

If your contact information has changed, or you want to confirm your current information, call DHW at 877-456-1233 or email MyBenefits@dhw.idaho.gov. You can also report changes by visiting idalink.idaho.gov.

I hope you have a safe and healthy weekend.

The department’s 2023–2027 Strategic Plan is now in full motion as we head into the fall. I would like to provide a brief overview of each of the objectives in the plan, which you can find on the DHW website.

Strategic Goal 1: Ensure affordable, available healthcare that works

Objective: Help reduce healthcare workforce shortages

Some Idahoans may not have access to needed healthcare services due to workforce shortages and limited access. The divisions of Public Health, Behavioral Health, and Medicaid are working to:

• Increase the number of sites offering sliding fee scales for patients.
• Help recruit and retain nurses in rural communities.
• Improve direct-care workforce retention and recruitment with hospitals, care facilities, and behavioral healthcare providers.

Objective: Ensure that 50 percent of Medicaid payments are tied to measurable outcomes of better health and cost-efficient care

Under a fee-for-service healthcare system, providers are paid more when they provide more services, not for delivering a higher quality of care. The Division of Medicaid is working to:

• Reimburse for value over volume.
• Restructure Medicaid payments to hold providers accountable for costs and quality.
• Add the Medicaid Expansion population to this work.

Objective: Limit Medicaid spending growth

If Medicaid funding needs exceed overall growth in state revenues, the state will be in the difficult position of either pulling funding from other state programs or increasing taxes to fund Medicaid. The Division of Medicaid is working to:

• Achieve a growth rate that does not exceed a pre-set benchmark.
• Monitor and manage high-cost services.
• Limit the use of low-value, medically unnecessary services.

Strategic Goal 2: Protect children, youth, and vulnerable adults

Objective: Provide in-home preventative services for children who have experienced abuse or neglect and can be served safely in their homes

Idaho lacks a comprehensive, statewide, evidenced-based service continuum for children and families who experience abuse or neglect. The Division of Family and Community Services is working to:

• Implement an intensive standardized in-home case management structure.
• Provide at least three evidence-based services for in-home and foster care cases.
• Improve time to permanency for children in foster care by 10 percent.

Objective: Develop and implement a behavioral healthcare system in Idaho that provides the services that people need, when they need them

Idaho’s current behavioral healthcare services are not structured to maximize the effectiveness of services to for people with behavioral health conditions. The Division of Behavioral Health is working to:

• Collaborate with the Idaho Behavioral Health Council to implement initiatives such as increasing the Idaho behavioral health workforce, establishing Idaho Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities for youth, and piloting Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers.
• Improve the children’s mental health system of care, as measured by an improvement of the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths Assessment (CANS).
• Launch the 988 crisis line and implement the Idaho behavioral health crisis system.

Objective: Enable adults with developmental disabilities to access a full continuum of crisis care that supports them to remain in communities whenever possible

Most people with developmental disabilities are successfully supported in the community. However, community provider capacity does not allow for effective treatment of people with complex needs that result in unsafe behaviors.

The Division of Family and Community Services is working to:

• Make sure that individuals who have a developmental disability and complex behavioral, mental health, or medical needs receive services that are person-centered, trauma-informed, and delivered in the least restrictive environment possible.
• Make sure that people who have a developmental disability receive appropriate treatment, whether they are living on a state-owned campus, in the community, or are transitioning back to the community from a campus setting.
• Provide services while maintaining safety for clients and the community.

Strategic Goal 3: Help Idahoans become as healthy and self-sufficient as possible

Objective: Reduce Idaho’s suicide rate

As the seventh leading cause of death, suicide is a critical public health issue in Idaho. It brings tragic loss to individuals and entire communities each year. In 2020, Idaho’s suicide rate ranked fifth highest in the United States and was 1.6 times the national average. The Division of Public Health is working to:

• Reduce Idaho’s suicide rate from 23.8 to fewer than 19.0 per 100,000 by June 30, 2025.
• Improve capacity to use data to identify and address equity and risk disparities in high suicide risk populations.
• Increase the use of the Idaho Crisis & Suicide Hotline (988) and Behavioral Health crisis centers.

Objective: Improve conditions in socially disadvantaged communities to prevent disease, injury, and violence

Conditions where people live, learn, work, and play (also called the social determinants of health) contribute to preventable differences in disease, injury, violence, and the ability to be healthy. To address these conditions in Idaho’s socially disadvantaged populations, the divisions of Public Health, Medicaid, and Welfare are working to:

• Invest in one high-risk community each year.
• Explore a cross-division, braided funding strategy to support communities that are addressing the social determinants of health.
• Deliver childcare services to 20 percent more Idaho families whose income is higher than the federal poverty limit but who still can’t afford some necessities.

Objective: Prevent or reduce the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) across the lifespan of Idahoans

Trauma experienced during childhood severely increases the likelihood of poor physical and mental health throughout life. To address the impact of ACEs, the divisions of Public Health, Medicaid, Family and Community Services (FACS), Behavioral Health, and Welfare are working to:

• Identify opportunities to increase the number of trauma-informed providers and increase awareness of these providers.
• Implement three initiatives identified by the Suicide, Overdose, and Adverse Childhood Experiences Prevention Capacity Assessment Tool.
• Develop an ACEs continuing education training program for providers.

Objective: Reduce the department’s employee voluntary turnover rate

Economic pressure is making it difficult to hire and retain employees, which can negatively impact services to our customers. The department is looking into what more can be done to recruit, retain, and develop staff. Human Resources initiatives include:

• Implementing a “stay” interview program to assess employee job satisfaction.
• Implementing a leadership development program.
• Conducting a compensation study in each division at least every other fiscal year.

Strategic Goal 4: Strengthen the public’s trust and confidence in the Department of Health and Welfare

Objective: Reduce the regulatory burden on the public imposed by our administrative rules

Rules, regulations, and oversight activities are necessary to ensure the health and safety of Idahoans but are less effective when outdated, overly restrictive, or when oversight activities are inefficient or not completed on time. The Division of Licensing and Certification is working to:

• Review and rewrite 12 administrative rule chapters by Dec. 31, 2022.
• Decrease the overall number of words, including restrictive words, in administrative rule chapters.
• Conduct at least one negotiated rulemaking session and two public hearings for each rule chapter scheduled for review and rewrite.

Objective: Build the trust and confidence of the media, employees, those we serve, and other stakeholders through communication strategies that support our mission and vision

Idahoans would be more able to make informed decisions about their health, safety, and independence if they had improved exposure to timely, clear, consistent communications from DHW. The Office of Communications is working to:

• Improve understanding of the department’s work by sharing narratives that demonstrate our compassion and trustworthiness.
• Improve our customers’ experience through use of plain language and other strategies.
• Engage more effectively with community organizations and healthcare providers.

Objective: Navigate global economic, social, and technological changes through matured strategies for resource management

Established strategies for resource planning across divisions over many fiscal years are not flexible enough to respond to emerging economic, social, and technological changes in the global environment. The divisions of Management Services and Information and Technology are developing and implementing proactive, long-term strategies for:

• Procurement of goods and services.
• Maintenance and upgrades for technological needs.
• Acquisition, maintenance, and operation of buildings and facilities.

Objective: Enhance public health and safety by improving the effectiveness and visibility of regulatory activities

Rules, regulations, and oversight activities are necessary to ensure the health and safety of Idahoans but are less effective when outdated, overly restrictive, or when they are inefficient or not completed in a timely manner. The divisions of Management Services and Licensing and Certification are working to ensure that Idahoans are safe, and feel safe, by:

• Completing at least 25 percent of overdue onsite inspections of skilled nursing facilities and assisted living facilities.
• Offering a better user experience and more efficiency in the federally endorsed Criminal History Background Check system.
• Improving the average resolution time for criminal history background checks from 30 days to 6 days.

Stay safe and healthy on this Labor Day 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. 

Several lakes and reservoirs have health advisories because of cyanobacterial blooms so far this summer. Most of the year, Idaho’s lakes and reservoirs are safe to enjoy. But when water temperatures increase and the right type of nutrients are available, some bodies of water can produce blooms of harmful bacteria that can be dangerous for humans, pets, livestock, and wildlife. Those blooms are called cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms, or HABs for short.

What causes a bloom?

The blooms are caused by bacteria that can produce toxins. The blooms are also referred to as cyanobacterial blooms. When weather conditions are calm and there is an increase in water temperature and nutrients, bacteria can rapidly increase and produce a bloom. Blooms can occur at any time, but they most often occur in late summer or early fall.

What do these blooms look like?

They can be blue, bright green, brown, or red. They may look like paint or anti-freeze floating on the water. As the bloom develops, it may look like foam, scum, or mats on the surface of lakes and ponds.

What are the symptoms of an exposure to a bloom?

The most common health effects are irritated skin and eyes. Other more severe effects can include:

• Difficulty breathing
• Stomach pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness
• Numbness and tingling in lips, fingers, and toes

If you experience mild irritation, rinse with clean water immediately. If you experience severe symptoms, seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Are the symptoms the same for animals?

Pets and livestock exposed to blooms may show symptoms such as:

• Weakness
• Staggering
• Foaming at the mouth
• Difficulty breathing
• Convulsions/seizures

If your pet encounters a bloom, rinse them with clean, fresh water immediately. If they start to have symptoms, call a veterinarian. In severe cases, animals can die within minutes and up to several hours after they have been exposed to harmful blooms.

Is it safe to eat fish from a lake with a bloom?

If you choose to fish in water with a bloom, wear protective clothing such as gloves or waders, and wash your hands thoroughly with clean water. Information about the risk of eating fish from affected waters is limited. However, fish fillets are less likely to have toxins compared to other parts of the fish. If you decide to eat fish from affected waters:

• Remove the skin, organs, and fatty deposits from the fish.
• Avoid cutting into organs while you’re cleaning the fish.
• Rinse the fillets with clean water before you cook the fish.

What should we know to avoid a bloom?

• Be sure to look at the water before anyone gets in it. If it has an unusual color or looks different than you expected, do not go in or allow your children, pets, or livestock to go in or even near it.
• Check current information on potential blooms by visiting Idaho Recreational Water Health Advisories.
•  Avoid any water sports in areas with harmful algal blooms.
• Do not use untreated water for drinking, bathing, cleaning, or cooking. Boiling water that has been contaminated by a bloom will not remove the toxins, and it may cause more toxins to be released.
• Remember: When in doubt, stay out.

Resources:

• Recreational Water Health Advisories
• Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Report and view HABs near you
• Idaho Fish Consumption Advisory information
• DHW Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Bloom FAQ

Brigitta Gruenberg is a health program specialist in the Environmental Health Program, Division of Public Health, Department of Health and Welfare.

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