The Idaho Child Care Grants continue to provide funding for childcare providers in Idaho to make sure they can remain open and caring for children during the pandemic and as we recover. We’ve been accepting applications for the fourth phase of the grants, which are funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Eligible grantees receive monthly payments based on business expenses detailed in the applications and the maximum grant amounts.

The applications we’ve received have allowed our Idaho Child Care Program staff better insight into the expenses of running a child care business in Idaho. Applications are being accepted again starting today through July 15.

That insight, coupled with a review of the available ARPA funds for the grants, led to an increase in the maximum grant amounts for the fourth phase of the grant. These updates will help keep our much-needed child facilities up and running across the state.

The new maximum monthly grant amounts are based on the type of child care provider. Eligible family and relative providers may receive up to $1,000 a month. Eligible group providers may receive up to $2,500 a month, Small centers may get up to $5,000 a month. Large centers, $10,000 a month. Eligible large centers with demonstrated monthly expenses exceeding $40,000 may receive up to $20,000 per month for the grant.

More information about the child care grants is available at https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/providers/child-care-providers/child-care-grants

One of the very best parts of my job is to see the positive feedback from the Idahoans we serve. When child care providers in Idaho recently found out they would receive significantly more support this next state fiscal year, they had overwhelming gratitude to share. I don’t know about you, but these responses really helped to fill my gratitude cup! I am thrilled we can provide more support for such critical help for Idaho families.

Here are some of the responses we received:

“Omigosh! Thank you so much.” – a child care provider in Meridian

“I can't tell you how much this is appreciated! I was just telling my husband that I needed to keep our 'machine' running, and it seems that our enrollment is down a bit, rather than rebounding, as I had hoped. This couldn't have come at a better time, and will really help with the facility bills. Thank you.” – a child care provider in  Boise

“Thank you very much. God bless everyone putting their efforts into this.” – a child care provider in Middleton

“Thank you. Holy cow is that helpful.” – a child care provider in Meridian

“Thank you so very much for this opportunity from the State of Idaho. We so very much appreciate this financial assistance! This grant has helped our school with payroll, supplies, etc. etc.! Your work to get this information available out to Child Care Centers is invaluable! Just know all your hard work and others is truly appreciated!” – a child care provider in Moscow

“This will make a huge difference for our children, families and staff. Thank you.” – a child care provider who serves both Boise and Meridian

“Well amen!  I about had a heart attack!  Thank you so much for all you do and seriously if you need help with anything please let me know!”- a child care provider in Ammon

I hope you have a safe and healthy Fourth of July!  

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

Idaho public health officials are watching several metrics as the number of COVID-19 cases increases across the state this month. One of those metrics is the number of people hospitalized who also have tested positive for COVID-19.

There is debate in some communities about why all patients who are hospitalized with COVID are counted, instead of only those who are hospitalized because of COVID. That debate centers around which of those numbers are the best way to assess COVID-19 risk in communities.

What does it mean to be hospitalized with COVID-19?

This measure counts infected people who are admitted to hospitals because they need medical care that may be for something other than COVID-19. They may only find out they have COVID-19 when they are tested for it as they are being admitted. Some people hospitalized with COVID-19 are sick from the virus, and are admitted for the virus-related illness. “Hospitalized with COVID-19” includes both groups, and is based on positive hospital admission test results among people living in a defined area. This measure is also called “COVID-19-associated hospitalizations,” and does not imply that all those hospitalizations were solely or even partially due to COVID-19 infection.

What does it mean to be hospitalized because of COVID-19?

This includes only people who are admitted to hospitals because they need medical care for a moderate or severe case of COVID-19. They often either suspect or know they have COVID-19 before going to the hospital, but this also may include people who initially went to the hospital with symptoms of a heart attack, stroke, or pneumonia, and were only discovered to have COVID-19 when they were tested at the hospital.

Is it important to count both?

Ideally, keeping track of both numbers is important because it shows how much COVID-19 is spreading in communities. Realistically, however, it is complicated, as some of the examples show. Some people who may appear to be hospitalized for unrelated reasons may actually have underlying COVID-19 illness making their symptoms worse.

Overall, it is most critical for hospitals and public health agencies to better understand how COVID-19 is affecting hospitals. Caring for someone who has COVID-19 in the hospital requires additional healthcare staffing, supplies, and space, whether they are there because of COVID-19 or for another reason. In either case, they must be isolated, and staff needs to take special precautions while caring for them.

The hospitals are reporting this data to the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) gets it from that source and displays it on their data tracker and incorporates it into their COVID-19 Community Levels.

The CDC is aware this metric contains a mix of people who are sick with the disease and those who may be admitted for other reasons. It’s also worth noting that sometimes a person’s COVID-19 diagnosis is not completely clear. A person could go to the hospital because they have chronic lung disease and are having worsening cough or shortness of breath. If they are also infected with COVID-19, that could mean the virus is causing their chronic lung disease to be worse.

It's not a perfect measure, but hospitals cannot easily separate the positive test results, so this overall measure is what's used. If the number of admissions of people positive for COVID-19 is increasing, this indicates more COVID-19 virus circulating in our communities, and very likely reflects increases in those severely ill with the disease.

Is it legitimate to include ALL hospital patients with COVID-19 in community risk levels?

Including all hospital patients with COVID-19 when assessing community risk levels reflects the burden of disease in our communities, even if the disease isn’t severe for most. It will be severe for some.

For example: If 10 percent of admissions have COVID-19, but only half of those are being admitted for COVID-19 disease and the other half just happen to have COVID-19, the result STILL reflects a high community burden of disease because it’s making a lot of people sick and it also reflects a burden on the hospitals.

It shows that COVID-19 is circulating and causing infections in a large percentage of the population. The more it circulates, the more often it can mutate and potentially become more dangerous for people it infects.

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. 

COVID-19 resources:

• Idaho’s Coronavirus website
• CDC COVID-19 website
• Masks are available for Idahoans: KN95 masks (one pack of 10 per household) are available for free at various locations around the state. Call the Idaho CareLine by dialing 2-1-1 or 800-926-2588 or your local public health district to find a location near you. https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/health-wellness/community-health/public-health-districts
• Free, at-home COVID-19 tests are available from the federal government at covidtests.gov. Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free, at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.
• 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. 

This is the final article reviewing our work to support DHW’s Strategic Plan 2022-2026 over the past year. This strategic goal includes six strategic objectives.

Improve our communication with Idahoans by reducing government jargon and writing in plain language.

• In Strategic Objective 4.1, the department has improved our communications by striving to use the language our customers use. This helps Idahoans understand DHW services and programs, increase engagement, and build trust in our dedication to our mission.
• Work on this strategic objective included developing an internal process to review, edit, and re-write customer-facing documents in plain language. Staff conducted plain language reviews (using the Flesch-Kinkaid tool, which is part of the Microsoft Word spelling and grammar check) in an effort to reach an eighth grade reading level on communications written for the public.
• The Office of Communications developed a plain language guide and presentation for staff to help improve plain language use for all customer communications.

Reduce the regulatory burden on the public imposed by our administrative rules.

• In Strategic Objective 4.2, the department’s Rules Unit worked with staff across the department to further reduce regulatory burden on Idahoans by completing the required review of 13 rule chapters in 2022. This involved decreasing the overall number of words in administrative rule chapters and reducing the number of restrictive words, such as “must,” “shall,” “required, “prohibited” and “may not.”
• Reducing the administrative rules may sometimes require changes in Idaho Statute. The Rules Unit is now collaborating with divisions to request changes to Idaho Code sections during the next legislative session.

Secure and protect the sensitive information entrusted to us by Idahoans.

• The Division of Information Technology has worked on Strategic Objective 4.3 to ensure the best value for the department in each IT contract. The division reviewed a year’s worth of licensing and support contracts, including the Adobe contract, the Microsoft contract, as well as contracts for various security tools and WebEx.
• The division is also working to provide value for the department by identifying features available in software and IT programs that will help staff improve processes and productivity without additional spending.

Proactively communicate with the public to share how our work consistently improves the lives of Idahoans in need.

• In Strategic Objective 4.4, the Office of Communications engaged with community organizations across the state to create unity and support in our messaging. This included support for consistent messaging on COVID vaccines and suicide prevention, through social media and media briefings.

• The department has provided transparency to Idahoans about the work we do. Part of this has included monthly “Living Strategic Plan” communications, which are real-time updates on the progress we are making toward our strategic objectives and goals.

Reduce financial risk through the adoption of enterprise-wide, integrated best practices.

• Resources – including people, money, and physical assets – are the lifeblood necessary to accomplish the department mission. For Strategic Objective 4.5, the Division of Management Services created a strategic calendar to help the senior leadership team focus its attention on key decisions that happen throughout the year regarding resources.

• This strategic initiative also includes developing budget-specific tools so the leadership team can make decisions and requests as a united group. It includes a long-term facilities plan generated by cross-division collaboration, which allows the department to be flexible with changing environmental and economic conditions.

Protect vulnerable Idahoans through an improved criminal history background check system, and improve public transparency of department regulatory activities so Idahoans are aware of the benefits of regulatory services to their health and safety.

• The department’s regulatory activities in Strategic Objective 4.6 are aimed at two important outcomes:
  • Being safe: Performing regulatory activities that improve health and safety.
  • Feeling safe: Making the results of regulatory activities visible to the public so Idahoans feel safer.
• The department focused on two main areas of regulation in this strategic objective. The first is the improvement of the criminal history background check system. The Criminal History Unit improved the timeliness of background check applications without sacrificing the quality of service.
• The Criminal History Unit successfully proposed to the Idaho Legislature a statute change to remove the requirement for notarization for background check applications. This will help to eliminate regulatory burdens on applicants and their employers. It will also reduce out-of-pocket costs for the applicants.
• The second area of regulatory improvement is to ensure timely inspections of licensed healthcare providers and residential care facilities. These activities help ensure that patients and residents remain safe and receive high quality care. The pandemic interrupted the department’s regulatory activities through stay-at-home orders that decreased the number of regular inspections during the year. The Division of Licensing & Certification completed a list of strategies to complete overdue surveys and complaint investigations. The division is now exploring all options for completing survey work and hiring more surveyors.

As we look to the new state fiscal year, which begins on July 1, we’ll also be submitting the 2023–2026 Strategic Plan to the Division of Financial Management. It will be available to the public shortly after. You can follow the DHW’s work toward our mission and read more about our Strategic Plan on our website.

I hope you have a safe and healthy weekend.

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

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has expanded COVID-19 vaccine recommendations to everyone ages 6 months and older. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are now both newly recommended and available for children 6 months through 5 years old (Moderna) and 6 months through 4 years old (Pfizer).

What are the main differences in the doses for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for children ages 5 and younger?

For Pfizer: Children age 6 months through 4 years old will receive a three-dose series, with the first and second doses spaced three weeks apart and a third at least two months after the second dose. The dosage for this age group is one-tenth the adult dosage.

For Moderna: Children age 6 months through 5 years old will receive a two-dose series, with two doses spaced four weeks apart. The dosage for this age group is one-quarter of the adult dosage.

Why should I get my child a COVID-19 vaccine?

COVID-19 has become one of the top 10 causes of death for children. While children are less likely than adults to become severely ill or hospitalized from COVID-19, the virus is unpredictable. Vaccination is the best way to protect children from getting really sick from COVID-19. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/children-teens.html

Where can I get my child vaccinated?

We expect to have plenty of COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 6 months and older in Idaho. Vaccines are available from both Pfizer and Moderna by searching https://www.vaccines.gov/search/ Find a location near you and make an appointment, or call your child’s healthcare provider.

Are the vaccines safe for children that young?

COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are safe for children, based on data from clinical trials and the fact that 22 million children and adolescents ages 5-17 have already gotten a COVID-19 vaccine. If you have concerns, please discuss them with your child’s healthcare provider. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/children-teens.html

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, and since late February 2020, has been focusing almost solely on responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

COVID-19 resources:

• Idaho’s Coronavirus website
• CDC COVID-19 website
• Masks are available for Idahoans: KN95 masks (one pack of 10 per household) are available for free at various locations around the state. Call the Idaho CareLine by dialing 2-1-1 or 800-926-2588 or your local public health district to find a location near you. https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/health-wellness/community-health/public-health-districts
• Free, at-home COVID-19 tests are available from the federal government at covidtests.gov. Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free, at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.
• 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. 

In our efforts to strengthen the health, safety, and independence of everyone who lives in Idaho, many divisions in the department work directly with the state’s five tribes to make sure they have access to the services and resources they need.

We recently created a new annual report called 2021 Tribal Community Report and have shared it with the tribes to help strengthen these partnerships.

In the past several years, the department has expanded opportunities to communicate and share ideas with the tribes. This translates into more collaborative solutions to sometimes challenging problems because there are more opportunities to work together.

We’ve also provided services and support to help influence the physical and mental health of tribal members.

One example of this work includes boosting the tribes’ education and awareness programs that help members quit commercial tobacco and vaping products. More than half of all tribal members have reported regularly smoking or chewing tobacco or vaping, all of which can be harmful. Another example includes providing funding and support for tribal efforts to curb substance use and overdoses.

DHW is also working to make sure tribal representatives are involved in the process that helps children who have experienced abuse, neglect, or abandonment, and their families. The Division of Family and Community Services strives to make sure tribes have access to resources and services they need to keep their families together.

More details are available in the report. I hope you’ll take the time to read it.

I hope you stay safe and healthy on this extended weekend. The department will be closed on Monday, in honor of the Juneteenth holiday.

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

Idaho WIC (short for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) is a federally funded nutrition program for women, infants, and children. The program promotes healthy choices for pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children up to their fifth birthdays.

The names of the programs may sound similar, but the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) or food stamps, is a different program. You can be eligible and get benefits from both. If you have SNAP or Medicaid, then you may also be able to get WIC.

What does WIC do?

WIC helps families by providing: 

• WIC funds to buy healthy foods from local grocery stores
• Nutrition education
• Help finding healthcare and other community services
• Breastfeeding information and support

What breastfeeding services does WIC offer?

Idaho WIC provides services to help Idaho remain one of the top breastfeeding states in the nation:

• Peer counseling: Counselors help cheer on and support pregnant women before and after they’ve had their babies as they decide how to feed their babies. Counselors have experience breastfeeding their own children and understand the challenges and joys that come with breastfeeding. 
• Professional breastfeeding support: WIC provides free clinic and phone discussions with trained breastfeeding professionals, including international board-certified lactation consultants (IBCLC’s), certified lactation counselors/educators, and registered dietitians.
• Supplemental foods for breastfeeding women: Breastfeeding women receive the deluxe WIC food package with more food and variety.
• Breastfeeding equipment: WIC may supply breast pumps and other equipment or supplies to help women provide breast milk for their babies.

Contact your local WIC clinic to learn more about breastfeeding services.

Who is eligible for WIC?

To be eligible for WIC, you must meet certain requirements:

• Be a resident of Idaho
• Meet income guidelines
• Be pregnant, breastfeeding, had a baby in the last six months, or be parents, guardians, or foster parents of infants and children up to their fifth birthdays

Visit signupwic.com to find the WIC clinic closest to you. Determine what to bring to your first appointment.

Leah Sallas is the Idaho WIC program director. She has worked for the department since 2015.

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. 

As part of Strategic Goal 3, the department is committed to serving Idahoans by making sure that:

• The suicide rate in Idaho is reduced
• Idahoans become as healthy and self-sufficient as possible through community-driven health initiatives
• There is a measurable reduction in abuse, neglect, and other damaging adverse childhood experiences in Idaho families

This article highlights and celebrates some of our key achievements from the current Strategic Plan.

Objective 3.1: Reduce Idaho's suicide rate by 20 percent by 2025.

• We believe that suicide deaths are preventable. The department’s Suicide Prevention Program has successfully recruited healthcare partners to implement a suicide care model called Zero Suicide. The model is that patients get the care they need when they need it. The provider partners are Shoshone Medical Center in Kellogg, Snake River Community Clinic in Lewiston, and Caribou Medical Center in Soda Springs. Additional medical providers plan to implement Zero Suicide in Idaho.
• Suicide postvention is the actions taken after a suicide has occurred to prevent additional suicides. The department’s Suicide Prevention Program has an Idaho suicide postvention toolkit, and is working with each of Idaho’s local public health districts to develop postvention goals. The team also launched a suicide prevention social media campaign called Rock Your Role: Know the Signs.
• The campaign and postvention toolkits help expand resources to agricultural and farming community members in rural Idaho. Other activities to help raise suicide prevention awareness and promote postvention resources included distribution of gun locks and medication/drug lock boxes.

Objective 3.2: Address health disparities and the social determinants of health (SDOH) associated with the priority health issues (diabetes, obesity, injury, and behavioral health) by partnering with and investing in at least one high-risk community per year, through June 2024.

• The department successfully worked with the Western Idaho Community Health Coalition (WICHC) in Elmore County. WICHC will invest in community-level approaches that impact health such as housing, neighborhood conditions, and education. The priorities identified in Elmore County are the healthcare system, and neighborhood and physical environment. The department awarded a second high-risk community subgrant to Southeast Idaho United Way, focusing on Bannock County.
• The department published an evaluation on the progress of Get Healthy Idaho work. The report includes opportunities for new funding possibilities and recommendations to help Get Healthy Idaho grow so communities are equipped to thrive. One of these recommendations involved establishing a partnership with the Idaho Funders Network. The Get Healthy Idaho team took part in the first Idaho Funders Summit in September 2021.
• DHW partnered with Boise State University to develop the Idaho Health Report Card at the request of the Health Quality Planning Commission. The vision of the health report card is to promote a unified approach to assess the health of Idaho, identify areas of greatest concern, and drive action among partners and policy-makers invested in supporting Idahoans to live their healthiest lives possible. 
• This team also partnered on the Healthy Idaho Places Index. They completed Phase 1 of the project, which included defining the data process methodology and finalizing the metrics for the Idaho Health Report Card and the Healthy Idaho Places Index. The team expects to launch the index this summer. It will be a rich source of data that combines the social determinants of health and Idaho’s existing health outcomes to identify highest-risk communities and neighborhoods that need support. It also will serve as a driver for health policy decisions and resource dedication across state partnerships.

Objective 3.3: Implement three evidence informed initiatives that reduce harmful adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in Idaho families by July 1, 2023.

• The department worked with medical providers to increase screening to interrupt the intergenerational transmission of ACEs in families. A Parent Advisory Committee assisting with this task used focus group feedback to develop trauma-informed, human-centered screening guidelines for physicians.
• New screening guidelines are being integrated into provider practices in the Treasure Valley this fall, with a plan to expand beyond the Treasure Valley in coming years.
• The department has organized a dynamic ACEs team with more than a dozen members from divisions throughout the department. The team is developing a clear picture of what ACEs data the department has, and how we can use the data to support programs to address ACEs as an agency. The desired outcome is to identify work already started in DHW and with partners, and to build a coordinated approach to the data that identifies shared indicators about where DHW can focus as an agency.

You can follow the DHW’s work toward our mission and read more about our Strategic Plan on our website.

I hope you have a safe and healthy weekend.

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

COVID-19 trends in Idaho are heading in the wrong direction. We’re hearing about more infections, and 9 percent of COVID-19 test results are positive (up from 7.6 percent the week before). In addition, hospitalizations also are ticking up. The good news is that hospitalization increases are small, and the number of deaths is not rising, likely due to some population immunity from circulating strains.

After the Memorial Day holiday and recent graduations — when many people gather with friends and family -- we’re watching to see if these trends continue. If Idaho follows the trends east coast states have experienced , we may see our rates level off in a few weeks, but a lot depends on new variants of the virus that emerge and whether people will avoid behaving in ways that can result in spreading the virus that causes COVID-19.

We’d like to remind Idahoans that we have tools that work to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The vaccines work well to keep most people out of the hospital. We can choose to wear masks in crowded places or when we can’t keep our distance from others. We have more immunity as a population, and we also have more treatment options and an understanding about the virus that we didn’t have when the pandemic began.

It may be difficult to assess your own risk as you eye COVID-19 trends. Here’s some information that might help. 

What precautions should I take?

Getting vaccinated and boosted if you’re eligible still offers the best protection against serious illness, even if you’ve had COVID-19. Try to gather outdoors with friends and family this summer, and if you’re indoors open doors and windows to keep air flowing. Consider wearing masks indoors when it's crowded or if you can't spread out, especially if you are around people at higher risk for severe disease. Using at-home tests is an easy and convenient way to make sure you don’t unknowingly spread the virus.

Most importantly, if you’re sick, stay home and call your medical provider.

Do masks work?

High-quality masks work best to protect both people who wear them and the people around them who don’t. These masks keep you from spitting germs on others, and they keep others’ germs from getting in your mouth and nose and making you sick. The more people who wear them the better, but high-quality masks still work if you’re the only person in a crowded room wearing one.

Some masks do not work as well as others. Loosely woven cloth masks are the least likely to protect you. Finely woven layered masks work better, and well-fitting disposable surgical masks and KN95s offer even more protection than woven cloth masks. Well-fitting NIOSH-approved respirators, including N95s, offer the highest level of protection.

Any mask you wear should fit closely on the face without any gaps along the edges or around your nose and be comfortable enough when worn over your nose and mouth that you can keep it on when you need to. 

More details about masks: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/types-of-masks.html

When should I get tested?

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, you should get tested right away.

If you’ve had close contact with someone who had COVID-19, you should get tested at least five days after you were with them even if you don’t develop symptoms.

If you’re planning to attend a party or crowded event, think about getting tested as close to the event date as possible.

If you’re traveling, you can learn more about the requirements on the travel page on the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

If you have had COVID-19 in the past 90 days and recovered, you do not need to be tested unless you develop new symptoms.

Dr. Kathryn Turner is the deputy state epidemiologist in the Division of Public Health. She has worked for the department for 17 years and oversees the epidemiology, immunization, food protection, communicable disease surveillance, and refugee health screening programs for the division. She has been focused almost entirely on Idaho’s pandemic response since February 2020.

COVID-19 resources:

• Idaho’s Coronavirus website
• CDC COVID-19 website
• Masks are available for Idahoans: KN95 masks (one pack of 10 per household) are available for free at various locations around the state. Call the Idaho CareLine by dialing 2-1-1 or 800-926-2588 or your local public health district to find a location near you. https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/health-wellness/community-health/public-health-districts
• Free, at-home COVID-19 tests are available from the federal government at covidtests.gov. Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free, at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.
• 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 Idaho Behavioral Health Council (IBHC) is working toward a future where adults, children, and their families who live with mental illness and addiction receive the behavioral health care services they need when they need them. This will help to make sure they have a better quality of life, less chance of getting involved with the criminal justice system, and their communities are healthier and safer places to live.

That is quite a tall order, but as the council’s co-chairperson, I am pleased to be able to say that successful work has begun. (Administrative Director of the Courts Sara Omundson is the other co-chairperson.)

The council selected nine of the 34 recommendations in its strategic action plan as priorities for the next three years, and all nine have been started. Here is more information about a few of those recommendations. You can see more details about the status of all nine recommendations on the council’s website under the strategic action plan link.

Recommendation: Improve Idaho’s civil commitment process and procedures by proposing amendments to the Mental Health Act to incorporate the action items.

The civil commitment process is what happens when someone is involuntarily committed for mental health treatment because they are a danger to themselves, a danger to others, or they are determined to be gravely disabled because of mental illness. The intent of this initiative is to update the definitions of mental illness including gravely disabled, clarify the roles of the state vs. the counties, and streamline the process. 

Legislation was proposed and passed unanimously in both the Idaho House and Senate in the 2022 legislative session.

Recommendation: Develop and implement a comprehensive workforce plan to increase licensed and/or certified behavioral health professionals across the full continuum of service care throughout the lifespan in Idaho.

This recommendation was formed after the IBHC’s Advisory Board and several IBHC workgroups created proposed action items identifying significant workforce needs in Idaho. Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) are federal designations that specify geographic areas or populations that don’t have enough primary care, dental, or mental health professionals. The entire state of Idaho has a mental health HPSA designation.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare published a Behavioral Health Workforce Plan in January 2022, in accordance with this recommendation. The plan outlines a five-point framework to expand the behavioral health workforce in Idaho. The framework includes Promotion, Education, Credentialing, Employment, and Retention. A specific implementation plan will be finalized in July 2022. 

Recommendation: Develop and implement a crisis response system model for youth. Strengthen and broaden a crisis response system model for adults based on community capacity.

DHW currently provides behavioral health crisis services across Idaho and intends to enhance the system. Based on best practices, Idaho has identified five core principles of the crisis system and many essential components.

DHW’s core principles for the development of the crisis system are:

• Collaboration with stakeholders
• Centralized organization
• Community-based, competent, and diversified workforce
• Non-coercive practice
• Resolution mindset

DHW has already implemented:

• Regional mobile response teams
• Crisis stabilization centers
• Access to urgent walk-in crisis care
• Crisis collaboratives in each region
• System oversight and management

The essential components of the crisis system that need development include:

• Centralized call center, including implementation of 988 on July 16
• Access to mobile response
• Integrated substance use and medication as treatment solutions
• Inclusion of peers and recovery coaches
• Access to urgent care

Idaho’s behavioral health delivery system will be improved significantly by 2023 through the negotiation of a new Idaho Behavioral Health Plan contract, which will include a crisis system for all Idahoans with a crisis call center, mobile response teams, and crisis stabilization facilities.

Idahoans having a behavioral health crisis often are jailed, hospitalized, or treated in hospital emergency departments because treatment or care to meet their needs is not available. The goals of the crisis system are to address mental health needs at the right time or level of care, avoiding time in jail and the use of hospital emergency departments.

For more information about the Idaho Behavioral Health Council, its strategic plan, and the Implementation Template, visit https://behavioralhealthcouncil.idaho.gov/

This is the third post in a series that focuses on how Idaho is working to improve the behavioral health system so Idahoans can get the care and services they need when they need them. My previous posts are available at https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/dhw-voice/dhw-director-dave-jeppesen-gov-littles-leading-idaho-plan-provides-critical-funding and https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/dhw-voice/dhw-director-dave-jeppesen-working-improve-behavioral-healthcare-all-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. 

Now that school is out and long summer days beckon us all into the outdoors, it’s time to be aware of potential infections that can be transmitted through the bite of ticks and mosquitoes. A bite from either can cause a disease that might seriously impact your health. It’s important to do everything you can to avoid getting bitten.

Tick- and mosquito-borne diseases can vary by region in the United States. What are the insect-borne diseases we should be aware of in Idaho?

That is a great question – before you head into the outdoors, you should learn more about the diseases associated with local ticks and mosquitoes. In Idaho, public health officials are most concerned about West Nile virus from mosquitoes and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, tick-borne relapsing fever, and tularemia from ticks.

Is Lyme disease in Idaho?

We often hear about Lyme disease in the national media, but cases in Idaho are rare and generally occur in people who traveled to other areas of the country where infected ticks have been found. The tick that carries Lyme disease is not known to live in Idaho. Even so, cases are tracked by where a person lives rather than where they were infected, and Idaho will report cases every year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is an excellent resource if you want to learn more about the risks of insect bites by geographic region.

What are some of the symptoms of the diseases ticks and mosquitoes transmit in Idaho?

Most of these diseases cause a fever, and some can cause a rash. For example, most people infected with West Nile virus will not have any symptoms, but about 20 percent or so will develop illness that could be anywhere from mild to serious and may include fever, headache, body aches, a rash, and swollen glands. Some people might develop serious illness infecting the brain or spinal cord. People most at risk are those older than 50 and those who have underlying medical conditions or weakened immune systems.

For those with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, symptoms can include fevers and chills, headaches, confusion, and a rash that may begin a few days after the other symptoms start.

To learn more about tularemia and tick-borne relapsing fever visit these CDC websites: https://www.cdc.gov/tularemia/index.html and https://www.cdc.gov/relapsing-fever/index.html

What are the best ways to prevent tick and mosquito bites?

• For both mosquitoes and ticks, use insect repellent approved by the EPA on exposed skin and clothing. Follow instructions on the product label, especially if you’re applying it to children.
• Avoid mosquito bites by staying indoors or wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts if you’re outside, particularly during dusk and dawn hours when mosquitoes are most active. Ticks will be more visible if you wear light-colored clothing.
• Check for and remove ticks from your clothing, body, hair, and pets when you have been outside.
• Make sure window and door screens in your home and camper are in good repair so mosquitoes can’t get in.
• Talk to your veterinarian about tick prevention products for your pets. Ticks can hitch a ride on your pet and end up in your home.

When should you seek medical attention?

If a tick is biting you, use a fine tweezers or notched tick extractor to remove it as close to the skin as possible without squeezing or crushing it. Disinfect the bite site and wash your hands with soap and water. If you have any symptoms listed above in the hours or days after a tick bite, see your medical provider immediately. Early treatment reduces the risk of complications. Idaho does not test ticks for microbes that can cause disease.

There is no specific treatment for West Nile virus, but hospitalization and treatment of symptoms may improve the chances of recovery for those with severe infections. There is no vaccine for humans, but there are several choices for horses, who, like humans, can become seriously ill if infected.

Leslie Tengelsen, PhD, DVM, is the state public health veterinarian in the Division of Public Health. She has worked for the department since 1998 and focuses on zoonotic disease prevention.

Resources:

• How to remove a tick
• Symptoms of tick-borne illness
• West Nile virus: Fight the Bite
• Travel health notices

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.