Children do best with their families. Children thrive when they are safe, nurtured, and loved.

All children deserve to live in a safe, nurturing environment. They deserve to have their needs met – a home, food, clothing, medical care, and education. They deserve a chance to be kids, to feel love, and to grow and learn.

The reality is that sometimes, for various reasons, parents are unable to provide a safe, stable home for their children. If the situation is critical, a court or law enforcement agency may determine that the child needs to come into the state’s care for the child’s safety. As a reminder; only a court or law enforcement may move a child into the state’s care.

When a child comes into the state’s care, our goal is to keep children with their families whenever that can be done safely, or to help the family address safety issues so a child can return home safely.

All those who work in child welfare do so because they deeply care about children. There is no incentive for the state to bring children into the state’s care.

Funding for salaries for all state employees, including social workers, is set by the Idaho Legislature through a budgeting process. No one makes more money when a child comes into care with the state. No one.

When a child can’t be at home with their parents, we are grateful for the foster families that are there in times of need. People choose to be foster parents because they care about children.

Being a foster parent is both a labor of love and a difficult job. They want to be a part of the solution for Idaho children – the bridge to a healthier, more stable family or future for the child. Foster parents open their homes and hearts to children in need, and they foster because they believe every child should be safe and experience love and stability.

When a child comes into care, there is limited funding available (from state and federal appropriations) to make sure the child’s needs are met. Caring for and providing a home for any child has significant costs.

Foster parents receive a monthly reimbursement for room and board to offset the cost of caring for a child in foster care. These rates are based on the age of the child.

Based on an annual review of foster care maintenance rates in 2020, the department proposed an increase to the foster parent reimbursement to the Idaho Legislature. This increase has been approved by the House and Senate.  

As the cost of living has increased significantly, feedback from foster parents has indicated the reimbursements didn’t fully meet the needs of the children and they were paying out of their own pockets to care for them. There have been no increases since 2017 and the increase at that time was minimal. This change in rates would bring Idaho from one of the lowest reimbursing states to around the middle compared to other western and similarly sized states.

Currently, monthly room and board is: 

• $395 for children ages 0-5
• $439 for ages 6-12
• $584 for ages 13-18
• $674 for ages 18-20   

The proposed new rates are:

• $632 for ages 0-5
• $702 for ages 6-12
• $759 for ages 13-18
• $876 for ages 18-20

Even after the increase, the reimbursement won’t cover all expenses, so a foster parent may receive additional funds for clothing, school supplies, and other expenses based on the needs of the child.

We are so grateful for foster parents. They believe, as we do, that each child deserves the best we all can give them.

Currently, Idaho has a critical need for foster families. More information on how to become a foster parent is available on the department’s website. If you’re interested, please call 2-1-1 and a foster care representative will contact you with more information.

I hope you have a safe and healthy weekend.

As COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are declining in Idaho and the United States, more attention is being focused on what has been called “long COVID,” “post-COVID conditions,” or “long-haul COVID,” among other names.

Long COVID is still being studied, but it has a serious impact on many people, and can occur even after a mild COVID-19 infection.

Here’s what public health and medical professionals know (and what they don’t) about the often serious set of debilitating and lingering symptoms associated with long COVID.

What is long COVID?

Although most people who get infected with COVID-19 get better within weeks of illness, some people experience health issues after they are no longer able to spread the disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These post-COVID conditions, as the CDC calls them, are a wide range of new, returning, or ongoing health problems people can experience four or more weeks after first being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.

Even people who did not have COVID-19 symptoms in the days or weeks after they were infected can have some of these symptoms, which can range from mild to very severe, and last for weeks, months, or longer.

CDC and other health experts around the world are working to learn more about short- and long-term negative health effects associated with COVID-19, who gets them, and why.

What are the symptoms?

Most studies of long COVID identify fatigue, muscle aches, shortness of breath, and mental health concerns among people with symptoms months after COVID infection. However, there is a lot still being learned about long COVID, and more symptoms and concerns are being identified by doctors and others studying long COVID. According to the CDC, people with post-COVID conditions may report experiencing different combinations of the following symptoms:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Tiredness or fatigue
• Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental activities (also known as post-exertional malaise)
• Difficulty thinking or concentrating (sometimes referred to as “brain fog”)
• Cough
• Chest or stomach pain
• Headache
• Fast-beating or pounding heart (also known as heart palpitations)
• Joint or muscle pain
• Pins-and-needles feeling
• Diarrhea
• Sleep problems
• Fever
• Dizziness on standing (lightheadedness)
• Rash
• Mood changes
• Change in smell or taste
• Changes in menstrual period cycles

How long can long COVID last?

Public health and medical professionals don’t really know at this point. The lingering health issues may resolve in some people in 6-8 weeks, but other people who have long COVID symptoms have been experiencing them for many months. Whether these patients will eventually get better is being evaluated now by doctors and health researchers; we will know more over time about whether these symptoms will resolve in all patients, or if some of them may become permanent.

What is the treatment for long COVID?

Because the symptoms are so varied, treatment is different for everyone. Some clinics are starting to focus on the diagnosis and management of long COVID and usually involve health care providers from multiple specialties who work together to provide the best possible care for the patient.

Do vaccinated people also seem to have long COVID?

Both vaccinated/boosted and unvaccinated people have experienced long COVID. However, studies are showing that vaccination decreases the risk of developing long COVID, even if the vaccinated person does get a COVID infection.

What’s the best way to prevent long COVID?

The best way to prevent post-COVID conditions is to prevent COVID-19 illness. Follow current public health guidelines regarding masking, testing, and social distancing. Getting vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 is the best way to prevent getting COVID-19 and can also help protect those around you.

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 the Family Medicine Residency of Idaho’s tuberculosis clinic twice monthly. She also serves on CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and since late February 2020, has been focusing almost solely on responding to the coronavirus pandemic.

Long COVID resources:

• CDC: Post-COVID conditions
• CDC: Caring for people with post-COVID conditions

COVID-19 resources:

• Idaho’s Coronavirus website
• CDC COVID-19 website

Follow the Department of Health and Welfare on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for daily 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. 

Given an increased interest in the child welfare system, I would like to share a bit of the process and the role of the Department of Health and Welfare (DHW).

First, I need to be clear that specific child welfare cases are confidential, and we cannot release any details about specific cases. We often would like to be able to say more, but that would violate the rights of the families and children who really need support and assistance, not to mention the stigma that might happen if their personal circumstances were made public.

When it comes to child welfare cases, our highest priority is to keep children with their families whenever that can be done safely, or to help the family address safety issues so a child can return home safely. In particular, there is a growing false narrative that parents should be fearful to seek medical care. Nothing could be further from the truth. Parents should always seek medical care and advice when their children are ill and for regular wellness checkups.

As we have shared with the media, in general, below is how the child welfare process works: 

If someone is concerned about the safety of a child, they can call the department by dialing 211, or 855-552-KIDS (5437) or their local law enforcement. Referrals can come from anyone, but they often come from a healthcare worker, teacher, law enforcement, or other Idaho resident who has concerns about a child's safety. (Just a reminder that everyone in Idaho is a mandated reporter if they have information a child may be the victim of abuse or neglect.)

When a referral is received, it is reviewed, and a determination is made if what was called in meets the priority guidelines for assignment. 

If the referral meets the guidelines for assignment, it is prioritized for a safety assessment based on severity. For those where the perceived danger to the child is high, a social worker and possibly law enforcement will visit the family to check on the child very quickly. Based on that visit and in consultation with the social worker and possibly healthcare workers, law enforcement will make the decision about whether to declare that a child is in imminent danger.

If that decision is made, then law enforcement places the child in the temporary custody of the state (DHW) until a shelter care hearing in court can be held. That hearing will take place in no more than 48 business hours. The judge will hear all the evidence from the family, the social worker, law enforcement and others, and possibly review a safety plan if one is agreed to by the family and will issue a decision about whether the child will be released to the family or will remain in the state's custody because safety issues have not been addressed by the family.

If the child goes back to his or her family with a safety plan, a social worker will be assigned to work with the family on a case plan ordered through the court to address the safety issues that led to their child being placed in care. The social worker will meet with the family on a frequency determined through the safety plan put in place to make sure the terms of the safety plan are being followed and the child is safe.

If the child remains in the state's custody, the department will continue to work with the family until the safety concerns are resolved. The Adoption and Safe Families Act allows for parents to have 12 months to resolve the safety issues. If safety issues can’t be resolved and the child can’t be returned safely to the home at that point, then the department can petition the court for termination of parental rights. We always hope it doesn’t come to that, but it sometimes does, unfortunately.

Bullying, harassment tactics are inappropriate

Currently, there are people protesting in or near our downtown location, and we respect the right for people to protest.

Now, I want to talk about something that is happening that is both personal and troubling to me. That is when protestors target specific people, including our employees. Harassing and bullying specific people is inappropriate and wrong.

Legal processes are in place and DHW must follow them. No amount of harassment will allow us to deviate from the established legal process. And those legal processes are there for the benefit of everyone.

Needing services or information?

Due to a spike in calls from those sharing their thoughts or opinions, our phone lines may be busier than usual. If you need services or information, please continue to call, or visit our website at https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/

We want to recognize the hard work and commitment of DHW’s social workers

In observation of March as Social Worker Month, DHW recognizes how our own social workers care about Idahoans, work daily to strengthen Idaho families, and want to make a difference in the lives of Idaho’s most vulnerable residents.

Social workers are focused on helping Idahoans meet their needs with a particular focus on those who are vulnerable or living in poverty. As noted in a 2018 Guardian article, “When social workers are active in a community, it tends to have a positive impact on crime rates, health statistics, school attendance, and employment.”

In thousands of ways, social workers help people of every age and background, all across the state. The most well-known aspect of social work is providing direct services to residents. They also help guide people to critical resources and counsel them on life-changing decisions.

Social workers, even when faced with huge obstacles and criticism, work selflessly and compassionately to keep Idaho’s residents safe and secure. The great work our social workers do despite these obstacles is amazing, and I want to thank and recognize them for their hard work and commitment to Idaho.

I hope you have a safe and healthy weekend.

Idaho is working to reduce a concerning increase in overdoses and overdose-related deaths. Fentanyl-related overdose deaths are on a dramatic rise in Idaho.

To help address the impacts of fentanyl, Gov. Brad Little is launching an initiative called Operation Esto Perpetua with the goal of reducing the flow of fentanyl and meth across Idaho. A citizen action group will begin bi-weekly meetings around the state starting this week.

Early data from DHW shows that 44 percent of overdose deaths in Idaho in 2021 involved synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, as compared to 21 percent in 2020, and 12 percent in 2019.

Between 2015 and 2021, the total number of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. doubled from just under 50,000 per year to almost 100,000 per year. Unintentional poisonings, including drug overdoses, is the leading cause of death in the United States for people up to age 44.

Fentanyl is an extremely potent narcotic that is 50 to 100 times more powerful than morphine. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is involved in an increasing number of overdose deaths because of its strength and people taking it unknowingly.

Idaho law enforcement agencies have reported that counterfeit pills containing illicitly manufactured fentanyl are widely available to Idahoans through social media. This substance is increasingly being added to counterfeit pills  to make them cheaper and more potent.

Counterfeit pills containing fentanyl are often made to look like prescription opioids such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and alprazolam, or stimulants such as Adderall. Fentanyl increases the potency of these drugs, which makes them more likely to lead to an overdose.

Learn more

• The only safe medications are ones that come from licensed and accredited medical professionals.
• Know the signs of an opioid overdose. Here are some things to look for:
  • Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils”
  • Falling asleep or losing consciousness
  • Slow, weak, or no breathing
  • Choking or gurgling sounds
  • Limp body
  • Cold and/or clammy skin
  • Discolored skin (especially lips and nails)
• Learn what to do if someone is experiencing an overdose by visiting: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/behavioral-health/overdose-response.
• Naloxone, also known as Narcan and Kloxxado, is a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose and prevent death. Everyone, including family and friends, can ask for a prescription for naxloxone at their local pharmacy. If you have Medicaid, naloxone is covered.
• Free naloxone is also available by calling or texting the Idaho Harm Reduction Project at 208-991-4574.
• Organizations can request free naloxone kits and training through the Department of Health and Welfare: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/overdose-response.
• See more drug overdose data through the Idaho drug overdose data dashboard: https://www.gethealthy.dhw.idaho.gov/drug-overdose-dashboard.

Kristen Raese serves as a health program specialist for the Drug Overdose Prevention Program. She has worked for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare  since 2017. She holds a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center. .

Follow the Department of Health and Welfare on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for daily 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 the director of the Department of Health and Welfare, one of the most meaningful things I do is sign legal adoption forms for Idaho foster children. I always do it at the end of the day because it leaves me very emotional. I have read every one of the over 1,000 adoptions that I have signed, and I consider it an important, humbling part of my job.

My role in the adoption is at the end of an often overwhelming and sensitive journey for children. The journey includes social workers, navigators, and other DHW employees as well as external partners such as the court systems. But more importantly, it includes foster, adoptive, and kinship families – who have welcomed children into their homes with open hearts and open arms. (Kinship care refers to family or other close relationships.)

This past week, DHW received an email from a kinship foster family, and I wanted to share a few words from it with you. The family explained their current situation, but mostly, they wanted to thank those who helped them through their kinship care experience.

Here is part of the email:

"The Child and Family Services team really was listening and found a way to let us know they were hearing our voice. The amount of support for the kiddos and for kinship families is truly amazing. I’m not sure I can express enough how much support we’ve had in ensuring our kiddo’s safety, security and specific needs.

Thanks to all of the support we have had throughout this process, our kiddo has had the opportunity to grow and flourish beyond ordinary means."

Why foster care is important

Although with their family is the best place for a child to live, some parents can’t provide a safe home, and because of that, a child could be placed in foster care where they are provided safe, nurturing homes when their birth parents are unable to provide for them. A foster home gives the child an opportunity to develop trust, self-esteem, and the opportunity to learn life skills while their parents work on resolving the safety issues in their home. When a child is placed in foster care, the department makes every attempt to place the child in a kinship foster home.

As a reminder, there are currently thousands of children in Idaho who are living with and being raised by relatives or other close relationships that aren’t in foster care (known as kinship care).

How to become a foster parent

Currently, Idaho has a critical need for foster families so that children will have a safe place to live and go to school while their parents get the help they need. Becoming a foster parent is a big decision, but if  you are called to do so, we are here to help.

Read more about becoming a foster parent:

• DHW Voice Blog: Idaho needs foster families! Can you help?
• DHW website: Child and Family Services and Foster Care

For those who have made the decision to help children through kinship care, foster care, or adoption, I appreciate your calling to love and support Idaho’s children.

I hope you have a safe and healthy weekend.

Getting screened for colorectal cancer is something Idahoans aged 45 and older should consider because it is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths among adults in Idaho. In fact, 3,194 cases of malignant colorectal cancer were diagnosed among Idahoans from 2015-2019, and sadly, a little more than 3 in 10 Idahoans diagnosed with colorectal cancer died from their cancer within 5 years. March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and it’s a good time to talk to your doctor about your screening options. Screening and early detection save lives!

Who should be screened?

It is recommended that everyone should get screened starting at age 45. If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, you should talk to your medical provider about getting screened earlier. All Idaho adults should get into the habit of regular screenings.

Why is screening so important?

As with all cancers, the key is to find it early. Your chances of beating the disease and surviving are better. You don’t have to have a family history of colon cancer to be at risk. Colorectal cancer can begin anywhere in the large intestine as pre-cancerous polyps, with no symptoms.

Is a colonoscopy the only reliable test you can do?

No, there are several different kinds of tests are available and the best test is the one that gets done! You can choose from a variety of screening methods, including those that can be done each year from the comfort of your home. There are advantages and disadvantages for each one, so you should talk to your doctor about which is right for you. It’s also important to know that preventing colon cancer or finding it early doesn’t have to be expensive. Simple, affordable tests are available, and most health insurance plans cover the life-saving, preventative tests.

Who is at risk for colon cancer?

The risk increases for everyone as we get older, and we know there’s an increased risk for people who are 45 or older, who smoke, who don’t get enough physical activity, or who are obese. Alcohol and tobacco use also increase risk. Inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn’s disease) also increases a person’s risk for colon cancer.

What can we do to reduce the risk?

Besides getting screened regularly if you are 45 or older, you can keep your colon healthy by eating foods that are high in fiber, drinking lots of water, and exercising daily. 

Additional resources:

• Idaho’s Comprehensive Cancer Control Program: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/health-wellness/diseases-conditions/about-comprehensive-cancer-control-program
• CDC’s colorectal (colon) cancer site: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/index.htm
• For cancer survivors: Staying well during COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/survivors/staying-well-during-covid-19.htm

Follow the Department of Health and Welfare on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for daily 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. 

Getting screened for colorectal cancer is something Idahoans aged 45 and older should consider because it is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths among adults in Idaho. In fact, 3,194 cases of malignant colorectal cancer were diagnosed among Idahoans from 2015-2019, and sadly, a little more than 3 in 10 Idahoans diagnosed with colorectal cancer died from their cancer within 5 years. March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and it’s a good time to talk to your doctor about your screening options. Screening and early detection save lives!

Who should be screened?

It is recommended that everyone should get screened starting at age 45. If you have a family history of colorectal cancer, you should talk to your medical provider about getting screened earlier. All Idaho adults should get into the habit of regular screenings.

Why is screening so important?

As with all cancers, the key is to find it early. Your chances of beating the disease and surviving are better. You don’t have to have a family history of colon cancer to be at risk. Colorectal cancer can begin anywhere in the large intestine as pre-cancerous polyps, with no symptoms.

Is a colonoscopy the only reliable test you can do?

No, there are several different kinds of tests are available and the best test is the one that gets done! You can choose from a variety of screening methods, including those that can be done each year from the comfort of your home. There are advantages and disadvantages for each one, so you should talk to your doctor about which is right for you. It’s also important to know that preventing colon cancer or finding it early doesn’t have to be expensive. Simple, affordable tests are available, and most health insurance plans cover the life-saving, preventative tests.

Who is at risk for colon cancer?

The risk increases for everyone as we get older, and we know there’s an increased risk for people who are 45 or older, who smoke, who don’t get enough physical activity, or who are obese. Alcohol and tobacco use also increase risk. Inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn’s disease) also increases a person’s risk for colon cancer.

What can we do to reduce the risk?

Besides getting screened regularly if you are 45 or older, you can keep your colon healthy by eating foods that are high in fiber, drinking lots of water, and exercising daily. 

Additional resources:

• Idaho’s Comprehensive Cancer Control Program: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/health-wellness/diseases-conditions/about-comprehensive-cancer-control-program
• CDC’s colorectal (colon) cancer site: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/index.htm
• For cancer survivors: Staying well during COVID-19: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/survivors/staying-well-during-covid-19.htm

Follow the Department of Health and Welfare on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for daily 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. 

During 2021, we continued to serve Idahoans during the pandemic. Even though COVID-19 dominated the airwaves and remained top of mind for our employees and the public, there were many other services to provide and needs to be met. Whatever the need is – financial, physical, or mental – we are here to serve Idahoans.

One thing has remained consistent, even during the pandemic, and that is our employees’ commitment to serve. When you work in the public sector, it is a labor of love. Our employees feel called to this work, and it is honor for us to serve the people of Idaho.

One of the ways we demonstrate and highlight our work is through the annual report. This is the third year we’ve done this report, and it is the story of the work behind the department’s strategic plan. The annual report highlights how we serve Idahoans, innovate for the future, and collaborate with other stakeholders.

The 2021 Annual Report is now available on the DHW website at: https://publicdocuments.dhw.idaho.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=21566&dbid=0&repo=PUBLIC-DOCUMENTS

I hope you will take time to read it. You will find information about how we are:

• Transforming Idaho’s behavioral healthcare system
• Training Idahoans to help prevent suicide
• Improving our process for background checks to support employers
• Using value-based payments in our Medicaid program to help Idahoans become healthier
• Addressing the root causes of poor health through Get Healthy Idaho
• Increasing awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in Idaho
• Educating healthcare providers to help prevent opioid overdoses
• Increasing access to quality child care for Idaho families
• Securing data from breaches
• Giving a voice to people at the end of their lives through the Idaho Healthcare Registry
• And so much more.

The annual report just touches on a few of the many programs and services we offer to Idahoans. For more detailed information on the work we do, you can review our 2021 Facts, Figures & Trends.

I hope you have a safe and healthy weekend. 

Things are looking better on the COVID-19 front than they have in a long time, and we’re all ready to shed some of those precautions we’ve been taking for so long. However, the virus is still circulating, and we need to continue to manage our risk.

It’s important to remember that the virus will continue to mutate as it circulates even at low levels in communities, and the precautions you take in  some situations might not be effective in others. You will need to weigh your personal risk and take appropriate precautions. Keeping up to date on COVID-19 vaccines provides the most consistent protection against serious illness and death from COVID-19.

The following are things to keep in mind to stay safe and healthy as we loosen up a bit and plan vacations and gatherings in the months to come.

What are the things I need to know if I’m traveling in the United States?

• Don’t travel if you are sick.
• Masks are still required in public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States. Find out more about the requirement here: https://bit.ly/3m68x2R
• Check the COVID-19 risk at your destination so you know how to pack and the precautions you will have to take: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html
• If you travel on an airplane, wear a mask and wash your hands, or use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol: https://bit.ly/3fauXgJ
• If you get COVID-19 while traveling, you’ll likely be expected to stay in place until you’re well. The best ways to avoid getting sick while traveling is to make sure you are up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and by wearing a mask in public places.

What do I need to know if I am traveling outside the United States?

• If you’re not sick, and you're planning a trip overseas, make sure you’re up to date on COVID-19 vaccines, and then check the COVID-19 risk at your destination: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list
• Plan ahead: In addition to any testing requirements your destination may have, you'll be required to show a negative COVID-19 test, taken no more than one day before returning to the United States.
• People who have recovered from COVID-19 can safely travel if they tested positive for COVID-19 in the previous 90 days and have met criteria to end isolation.
• Learn more: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/faqs.html

What should I keep in mind as I plan a gathering?

• If you want to spend time with people who don’t live with you, gathering outdoors is the safer choice. You are less likely to be exposed to COVID-19 during outdoor activities, even without the use of masks.
• Good ventilation can help prevent you from getting and spreading COVID-19.
• Make sure you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines.
• Follow the new CDC guidance about community level risk.  If the COVID-19 Community Level where you live is
  • Low
    • Wear a mask based on your personal preference, informed by your personal level of risk.
  • Medium
    • If you are at risk for severe illness, talk to your healthcare provider about wearing masks indoors in public places.
    • If you live with or will gather with someone at risk for severe illness, wear a mask when indoors with them.
  • High
    • For those 2 years old or older, wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status or individual risk (including in K-12 schools and other community settings).
    • If you are at risk for severe illness, wear a mask or respirator that provides you with greater protection.
• If you are around people and don’t know if they are vaccinated or vulnerable to severe COVID-19 outcomes, you can lower the overall risk of spreading COVID-19 between you and them by making sure you're up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and wearing a good quality mask.
• More things to consider: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/gatherings.html

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 a majority of her time on responding to the coronavirus pandemic. 

COVID-19 resources:

• Idaho’s Coronavirus website
• CDC COVID-19 website

Follow the Department of Health and Welfare on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for daily 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. 

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

Protecting the health, safety, and independence of Idaho’s most vulnerable populations is a crucial task entrusted to Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) staff. The department’s background check is required for people who work in more than 40 programs that provide direct care for participants who are children, disabled, or elderly. These programs include nursing homes, long-term care facilities, day care facilities, foster care homes, potential adoptive families, residential care facilities for children and adults, Emergency Medical Services, and more.

And as Idaho’s population continues to grow, the criminal background check system has come under increasing pressure. From Feb. 1, 2021, to Feb. 1, 2022, a team of about 15 staff in the department’s Criminal History Unit (CHU) completed more than 31,000 applicant background checks for Idahoans applying to work with children and vulnerable adults.

With ever-increasing demands on the aging, paper-based background check system, DHW staff are now working to improve the system and make sure that thorough, accurate checks can be completed more quickly.

In addition to Idaho’s population growth, the current employment situation has increased the urgency of making improvements to the background check system. Many employers in Idaho are struggling to hire staff. By making sure background checks are accurate and timely, DHW is helping employers deliver high quality care to their clients by making sure they have an adequate pool of qualified staff to serve their needs.

Criminal History Background Check System Modernization

The Criminal History Unit (CHU) currently uses an aging online system that customers use to apply for background checks. DHW staff use the same system for screening customers. The goals of CHU modernization are to provide a better customer experience, better automation for staff, and an improved system support for everyone who used it.

Traditionally, background checks, on average, take 20 to 25 days to complete, depending on various factors. CHU conducted a process improvement project in 2021, with the aim of improving the timeliness of checks without  sacrificing quality.

In August, the DHW team and partners met to take a thorough look at how criminal history checks are conducted. The team investigated whether there are processes that can be improved now and will also be compatible with a new system when it is implemented.

In 2021, CHU successfully applied to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for federal grant funding. The funding is being used to cover the cost of project management and process improvement activities. It is also being used for custom development for a new federally sourced system that will be available in early 2023.

The background check system replacement project will move the department to a cloud-hosted system. The new system will improve the experience for employers, and for customers applying for background checks. An online payment system is one of the improvements that will likely be possible in the new system. The new system will also automate many of the processes used by CHU to screen applicants, which will also speed things up.

We are confident this improved system will help applicants and their employers by reducing the amount of time it takes to receive a clearance, and by improving the customer experience for those applying for a background check. Meanwhile, Idaho’s increasing population will be better served by a workforce that has been thoroughly vetted through the department’s criminal history background check process.

You can read more about the DHW Strategic Plan on our website.

I hope you have a safe and healthy weekend.