For the past five months I’ve had the great honor of serving as interim director of the Department of Health and Welfare. It’s been my great honor to do so.

During that time, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the dedication, compassion, and resilience of our department’s employees. Despite facing numerous challenges and complexities, our eight divisions and nearly 3,000 staff have remained steadfast in their commitment to serving the needs of Idahoans with integrity and compassion.

One of the most inspiring aspects of my experience has been the opportunity to work alongside such caring and dedicated people who go above and beyond every day to make a difference in the lives of others. From frontline workers to administrative staff, the passion and commitment of the team at DHW has been inspiring.
 

At the same time, it’s impossible to ignore the myriad challenges confronting the department on a daily basis. From navigating legal issues, court cases, and political conflicts to grappling with complex questions surrounding the best interests of children in our care, the road ahead is far from straightforward or easy. However, I believe it’s because of these challenges that we are stronger and that our resilience and commitment will be evident.

Reflecting on the department’s accomplishments over the past five months, I’m proud of the progress made in addressing several key issues. These have included resolving audit findings, implementing department-wide policies, restoring relationships with foster families, and improving communication with the Legislature. Each of these achievements represents a step forward in our mission to promote the health and wellbeing of all Idahoans.

Specifically, I am grateful for the opportunity to improve our financial oversight processes and conflict of interest policies. I appreciate the efforts to address concerns surrounding the department’s involvement with syringe exchange programs, where we eliminated misconceptions about the role the department played and shored up oversight and processes to make sure invoices are itemized appropriately.

By reinforcing our commitment to ethical practices and compliance with state guidelines, we’ve taken important steps toward fostering confidence in DHW and building relationships with key stakeholders.

As I reflect on this experience, I’m reminded that the true measure of our success lies not in the obstacles we’ve overcome, but in the impact we’ve had on others. I want to express my gratitude to all of DHW’s talented staff for doing their part. I’m honored to have been associated with this team and to contribute in some small way during my time with the department.

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

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

Spring weather is upon us and before long we’ll have even warmer temperatures, and you may be wanting to have fun outside in your backyard or in Idaho deserts, rivers, or mountain trails.  

It is also the time to be aware of the potential for illness caused by ticks or mosquitos. Bug bites can be problematic and threatening to both you and your pets. But with proper awareness, precautions, and treatment when needed, these illnesses shouldn’t discourage you from enjoying the Idaho outdoors.  

West Nile virus

Mosquitoes transmit the West Nile virus (WNV). Most people infected with WNV will not have any symptoms, but about 20 percent will develop illness that can be mild to severe. Mild illness includes fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Severe illness can occur in 1% of cases when infection leads to inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or brain membrane (meningitis), especially those older than 50 and those who have underlying medical conditions or weakened immune systems.

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 illness. There is no vaccine for humans, but there is a vaccine for horses, which can become seriously ill if infected.

Tickborne diseases

Some ticks carry germs that cause human disease. For most tickborne diseases, the symptoms are not specific, and people can experience fever, headache and muscle aches, or fatigue. Some infections, such as Lyme disease, can lead to distinctive rashes or sores depending on the illness.

If a tick is biting you, use clean, fine-tipped tweezers or notched tick extractor to remove it as close to the skin as possible without squeezing or crushing the tick. Clean the bite site and your hands with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. 

For tick bites, see your medical provider immediately if you have symptoms mentioned above. Early recognition and treatment of these infections reduces the risk of complications.

What are the best ways to prevent bites from ticks and mosquitoes?

The best way to protect yourself from germs spread by mosquitoes and ticks is to prevent being bitten.
•    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. Tucking in your shirts and pants into socks prevents ticks from accessing your skin.
•    Remove standing water sources around your home where mosquitoes can lay eggs. 
•    Avoid ticks by staying out of tall grass, brush, or heavily wooded areas and walking in the center of hiking trails.
•    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.
•    Talk to your veterinarian about tick prevention products for your pets. Ticks can attach to your pet and end up in your home.

Other infectious diseases can be carried by mosquitoes, ticks, and other insects and transmitted to humans through their bites. Although public health officials are most concerned about West Nile virus, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, tick-borne relapsing fever, and tularemia in Idaho, Lyme disease is another concern. Lyme disease cases in Idaho are rare and mostly occur in people who traveled to other areas of the country where infected ticks are common. It’s important to “fight the bite” by being knowledgeable and prepared to prevent insect bites, and knowing what to do if you are bitten!

Resources:

CDC information on tick borne illness: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/about/index.html

West Nile virus information: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/health-wellness/diseases-conditions/west-nile-virus

Dr. Kathryn Turner is deputy state epidemiologist in the Division of Public Health.

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

National Water Safety month has been recognized for the past 20 years every May to bring awareness on how to stay safe in and around water.  Idaho ranks ninth in the United States for deaths by drowning. This is a statistic we want to greatly improve. It is never too late to learn how to swim! Organizations such as the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), United States Masters Swimming, and others offer discounted or free swim lessons for children and adults.

Whether you are tubing down the Boise River with friends or on a boat at Lucky Peak, it is always wise to wear a United States Coast Guard Certified floatation device in case you fall into the water unexpectedly. In Idaho we have an abundance of lakes, streams, and rivers to recreate in, but swimming, playing, or wading in our canals are not only dangerous but illegal.

Every spring when the snowpacks begin to melt, Idaho rivers, streams, and canals fill with more water quickly.  Spring also brings warmer weather and outdoor activities such as water recreation. So, enjoy the warmer months that are upon us by playing it safe while in the water with your friends and family.  

Canal Safety

The water in canals serve an important purpose in Idaho as they help provide irrigation to approximately 69,000 acres of agricultural and residential lands. Canals are not only a swimming hazard, but also carry bacteria and parasites that are harmful to humans. 

Canals are a tempting place to cool off because they are often convenient to access in our neighborhoods, but they are also very dangerous. The range of water depth in our canals is between 1 and 10 feet and many have steep, vertical banks made of smooth concrete that can be slippery and make exiting a canal difficult.  No adult, child, or pet should ever swim or play near a canal. More children drown in canals than any other body of water in Idaho.

Canal water can be deceptively fast as there are no obstructions in the waterway to slow the current or provide visual projections on how fast the water is moving. The water in canals is also very cold and can cause hypothermia and death in as little as 10 minutes.

The Nampa & Meridian Irrigation District (NMID) estimates water flows at the Ridenbaugh Canal in Boise travel about 3 miles per hour at 4.5 feet per second. An example was provided by the NMID as a public safety announcement in 2012 when a child’s shoe was dropped into the canal to show visually how fast water travels. In just two minutes, the shoe traveled 540 feet and within 5 minutes, it was nearly a quarter mile away from where the shoe was originally dropped.

Most canals run through private property so playing in a canal or along its banks is trespassing under Idaho law. Each year, police, fire, and EMS personnel respond to distress calls in our local canals and it is difficult for emergency personnel to access them.

Splash pads

Splash pads are great water activities for children, but the water can become contaminated and shouldn’t be swallowed. Don't sit or stand directly on the jets, as this can contaminate the water with germs. Don’t allow children to swallow splash pad water because they can ingest germs that can make them sick. Although most splash pads use chlorine in their water systems, it doesn’t kill germs instantly: 

https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-swimming/safety/stay-healthy-at-splash-pads.html

Going to the pool

Going for a swim with kids? Take a break every hour to use the bathroom or check diapers to avoid accidents in the pool. When pee and chlorine mix in the pool, there is less chlorine available to kill germs: https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-swimming/prevention/preventing-eye-irritation-from-pool-chemicals.html.

Check out some healthy swimming tips to protect yourself and those you care about from illness at the pool and beach this summer: https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-swimming/prevention/

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 groundbreaking for Jackson House in Idaho Falls on May 16 signifies a new era for adolescent mental healthcare in the state. This new Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (PRTF) will fill a critical need and offers a beacon of hope for families struggling to find quality in-state treatment for their children.

Previously, Idaho lacked sufficient residential options for adolescents with complex mental health needs. This forced families to seek help outside the state.

“It’s exciting to see this type of facility coming to Idaho, but even more exciting to see it come locally to Southeast Idaho,” said Human Services Program Specialist John Hart, who works for the Division of Behavioral Health at DHW. “It’s hard enough for families to have to send their kids to a residential facility, but when they have to also send them out of state that can be especially hard.”

Jackson House is one of three PRTFs that Idaho helped fund through $15 million made available by Gov. Brad Little and the Idaho Legislature in 2022.

The Department of Health and Welfare awarded grants to three partners that will serve different regions in Idaho. They are Jackson House in east Idaho, the Idaho Youth Ranch in southwest Idaho, and Northwest Children’s Home in north Idaho.

This level of mental healthcare hasn’t existed in Idaho, so these three facilities are filling a critical gap in the state’s continuum of care for children and youth. Previously, about 100 kids were getting treatment in other states because Idaho didn’t have these services. Now many of these kids will be able to stay in Idaho close to their families.

The groundbreaking ceremony in Idaho Falls marked a successful collaboration between Headwaters Construction, Booth Architecture, and the Jackson House team. 

Headwaters pre-construction coordinator Brennon Baker expressed his clear enthusiasm.

“We are really excited for the contribution it’s going to make here to the community,” he said. 

Jackson House CEO Bruce Figuered brings a wealth of experience and a deep personal commitment to the project. His career, spanning nearly 30 years, began as a counselor at an adolescent psychiatric ward. He’s seen the critical need for quality care firsthand.

“They're at a formative time in their life, and you can really have a big impact on their life and their future,” he said. “If you point them in the right direction, you are able to work with their families, and you give them the healthcare they need.”

Jackson House aims to bridge the gap between inpatient and outpatient services by providing accessible, high-quality residential treatment for adolescents with mental health challenges. Figuered  said he commends Idaho for being one of the few states addressing the need for such facilities. 

Jessica Divine is a technical writer for the Division of Behavioral Health at the 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.

Each spring, Idahoans think about buying chicks or ducklings. All poultry carry the bacteria Salmonella, which can be harmful to people. Birds often don’t look sick but can spread the bacteria through their droppings.

To keep your family and friends from getting sick, public health officials recommend:

• Wash everyone’s hands with soap and water after handling live poultry, especially before touching toys and other items that children may play with or put in their mouths. 
• Supervise children under the age of five who play with chicks, ducklings, or live poultry.
• Change your shoes after you have walked in the coop and before you go into your home. 
• Leave the birds outside to roam in their own environment and habitat.
• Don’t eat or drink around them. 
• Clean the coop or cage, food and water bowls, and any tools or poultry equipment you use frequently.  
• Cook any collected eggs thoroughly.  

Children are more likely to get sick because of their developing immune systems and tendency to touch or snuggle with their pets, putting hands in their mouth, and not washing their hands quickly enough. Babies, the elderly, and anyone with a weakened immune system are also more likely to get severely ill from Salmonella. In some cases, illness is severe enough for hospitalization and can become life threatening. 

Salmonella infections usually cause diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and abdominal cramps 6 hours to 6 days after initial exposure. Most people are sick for up to a week but get better without specific treatment and should not take antibiotics. Antibiotics are usually used only to treat people who have severe illness or who are at risk for it. If you think you may have a Salmonella infection you should seek medical attention immediately. 

Although it’s common for all types of poultry to carry the Salmonella bacteria, birds with the infection don’t usually show any signs of being sick. The contaminated droppings may get on their feathers, feet, and beaks and they can transfer the bacteria to anything in their environment or people holding them.  

CDC estimates Salmonella bacteria cause about 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the United States every year. Food is the most common source of the bacteria. 

• Resources:
  CDC Salmonella Webpage: https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/general/index.html
• CDC Signs & Symptoms: https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/live-poultry-05-14/signs-symptoms.html
• Avoiding zoonotic disease from CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/zoonotic/gi/index.html
• Safely Keeping Backyard Poultry, from CDC:  https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/pets/farm-animals/backyard-poultry.html 

Dr. Kathryn Turner is deputy state epidemiologist in the Division of Public Health.

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

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, in partnership with Idaho’s Area Health Education Centers (AHEC), is distributing an Idaho Healthcare Workforce Initiatives Survey. Two goals of this survey include:

1.    Identifying issues leading or contributing to healthcare workforce challenges, and this includes behavioral health and oral health, and 
2.    Capturing existing initiatives underway to help solve workforce challenges

Factors contributing to healthcare workforce challenges are often complex and multifaceted. Some examples include workforce shortages, recruitment and retention, and training and development of existing staff.

The results of the survey will inform future statewide workforce planning efforts by the Department of Health and Welfare, Idaho AHEC, and healthcare partners. When appropriate, the survey may connect organizations with others working to address similar workforce challenges.

The survey recognizes how administration, support staff and other non-provider roles also meet the needs of patients. Please include this population in your responses, if applicable.

The survey is open until May 22, 2024, and will take approximately five to seven minutes to complete.

If you are aware of other health workforce efforts by organizations in Idaho, please forward this survey so results are as inclusive as possible.

Survey Link: https://app.keysurvey.com/f/41705457/7a0a/ 

May is mental health awareness month. To note the occasion, the “Idaho Behavioral Health Authority Podcast” interviewed three guests for its latest episode, each with their own experience and expertise to help Idahoans.

Hosts Jeremy Storton and Dustin Lapray from the Division of Behavioral Health communications and training unit met individually with the guests:

• Alejandra Del Toro, a program manager at Empower Idaho, joined the podcast to talk about the work her organization does to promote awareness in Idaho each May. Empower Idaho releases an annual toolkit in English and Spanish, complete with an online store, an art exhibition, official graphics, and more. It’s a really neat kit.
• Brenda Wilson is the Executive Director of FYIdaho, an organization that focuses on youth and teen mental health in the Gem State. The programs Wilson discusses in the podcast include in-person and virtual options for modern kids to express their frustrations, needs, and to get real help from qualified professionals. 
• Laura Cardoza is an adjunct professor at The College of Idaho in the field of health and human performance. She has a background in exercise science, fitness, yoga, and life. She offered the podcast a top-10 list of suggestions for better mental well-being. While the other guests focused on adult and children’s mental health, Laura opened the door to everyone else, helping listeners stretch their minds and bodies toward better mental fitness.

Despite the many challenges Idahoans endure to treat a variety of mental illnesses, there is still cause to celebrate this May. Mental fitness can help everyone. Treatment can help those who seek it. Although many mental illnesses have no cure, the working professionals of Idaho are here to help the vulnerable find treatment when they need it.

This May, consider the most vulnerable. Consider your friends and family who may be struggling behind the scenes. Ask them about it. Be bold. Offer your time and your care. If you or a family member, a friend or a stranger needs help, reach out to the Department of Health and Welfare.

Call the Idaho Careline by dialing 2-1-1 for information about services, insurance coverage, and more.
If you are in crisis, or want to learn what that means, call or text 988.

This May, wear green proudly to raise awareness about mental health!

Listen to the podcast series, now available on YouTube and Spotify,  or visit the home page for the “Idaho Behavioral Health Authority.”

Dustin Lapray is a public involvement officer with the Division of Behavioral health at DHW.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is dedicated to strengthening the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans. Learn more at healthandwelfare.idaho.gov.

May is Hepatitis Awareness Month, and May 19 is Hepatitis Testing Day. This is a great reminder to learn about the dangers of viral hepatitis, how to prevent the spread of the disease, and what to do if you become infected.

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that is often caused by a virus. The most common types of viral hepatitis's are A, B, and C.  Both hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) can lead to liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and viral hepatitis-related deaths. In Idaho, chronic liver disease is the tenth leading cause of death.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, an estimated 850,000 people in the United States are living with HBV, while the estimated number of people living with HCV ranges between 2.4 and 4.7 million. Unfortunately, a large majority of people don’t even know they are infected. The most common symptoms of hepatitis A, B, and C can include fever, fatigue, dark urine, abdominal pain and vomiting, jaundice, loss of appetite, and clay-colored bowel movements.

Anyone can get HCV. However, the Baby Boomer generation (1945-1965) are five times more likely to have chronic HCV than any other living adult generation. New cases of HCV are on the rise among adults 20-39 years of age, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Universal HCV screening is recommended for adults 18 years and older and all pregnant people during each pregnancy. Routine screening is recommended for people with ongoing risk factors.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is usually spread when someone comes into contact with blood from an infected person. This can happen through:  

•    Sharing drug-injection equipment. Today, most people become infected with HCV by sharing needles, syringes, or any other drug equipment used to prepare and inject drugs. 
•    Being born to a mother who is HCV positive.
•    Needlestick injuries in health care settings.
•    Sexual contact with infected partners. While uncommon, HCV can spread during sexual intercourse, though it has been reported more often among men who have sex with men. 
•    Unregulated tattoos or body piercings. 
•    Sharing personal items, such as glucose monitors, razors, nail clippers, toothbrushes, and other items that may have come into contact with infected blood, even in amounts too small to see.

The best way to protect yourself from HAV and HBV is to get vaccinated. The HAV vaccine has been routinely recommended for children during the past 25 years. There are many Idahoans over the age of 30 who were not vaccinated as a child and are susceptible to acquiring HAV.

The HBV vaccine is recommended for all infants, all children or adolescents younger than 19 years of age who have not been vaccinated, all adults aged 19-59 years, and adults aged 60 years or older with risk factors for HBV infection. Adults who are 60 years or older without known risk factors for HBV may also receive an HBV vaccine.

There is not a vaccine for HCV. However, HCV is curable with a short course (8-12 weeks) of treatment. Being cured for HCV significantly improves the chances of living a longer and healthier life and prevents the ongoing transmission of the virus.

According to data compiled at the Get Healthy Idaho website, there were 722 chronic HCV cases reported, 62 chronic HBV cases reported, and 6 HAV cases reported in Idaho in 2023.

The HIV, STD Idaho Hepatitis Prevention Program and the CDC help promote awareness of viral hepatitis and encourage people to get tested to improve the overall health of affected Idahoans.

Resources:

Visit the CDC page on Hepatitis: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/

Visit the Hepatitis Awareness Month CDC page: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/awareness/HepatitisAwarenessMonth.htm

Find testing services near me: https://hshslocator.dhw.idaho.gov/prevent/default.aspx

For more information on Hepatitis: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/health-wellness/diseases-conditions/hepatitis

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