Last month the Great American Smokeout served as a reminder for people who smoke to make a plan to quit for a healthier future. But quitting smoking is possible any time, and it’s one of the best choices a person can make to improve their health and protect their loved ones from cancer-causing chemicals.

Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in the US, accounting for about one in five deaths each year. While cigarette smoking rates have continued to decline in recent years due in part to the success of smoking cessation efforts, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 28 million U.S. adults currently smoked cigarettes in 2021.

Project Filter supports Idahoans on their quit journeys

Project Filter is a state health program that supports people who want to quit smoking, vaping, or chewing. The program’s motto, “You decide when, and we will show you how,” shows that the program emphasizes methods and techniques without pressure.

The program also coordinates with policymakers, community organizations, and schools to help prevent people from using tobacco products. This is because if you never start, you never have to quit.

Quitting tobacco or vaping is hard. It takes most people multiple attempts to stay tobacco free. Many people have an easier time quitting with support from loved ones and free resources from Project Filter.

According to former smokers, calling The Idaho Quitline is one of the best steps a person can take to successfully quit. In fact, people who call are seven times more likely to quit using tobacco. The Quitline can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

Quitline coaches are encouraging and well-trained, and they know quitting is a personal journey. Coaches will help callers tailor their quit plans to their individual needs and can also help people find quit medications in the form of patches, gum, and lozenges, which can be shipped directly to people’s homes free of charge.

Finally, the Quitline serves a wide array of Idahoans and has unique programs tailored for people who are pregnant, living with mental illness, or are Native American. The Idaho Quitline also has coaches who speak Spanish and coaches who work with translator to support people who speak any other language.

Project Filter provides support for teens and their parents

My Life, My Quit is a free and confidential coaching program specifically designed for teens and young adults. The program helps teens and young adults quit vaping or smoking, and the sessions can be done through text messages, chat, or phone calls.

Teens can sign up on www.mylifemyquit.com, which also has resources for parents.

More information:

• For free support to quit smoking, vaping, or chewing, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visit http://www.ProjectFilter.org to learn more.
• For teen-specific resources, look up www.mylifemyquit.com.
• Follow Project Filter on Instagram or Facebook: @projectfilter.

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

For the rest of 2023 I plan to use my weekly blog to reflect upon some of the Department of Health and Welfare’s (DHW’s) accomplishments during my five-year tenure as director.

To be sure, these accomplishments are not my own, but have been planned, deliberated, an

d carried out by many DHW employees—often in collaboration with valuable community partners.

This week, I’m focusing on the incredible work being done to expand and connect Idaho’s behavioral health system.

One of the many hats I’ve worn as director at DHW is that of co-chair of the Idaho Behavioral Health Council, which was established by all three branches of government via proclamation from the Idaho Supreme Court, a concurrent resolution from the Legislature, and by Gov. Brad Little’s July 29, 2020 executive order.

The council is unique because it includes members from all three branches of government: executive, judicial, and legislative. It also includes local government and citizens.

Since its inception, the IBHC’s 13 members have worked with local governments, service providers, community partners, and people who use behavioral health services and their families to identify a list of recommendations to move Idaho closer to making behavioral health care more consistently available to all Idahoans.

This is important because behavioral health issues affect many aspects of life in Idaho, including Idaho’s corrections system, judicial system, hospitals, and communities.

The council’s vision is that adults, children, and their families who live with mental illness and addiction receive the behavioral healthcare services they need, when they need them.

There’s still a lot of work to do to fulfill that vision, but it’s gradually becoming reality. Here are some notable milestones:

• In July of 2022, the Division of Behavioral Health (DBH) at DHW successfully implemented the Idaho 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Now the Idaho Crisis and Suicide Hotline (ICSH) answers calls and texts placed to 988 in Idaho. From July 2022 to June 2023, the ICSH answered 12,657 calls that were made via 988.
• DBH worked to establish four new youth crisis centers in Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, Boise, and Nampa. Youth often first enter the continuum of care in Idaho after a crisis becomes an emergency. They end up committing a crime or being taken to a hospital. The new Youth Behavioral Health Community Crisis Centers (YBHCCCs) will help ensure youth in crisis receive an appropriate level of crisis treatment, rather than being hospitalized or incarcerated.
• Idaho now has five Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), which are clinics that provide whole-person care under one roof. CCBHCs create access to an array of services, stabilize people in crisis, and provide necessary treatment for people with complex mental illnesses and substance use disorders. They also ensure an approach to healthcare that emphasizes recovery, wellness, trauma-informed care, and the integration of physical and behavioral health. CCBHCs must provide nine core services, either directly or through formal partnerships.
• There is and needs to be a strong focus on recovery in any behavioral health system of care. DBH created the first-ever Recovery Coach Academy (RCA) in Idaho.  The RCA provides training and mentoring for recovery coaches who help adults with substance use disorder issues. More than 89 coaches, from all over Idaho, have completed training through the RCA, and 50 more have started the process. Additionally, we have identified sustainable funding for Idaho’s nine Recovery Community Centers.
• The division is also working with partners across the state to open more than 85 new psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF) beds in three locations across Idaho. Historically, youth needing PRTF level of care had to go out of state. These Idaho operated facilities will prioritize Idaho youth and will allow us to bring Idaho’s youth home.

These accomplishments are due to hundreds of people who work to make a difference for Idahoans, and I’m proud to have played a role. I’m also confident that the many important employees working behind the scenes at DBH, our partners and stakeholders will continue to do this good work to get Idahoans the mental health care they need, when they need it.

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 Division of Behavioral Health at the Department of Health and Welfare recently refreshed its media campaign to reach Idahoans facing substance use disorders. The Lose Focus campaign uses evocative, out-of-focus images and reflections in mirrors, and aims to stir emotions that propel people toward decisive action. While recognizing the need for help may be a gradual process, the campaign emphasizes that the journey to healing can commence immediately.

“Substance use, over time, may make you lose focus of how you see yourself,” states the campaign’s DHW webpage. “Drugs or alcohol create the potential to blur the self-image you see reflected in the mirror.”

Substance use disorders affect thousands of Americans, irrespective of socioeconomic background, social standing, race, or age. Individuals may find their lives becoming unmanageable but may hesitate to acknowledge their struggle or be uncertain about where to seek help.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 48.7 million Americans over the age of 12 struggled with a substance use disorder in 2022. That constituted 17.3% of the population. The Lose Focus ad campaign is specifically tailored to individual people and families actively seeking assistance.

The Lose Focus campaign will run through June 2024. It features television ads in both English and Spanish, alongside banner ads on websites, social media posts, billboards, and radio segments. Striking campaign images will be transformed into posters, displayed in behavioral health offices and crisis centers statewide. The initiative encourages Idahoans who resonate with the Lose Focus message to call the 2-1-1 Idaho CareLine for support.

The CareLine's comprehensive database includes programs offering free or low-cost health and human services. Idahoans can easily connect with a 2-1-1 community resource specialist by dialing 2-1-1 or 800-926-2588, or by texting 898211, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. MST.

For additional details, please visit the Lose Focus webpage: www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/LoseFocus.

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

Research shows that taking a few minutes to recognize and express gratitude each day does wonders to improve mood and mindset.

Our minds are wired to watch out for risks and to identify potential problems. This likely comes from our ancient ancestors for whom watching for bears and wolves was much more important than remembering where beautiful flowers were blooming. Taking a few minutes to remember the things that we’re grateful for—not just on Thanksgiving but every day—can dramatically change our mindset, lift our mood, and balance out negative things that all of us experience and feel each day.

There are multiple leadership meetings that DHW holds each week, and in all of these meetings we use the first five or so minutes to share good things that have happened for us either personally or professionally, as individuals or as a group.

During the course of our leadership meetings last week, we heard about people’s Thanksgiving plans and visits with family or friends.

More specific to DHW’s work, we also received word that State Hospital West in Nampa has been accredited after a lengthy and thorough vetting process by the Joint Commission. State Hospital West provides inpatient psychiatric treatment to Idaho’s youth ages 10 to 17, and accreditation means the hospital has demonstrated a commitment to continuous improvement in patient care.

We also heard news this week that State Hospital South in Blackfoot is fully staffed for nurses for the first time in months. Both of these were great news for DHW’s senior leaders, but they’re great for Idahoans as well.

Each week, I’m inspired by the many good things that happen here at DHW and in people’s personal lives.

For me, as I think about this season of Thanksgiving and reflect on my five years of service at DHW, the things I’m most grateful for are my family, friends, and the amazing staff at DHW. I’m continually amazed by the level of commitment DHW’s staff bring to work to help their fellow Idahoans, and the compassionate ways they go about doing their important work.

I’ve had the chance to watch firsthand the direct and often immediate positive impact DHW’s staff has on individuals and families. I’ve often said—and firmly believe—that the staff at DHW are the ones who do the real work. My job is to do everything I can to support them so they can be successful in strengthening the health, safety and independence of Idahoans.

As we do during our leadership meetings at DHW, I’d encourage Idahoans to practice gratitude as part of a daily or weekly routine. Simply think about the things you’re grateful for and share them with a friend, family member, coworker, or neighbor.

I think you’ll be surprised by the impact it’ll have.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you have a safe and healthy week! 

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

November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and an opportunity to reflect on ways we can support those with an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis, and measures we can take to reduce the chances of developing Alzheimer’s ourselves.

Many people we’ve spoken with say that once they mention they have Alzheimer’s disease, people respond with an expression of pity. People want to help, but often distance themselves from the person who has the disease, as well as from the family member giving them care, leaving both feeling isolated.

We know that this type of distancing is not done maliciously, but out of discomfort and fear of the unknown and fear of being a burden to a challenging disease process. The irony is that the person with Alzheimer’s—their friend or family member who they’ve known for years or decades—has already had Alzheimer’s for five to 20 years ahead of their recent diagnosis.

Alzheimer’s disease is broken into five phases, they are:

Preclinical: No symptoms but possible biological changes in the brain.

Mild cognitive impairment: Very mild symptoms that may not interfere with everyday activities.

Mild dementia: Symptoms interfere with some everyday activities.

Moderate dementia: Symptoms interfere with many everyday activities.

Severe dementia: Symptoms interfere with most everyday activities.

Why are these stages important to know? In the U.S. an estimated 60% or more of Americans go undiagnosed. Many will receive a diagnosis when they’re in the last two phases of the disease, and generally when they’re in crisis.

There are many reasons why people choose not to get checked or diagnosed: the overall negative stigma around the disease, lack of knowledge and understanding about the signs and symptoms, absence of testing or resources in the areas they live, and the sense of worry about the potential outcome of a diagnosis.

The stigma around Alzheimer's disease has always been prevalent as many people see this type of diagnosis as being only for elderly, those who are sick, or as the absolute worst thing that can happen to a person.

According to an article from the National Institute of Health, “The perception is that (Alzheimer’s disease) patients have little to no quality of life, due to their disease, which may lead to a loss of independence and dignity.” Other common stereotypes include being burdensome, incompetence, and not being able to contribute to society. 

Society's view on an Alzheimer's diagnosis is a harmful one, due to many people not understanding the cause or progression of the disease, but it is not just the common population that holds this view. Many people within the healthcare field also perceive the disease this way. A survey of primary care providers reported that “Nearly 2 in 5 (39%) of physicians report that they are ‘never’ or only ‘sometimes comfortable’ making a diagnosis of Alzheimer's or other dementia.”

It’s not all negative, though. There are many resources and opportunities that can help people with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis improve their quality of life. A few examples of things they and their loved ones can do include, staying connected and communicating regularly, maintaining a healthy diet, staying active and exercising regularly, staying social, and living in a safe and calm environment. 

Resources:

• November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. Read the proclamation.
• DHW resources for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Tiffany Robb is health program manager for the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Program in the Division of Public Health at DHW. A self-described compassionate extrovert, she’s had a diverse career that’s included personal training, business ownership and management, teaching, research, and project management. Tiffany finds working on brain health, Alzheimer’s, and dementia an honor and a tribute to family members who have been impacted by dementia.

Brooke Zander is an intern working with the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias program in the Division of Public Health at DHW. She’ a student at Boise State University working on a Bachelor of Health Science degree, with expected graduation in December 2023.

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

Anyone who’s heard me talk very long about my work at the Department of Health and Welfare has also heard me say it’s the best and most challenging job I’ve ever had. It’s also been the greatest honor of my career.

My decision to retire at the end of December has not been easy, but after significant reflection I’ve chosen to move on to the next phase of my life and spend more time with my wife, four children, and three grandchildren.

My personal mission throughout my life and career has been to help others achieve their full potential, and I’ve found invigorated meaning in that mission at DHW. That’s because it’s what DHW’s 3,000 employees working in eight divisions do for Idahoans every single day. I often say that my job, and the job of the senior leadership at DHW, is to support staff so they can do their best work in service of Idahoans. It’s been my highest honor to help make that happen.

It should come as no surprise that this work also comes with diverse challenges, and in considering retirement I wanted to pause and consider my core reasons for taking this step. The fact is, even if working at DHW was without any challenges or stress at all, I’d choose to retire now. I have loved this job, but my other job is grandpa. I want to focus on my family while my grandchildren are still young, and my wife and I are in good health.

While I’m looking forward to retirement, I’m going to miss many things about DHW, and I’m most going to miss working with DHW’s outstanding employees who do life-changing work for Idahoans every day. I’m inspired by the skill, talent, compassion, and empathy they bring to work. The people at DHW are everyday heroes who inspire me and make a tangible difference for Idahoans, and I know their work will continue because Idahoans will continue to need DHW’s services.

Gov. Brad Little has announced an interim DHW leader and will make decisions about DHW’s long-term leadership. I’ll work to make the transition as seamless as possible for DHW’s staff and for my successor.

In reflecting about this chapter of my life, I’m grateful for the opportunities, challenges, and shared accomplishments. But most of all I’m grateful to have worked alongside so many hard-working and talented people to advance the mission of helping our neighbors live their healthiest lives.

Thank-you for that honor.

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. 

In the past five years I’ve signed 1,596 adoption papers for children being adopted from foster care into new families.

Signing adoptions is part of my job as director at DHW and one of the most moving and emotionally wrenching thing I do at work. I read each and every one, and often tear up as I do. Each adoption is a story about loss and grief that transforms into a story about care, support and hope.

November is National Adoption Month and an opportunity to spread awareness about adoption as a positive way to grow families. It’s also about recognizing the hundreds of thousands of children throughout the nation waiting for permanent families and advocating for the wellbeing and future of children in foster care.

There are different types of adoptions. An adoption done through DHW is a public agency adoption that’s facilitated by the department or another state or county social service department. The department does not provide private adoptions.

In a public agency adoption, the department has custody of the children in foster care and typically works with a birth family to try to reunite them for 12 months. If that’s unable to occur, the court may terminate parental rights, and the child is then available for adoption.

In most cases, Idaho children adopted from foster care have special needs. They may have physical, mental, emotional, or medical disabilities, or they may be part of a group of siblings who should stay together. Some children may be older but still need a permanent home through adoption.

The department’s goal is to find a family who can best meet a child’s needs within 24 months of when the child enters foster care. To help meet this goal, the department looks for relatives who are interested and able to adopt the child. When no relatives are available or if placement with a relative is not in the child’s best interest, non-relative foster families often adopt.

Families who adopt children with special needs are eligible to apply for federal or state adoption assistance benefits. These benefits help subsidize the expenses associated with finalizing an adoption and the cost of parenting a child who has special needs.

Below are more resources for people seeking additional information about adoption in Idaho:

• Information about adoption through foster care: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/children-families/child-and-family-services-and-foster-care/about-adoption
• Private adoption information: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/children-families/child-and-family-services-and-foster-care/private-adoption
• Adoption and guardianship assistance: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/children-families/child-and-family-services-and-foster-care/adoption-and

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. 

Fit and Fall Proof is a program in our Public Health Division that improves the lives of Idahoans. This program works for seniors in our communities to help prevent injuries and the subsequent loss of independence. Class participants learn simple exercises to increase strength, balance, and endurance. That can help prevent accidental falls and tripping that are sometimes associated with age. Additional aims are to build connectedness and decrease isolation.

Fit and Fall Proof is an effective and efficient program. Approximately 130 low-cost or free Fit and Fall Proof class sites are supported throughout Idaho by health district coordinators and led by volunteers across all seven regions. Volunteer class leaders are recruited from communities and trained by Idaho health district coordinators and master trainers using the Fit and Fall Proof curriculum, which was developed by Idaho professionals. 

Growing this program is part of DHW’s 2024 Strategic Plan—Goal 2, Objective 2.3.4: Increase the number of Idahoans accessing the local Fit and Fall Proof courses offered across the state by seven percent by Sept. 30, 2024.

The current annual report for Fit and Fall Proof reported a total of 9,358 participants for the year. An increase will mean that more than 10,000 seniors will feel the benefits of this important—and fun!—program.

There was a time in 2020 and 2021 when there were concerns that Fit and Fall Proof wouldn’t survive the pandemic. However, we learned that the program’s community bond was so strong that even stay-at-home orders couldn’t keep some seniors away. Determined Fit and Fall Proof participants hosted classes in church parking lots and barns in order to adhere to COVID guidelines. As of our latest annual report, Fit and Fall Proof attendance is climbing back toward its pre-pandemic numbers.

A recent study, “Exploring the Impact of the Idaho Fit and Fall Proof™ Program on Feelings of Isolation and Loneliness Post-COVID-19 Pandemic,”  was completed by Hailey Merrick, a graduate student at Boise State University with the Center for the Study of Aging. The center is the contracted third-party evaluator for Fit and Fall Proof and has been since its beginning.

Sarah Toevs, the center’s director, oversees this work. Merrick’s research examines the impact of participation in Fit and Fall Proof on feelings of isolation and connectedness. It provided a qualitative survey to participants at all seven health districts in Idaho, and nearly 500 participants responded. Reponses confirm what we already suspected: this program provides a vital sense of connection and community for senior citizens in Idaho.

We read a lot of reports in our work, but reading excerpts from this one is likely to leave you a little misty-eyed and give a boost to your day:

• “Thank you for providing this service, it is vital to our rural communities and senior health”
• “When I started I couldn't lift a cast iron skillet or balance with my eyes closed. Now I can. Very important instruction with positive social interaction.”
• “I love my exercises and being with my friends.”
• “People smile at you. At the gym, they don’t. My husband passed away in-between times and now I live alone. FFP seems more important now.”

Several DHW staff in the Division of Public Health are responsible for the operation and success of this program: Health Program Manager Amanda Rodgers oversees the program (originally created with support of Get Healthy Idaho Program Manager Katie Lamansky). Health district coordinators manage volunteer class leaders and trainings. Health program specialist Brooke Ambrose works part time on FFP, and Risk Reduction and Prevention Section Manager Nicole Rogers and Community Health Bureau Chief Jack Miller have supported activities to keep the program going.

Thank-you all for making a difference for Idaho’s seniors and for helping DHW meet this important strategic plan objective.

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 Department of Health and Welfare marked a significant milestone this month as it implemented a cutting-edge new background check system. The new system’s primary objective is to drastically reduce processing times for background checks, ensuring a smoother and faster experience for both applicants and employers.

The background check system managed by DHW helps screen people who care for many of Idaho’s most vulnerable and processes more than 33,000 background checks each year. The new system rolled out Tuesday, Oct. 3, and will screen people who work in daycares, emergency services, long-term care facilities, behavioral health clinics, certified family homes, state hospitals, and more.

Troubleshooting transition complications

The department recognizes that the transition to the new system is having an impact on our customers, and we are implementing measures to address problems and to increase the department’s response.

To deal with increased calls from our clients for help, the department is increasing the number of staff that can assist with calls and will respond to inquiries as quickly as it can. Providers who must use the system in the course of day-to-day business can expect continued targeted communications from the Background Check Unit with updates as the system is modified to serve their needs.

We expected a learning curve for all of the system’s users during the transition, and we believe this new tool will help build toward improved efficiency and security in the background check process. If you’re experiencing delays or complications, please consider the following resources:

• Background Check Unit website: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/bcu.
• Background check system training videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQoSxuWU8OZC8sJ3QDnzvj5SWIM4o19FF.
• Background Check Unit contact information: 800-340-1246 or bcu@dhw.idaho.gov.

The Background Check Unit website linked above has been updated to include training and reference materials discussing the features and processes of the background check system.

We ask our customers for their patience and understanding as the Background Check Unit team replies to all contacts for help as quickly as it can.

Some of new system’s key benefits

The Background Check Unit leveraged multi-year federal grant funding with aims to improve operations and efficiency in background checks. As part of an objective in DHW’s Strategic Plan to “implement a federally endorsed background check system and optimize both staff levels and operations at fingerprint locations to improve the timeliness of background checks,” this new system will ensure a smoother and faster experience for both applicants and employers.

The new background check system will:

• Eliminate 99% of the paper processes
• Allow applicants to submit via a mobile device
• Allow agencies to pay for their applicants’ background checks through the website
• Enhance security of information from FBI and local police
• Handle internet browser enhancements

The modernized background check system has various advantages for users and employers. The most significant is the elimination of 99% of paper-based processes.

The transition from an antiquated 2004 system to a more resilient and reliable platform enables applicants to conveniently submit their information via mobile device. This both enhances accessibility and streamlines the payment process, allowing applicants to pay for their background checks through the system website.

The new system also provides immediate access to necessary forms in a pdf format upon application submission, which saves time and makes compliance for out-of-state requirements easier to complete.

Increased security and automation

Security has always been a concern for the Background Check Unit, and this system addresses it. By enhancing the security of information sourced from the FBI and local police, applicants—as well as employers and the Background Check Unit—can have increased confidence in the handling of sensitive data.

Another critical improvement with the background check system is reducing reliance on manual intervention. The system sends timely notifications to employers, reminding them of approaching deadlines and potential violations. This ensures compliance and reduces the need for staff assistance in account management autonomy to manage their accounts. This streamlined affiliation process leads to greater efficiency and a reduction in administrative issues during audits.

By embracing modernization and leveraging technological advancements with this system, DHW can guarantee a smoother experience for customers, providers, and stakeholders involved in background checks.

Fernando Castro is program supervisor for the Background Check Unit at the Department of Health and Welfare. He’s worked in that position since 2010.

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 vision of the Department of Health and Welfare’s Get Healthy Idaho plan is healthy people living and thriving in safe, healthy, and resilient communities. Differences in communities and neighborhoods can impact how long and how well people live. Get Healthy Idaho is a creative, place-based approach that supports communities at the local level to make sure everyone has the opportunity to be healthy.

One of the best ways to support health and well-being in communities is to shift decision-making to those who live and work there. Get Healthy Idaho understands that each community has different needs and strengths, and it creates the ability for communities to come together to create shared goals for improving health.

Strategies may include changes to policies, systems, and environments that improve access to jobs, healthy and nutritious foods, places to be physically active, and available healthcare, for example. These solutions can improve economic and community well-being. They may also improve the community’s ability to overcome challenges in the future. When efforts that focus on prevention are successful, people are healthier, more productive, and are more connected and invested in the community’s health. The entire community grows stronger.

The Division of Public Health in the Department of Health and Welfare has been investing in Elmore and Bannock counties since 2021 to help build strong local partnerships focused on a shared goal. These are referred to as collaboratives. In their first year of funding, each collaborative worked with community members to identify local priority health needs. From there they will build action plans with solutions to improve the health of their community members, including those who are underserved.  

Since the solutions are local, they are much more likely to create positive, long-term change. The Division of Public Health provides funding, technical assistance, resources, and tools for four years in each awarded community

Congratulations to the Clearwater Economic Development Association

In September, the Clearwater Economic Development Association (CEDA) in North Central Idaho became the newest Get Healthy Idaho community. CEDA will receive $100,000 per year for four years to build partnerships, collect data from residents to understand local health needs, identify health priorities, develop an action plan, and implement local health solutions.

CEDA has a long history of leadership and the strong regional connections needed to build the collaborative. CEDA’s work will be focused on improving health for Idahoans in Kamiah and Orofino. The proposal received support from both city governments, Kamiah High School, Clearwater and Lewis County commissioners, North Central Idaho Public Health District, St. Mary’s and Clearwater Valley Health, Community Action Partnership, LC Valley Healthcare Foundation, Idaho Food Bank, and others. Read CEDA’s Get Healthy Idaho announcement.

Health improvements continue in Elmore and Bannock counties

While work is just starting in Kamiah and Orofino, the United Way of Southeastern Idaho in Bannock County is gearing up to start its third year of the initiative. The Western Idaho Community Health Collaborative (WICHC) in Elmore County has started its fourth and final year of funding this month.

The United Way of Southeastern Idaho was awarded funds in October 2021, and is focused on improving health for underserved residents of Bannock County. Community surveys and conversations with residents helped the collaborative identify transportation as a major barrier to health. Due to strong partnerships with health clinics and a local transportation ride service, a point-to-point transportation solution for community members was borne. This program is known as Ride United. Through the service, riders have access to healthcare, behavioral health, recovery support, and other services provided at the Portneuf Medical Center’s City Center Campus in Pocatello. Ride United is joined with FindHelpIdaho.org and allows case managers to order rides that help community members access the services they need when they need to be there.

Between January and July 2023, more than 1,270 rides were provided to community members for doctors’ appointments at the free clinic, recovery programs and resources, and crisis center support, among other health services. Watch this video to learn more about the service from a rider. Listen to United Way of Southeastern Idaho’s new podcast, Igniting Change, Episode 3 (available late October), focused on the impact of Get Healthy Idaho investments in Bannock County.

In addition, United Way partnered with Southeast Idaho Council of Governments to help residents with transportation barriers learn how to use the Pocatello bus system so they can manage their own transportation needs. Ride United helps clients get to the care they need at the Pocatello Free Clinic, the Southeast Idaho Behavioral Crisis Center, and the Hope and Recovery Resource Center, among other services.

In October, Ride United was recognized as an innovative idea by the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center. The center promotes transportation options for older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers.

Because of these new transportation options, no-show rates at the free clinic dropped to zero. This service helps clinicians provide better care for their patients, helping them achieve healthier outcomes. When asked about the impacts of Ride United on their clients, Matt Hardin, former director of Southeast Idaho Behavioral Crisis Center, said, “Ride United was the second most important thing that positively impacted us next to the Medicaid expansion in 2020.”

In southwest Idaho, the very first Get Healthy Idaho funded community in Elmore County continues planning, development, and collaboration efforts with county-wide partners to bring their community action plan to life. This work is led by The Western Idaho Community Health Collaborative (WICHC). With community input, the action plan addresses Get Healthy Idaho priorities (diabetes, obesity, unintentional injury, and behavioral health) by improving access to public lands and open space, increasing transportation options, and enhancing access to healthcare services and behavioral health support.

To increase access to care across the county, WICHC is working with Desert Sage Health Centers to implement a Community Health Worker (CHW) program. They are also partnering with Elmore Ambulance Service to pilot a Community Health-Emergency Medical Services (CHEMS) program to improve care for residents with behavioral health needs or diabetes.

The CHEMS program in Elmore County was officially launched in September. CHEMS paramedics focus on patients’ health in non-emergency settings, outside the hospital. CHEMS prevent future health emergencies by visiting patients in their homes. The program increases access to primary and preventive care services and decreases the use of emergency departments for patients with chronic diseases and complicated care plans. They make sure patients have the tools, education, and support they need to treat medical conditions and maintain their health.

This summer, Dr. Jennifer Rhoads was hired by Elmore Ambulance Service to lead the CHEMS program for the county. She has begun visiting patients with complex health needs, helping make their homes safer by fixing hazards that can lead to falls, teaching caregivers how to dress wounds, help them understand how to take medication, and treatment of chronic disease. This work is important because it prevents them from ending up sick or in the hospital.

While they have begun their fourth and final year of Get Healthy Idaho, WICHC partners and Dr. Rhoads are making lasting improvements in access to healthcare options as well as improving overall mental and physical health for residents in Elmore County who need it most.

Sustained investment toward shared goals transforms communities

Health happens where people live, work, and play. The policies, systems, and environmental solutions to improve health for all people should reflect the unique needs and culture of each community. By shifting to community-led models, and through continued investments from funders, such as Get Healthy Idaho, communities can work together to address their unique health challenges and achieve shared goals that will result in a healthy, thriving, resilient community.

Learn more about these community-based initiatives as part of the state’s Get Healthy Idaho Plan at https://www.gethealthy.dhw.idaho.gov/.

Katie Lamansky manages the Get Healthy Idaho Initiative in Idaho’s Division of Public Health. She has worked for the division since 2008, where she started her career as a health program specialist in the Idaho Physical Activity and Nutrition Program. Katie supports GHI through strategic leadership and programmatic oversight to achieve Get Healthy Idaho’s vision of healthy people, living and thriving in safe, healthy, and resilient communities.

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