The Idaho Legislature convened on Monday, Jan. 8, marking the start of this year’s session. It’s an exciting time in Idaho as lawmakers from around the state travel to Boise to set policy and establish a budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

In the coming weeks, the Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) will present budgets for its eight divisions, which provide services to more than 451,000 Idahoans with the purpose of helping those less fortunate, protecting our children and challenged adults, and promoting resiliency. We’re grateful to policy makers for recognizing and supporting those efforts.

As someone who’s spent 25 years working in the Idaho Senate and 10 years as director of the Idaho Department of Insurance, I want to take a few minutes to share what I’ve learned about the legislative process over the years.

First, the men and women who serve Idaho at the state Capitol have my utmost respect. Being called to serve is a profound experience and draws people who have dedicated themselves to a cause greater than personal aspirations. I believe this calling comes from a deep-seated desire to contribute to the well-being of others and to make a positive impact on society. 

From the outside looking in, it’s easy for people to say the Legislature should just do what’s right. The problem is, what’s right for one person or community might not be right for another, and we have to respect those differences while acknowledging that our lawmakers are doing what they understand to be right for the majority of Idahoans. 

I was 30 when I was first appointed to the Legislature in 1991. At the time the Senate was equally divided between the two major parties, and no bill got out of committee unless you could work across the aisle. I learned from the very beginning the importance of collaboration to find solutions that worked for everyone.

The process isn’t always pretty. I’ve heard it compared with sausage making and have found it can sometimes take years to put together a recipe that works. Yet my time in the Legislature reinforced my fundamental belief that by working together we can find solutions.

Like the Legislature, I believe that all branches of Idaho government, including DHW, are filled with good, hard-working, well-intentioned people who do their best for the interests of the state. And as public servants, we all share a common goal: to serve honestly and in the public’s interest.

I look forward to working with lawmakers, DHW staff, and other agencies this winter as we collaborate to improve the services DHW provides Idahoans.

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. 

The oldest groom in Idaho in 2022 was 92. The oldest bride was 87. The shortest marriage was 34 days. The longest marriage ending in divorce was 59 years.

These and many more statistics about marriage and divorce in Idaho are available in the 2022 Marriage and Divorce Report, which was published by the Department of Health and Welfare’s Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics in December.

The bureau is responsible for managing Idaho’s vital records program and for providing health statistics and analysis, and is responsible for inspecting, processing, and storing records. Data in the report is for marriages and divorces occurring in Idaho only. There is no reporting agreement among states to exchange information about divorces. 

The number of marriages occurring in Idaho increased 2 percent from 14,030 in 2021 to 14,304 in 2022. At the same time, the marriage rate decreased from 7.6 marriages per 1,000 people to 7.4 marriages per 1,000 people. 

Marriages occur at a higher frequency in Idaho than in the U.S. as a whole. The 2021 U.S. provisional marriage rate was 6.0 per 1,000 people according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Much of the difference between Idaho and U.S. rates can be accounted for by the high number of nonresidents who marry in northern Idaho.

The number of divorces in Idaho increased less than 1% from 6,392 in 2021 to 6,419 in 2022. In the past 10 years the divorce rate declined 27% from 4.8 divorces per 1,000 people in 2012 to 3.5 in 2021. Like marriages, divorces occur more frequently in Idaho than in the remainder of the nation. IN 2021 the provisional divorce rate for the U.S. as a whole was 2.5 per 1,000 people, according to the CDC.

On Oct. 15, 2014, same-sex marriage became legal in Idaho, and a question for each person’s title (groom, bride, or partner) was added to the Idaho Marriage License. Marriage licenses vary by county. Some include a question for sex, and some do not. 

Of the 14,304 marriages in Idaho in 2022, a total of 13,967 were between a bride and groom, and 328 were same-sex or between a partner and a partner.

Of the 6,419 divorces in Idaho in 2022, 6,200 (96.6%) were opposite-sex divorces, 81 were same-sex divorces among females, 18 were same-sex divorces among males, and 120 did not report one or both sexes.

More females (4,206 or 65.5%) petitioned for divorce than males (2,183 or 34.0%).

For more information:

• Read the 2022 Marriage and Divorce Report
• Read prior years’ reports
• Visit the Idaho Vital Events Divorce Dashboard

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

When Gov. Brad Little reached out to me in November to discuss the Department of Health and Welfare (DHW), I thought he wanted help finding the next director. I was first surprised, and then humbled and honored, that he asked me to serve as interim director following Director Dave Jeppesen’s retirement. My appointment became effective this week.

Since the governor’s announcement, I’ve been meeting regularly with DHW’s senior leaders to get to know them, as well as to learn more about current department programs and issues. After these first months of getting acquainted, I’m happy to say that the department has capable, talented, and passionate leadership. The department also has opportunities for growth, and I’m excited to roll up my sleeves with DHW’s talented staff to help make that happen in the weeks and months ahead.

I’m no stranger to Idaho government. I concurrently serve as director of the Idaho Department of Insurance, a post I’ve held since 2015 when I was appointed by former Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter.

I’m a third-generation insurance agent who’s worked in Idaho for 32 years. I have three decades experience serving in state government, with 25 years in the Idaho State Senate. My wife, Linda, and I have three children and seven grandchildren.

Earlier this week, I answered a few questions to help DHW’s 3,000 employees get to know me better, and I want to share some of my answers in this blog so that more Idahoans have the opportunity to get to know me as well.

Thanks for reading, and thanks as well for the opportunity to serve.

Question: Tell us a little about yourself.

Director Cameron: I have a wonderful supportive wife and family, three children with three incredible spouses and seven fantastic grandchildren. I was raised throughout southern Idaho, mostly in Rupert and Burley. I graduated from Meridian High School in 1979, when there was only one high school in the Ada west area. I majored in political science and graduated from Ricks College in 1984. I went into the insurance business with my father. I am a third-generation agent.

I was appointed to the Idaho State Senate in 1991 and ran for re-election in 1992 and every two years through 2015. I served as chair of the Senate Commerce and Human Resources Committee from 1993 through 1999. I was on the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) from 1993 through 2015, serving as chair from 2001 through 2015. I was appointed Director of the Idaho Department of Insurance in June 2015. I served as national President of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2022.

Question: What was your first thought when Gov. Little asked you to be interim director?

Director Cameron: I was shocked! I knew Director Jeppesen was retiring, but I thought Governor Little was going to ask me to help find his replacement. I had a similar conversation about this job years ago and helped find and recommend Director Jeppesen for the job.

Question: What are you most excited about at DHW?

Director Cameron: I am most excited about making a difference in people’s lives. I love helping people. I love making a difference.

Question: What are you most proud of in your professional career?

Director Cameron: There are so many accomplishments that I have been able to collaborate with others to achieve: helping kids get coverage for hearing aids, kids with autism receiving appropriate treatment, the creation of the nation’s most successful state based health insurance exchange, and the best high risk reinsurance pool. The list is very long, but I did not do anything by myself.

Question: What is one thing you want Idahoans to know about you?

Director Cameron: I care about the incredible services DHW provides and the citizens DHW serves. I also have tremendous respect for legislative process and for those who give of their time, talent, and resources to serve the people of Idaho.

Question: Why do you think the department’s work is important?

Director Cameron: I have a strong core belief that society, and we as individuals, have a responsibility to help those who are less fortunate. Our role is critical to deliver those services. I also strongly believe we have a responsibility to protect society, especially our children. Every child deserves an opportunity to thrive and feel loved. That responsibility includes the well-being and safety of our children, as well as the health of our community, care for our elderly, and stewardship of our physically and mentally challenged.

Question: You’ve served in Idaho state government for 32 years. Why is public service important to you?

Director Cameron: As a young child, I learned the importance of service. I remember spending the days with Grandma Brown, who was not my grandmother or relative. She was simply unable to care for her very large garden. The pay was the liverwurst sandwich and the feeling I got after helping her. I’m not a fan of liverwurst, but I am a fan of that feeling. I am dedicated to improving the situation, to lifting another, to carrying another’s burden and comforting those in need of comfort.

Question: Is there anything else you’d like to tell Idahoans about yourself?

Director Cameron: First, I am not Director Jeppesen, who is a tireless public servant. He is a good man who has given so much to our state and this agency. I wear a different set of glasses and have different experiences and perspectives.

Second, change is not easy but at times is needed for progress and growth. DHW has the opportunity to deal with several challenging issues. I see them as opportunities, and look forward to working through them with DHW’s staff, lawmakers, the governor, and partner agencies. 

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

Winter in Idaho poses significant challenges for many households, as they contend with high heating bills and various other difficulties throughout the year. The Department of Health and Welfare’s Division Self-Reliance offers a variety of programs to ease the burdens faced by individuals and families in Idaho. 

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) plays a crucial role in helping households with their heating costs during winter months and in times of crisis. The program provides support to a diverse range of energy sources including electric, natural gas, propane, fuel oil, and wood. 

In the last program year (October 2022-September 2023), LIHEAP successfully processed applications for 30,915 households for regular heating assistance, and 11,637 households for crisis benefits, bringing the total number of benefits issued to 42,552. The average benefit amount for regular heating assistance was $370.28, while households facing immediate heating emergencies received an average crisis benefit of $641.39. Each recipient receives this benefit as a one-time payment per program year.

• Learn more about LIHEAP
• Apply for heating assistance

Weatherization Assistance Program 

Weatherization, a program with more than 40 years of operation, stands as the nation's largest “whole-house” energy efficiency initiative. Its purpose is to enhance the energy efficiency of homes occupied by low-income individuals. This is achieved by reducing overall energy expenses and enhancing health and safety conditions, particularly for vulnerable groups like the elderly, disabled, and children.

In the last program year (April 2022–March 2023), Idaho successfully weatherized a total of 270 homes using dedicated weatherization funding and additional available resources. The comprehensive weatherization services included repairing or replacing primary heating sources, upgrading water heaters, adding insulation to walls, floors, and attics, as well as weather-stripping and caulking doors and windows.

• Learn more about Weatherization Assistance Program
• Apply for weatherization assistance

The Division of Self-Reliance at DHW offers vital assistance to Idaho households. These programs reduce heating costs, address crises, and enhance energy efficiency. To find out more information or apply, visit https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/financial-assistance/home-heatingutility-assistance.

As I reflect on my five years at DHW, I’m filled with gratitude. Most of all, I’m grateful to DHW’s 3,000 competent, compassionate employees who are selfless, passionate, and dedicated in their service to Idahoans.

I frequently say that my job at DHW is to support staff so they can do their best work, and it's been my honor to help make that happen. Day to day, it's not always easy to see that the work we do has impact but reflecting month to month or year to year easily shows that small efforts add up to significant accomplishments.

As I reflect on the past five years, I feel a sense of pride to have seen DHW’s employees do so much, and I’ve written about some of their accomplishments in my blogs the last few weeks. We’ve worked to transform behavioral healthcare, implement Medicaid expansion, respond to crises, raise the bar at our state hospitals, and much more.

The breadth and depth of the programs and services at DHW is far more than I expected. Before coming to DHW, I had no idea that the department dispatches Idaho Transportation Department snowplows, ensures compliance with the law requiring businesses to sell tobacco only to those over 21, or that I would be the guardian for around 400 children in foster care while they wait for their adoptions.

These and other countless other amazing services couldn’t happen without DHW’s staff. Their expertise and knowledge are critical to the department’s success, and they impress and inspire me every day with how they blend expertise and knowledge with compassion, creativity, and practicality to find solutions for Idahoans.

My first day on the job, I received some sage advice from former DHW Director Russ Barron, who said: “There will be tough days ahead and wonderful days, and your team will be there to support you in every way possible.”

Truer words were never spoken. The wonderful days were heartwarming and inspiring. The tough days were made better by knowing DHW’s staff does its best every day, and by having each other to lean on.

This is, by far, the best job I’ve ever had. Thanks to DHW’s staff, other government agencies, and community partners for all you have taught me and for your support as we work to fulfill DHW’s mission: to strengthen the health, safety, and independence of Idahoans.

This is my final blog as director at DHW, but you’ll hear regularly from Interim Director Dean Cameron in the new year as he takes the reigns and guides DHW into 2024.

Thanks to DHW’s employees for the honor of serving alongside you and thank-you to the people of Idaho for entrusting me with this important job. I cannot imagine a better or more fulfilling capstone to my career.

I hope you have a safe and healthy start to the new year! 

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

A home test-to-treat option for COVID-19 and influenza is available to Idahoans through a National Institutes of Health (NIH) program. 

The Home Test to Treat program is a virtual community health program that offers free COVID-19 and influenza (flu) at-home rapid tests, telehealth sessions, and at-home treatments to eligible participants nationwide.

Any adult (18 years and older) with a current positive test for COVID-19 or flu can enroll to receive free telehealth care and, if prescribed, medication delivered to their home. 

Adults who do not currently have COVID-19 or flu may enroll and receive free tests if they are uninsured or are enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans Affairs health care system, or the Indian Health Services. If recipients test positive at a future time, they can receive free telehealth care and, if prescribed, treatment.

Services are available in both English and Spanish. 

Enrollees may also be invited to participate in an optional research component of the program. This program is funded by NIH and aims to better understand how technologies such as at-home tests and telemedicine can improve healthcare access for individuals across the country. Any data shared with researchers will be limited to what is necessary to evaluate the program and will not include identifying information.

For more information or to sign up, visit test2treat.org. Click on the “Register Now” button to enroll. For additional support, call 1-800-682-2829 for the Home Test to Treat program customer service line to receive help with the registration process, or email hometest2treat@emed.com.

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 my five years with the Department of Health and Welfare the state’s three psychiatric hospitals have made incredible strides to improve their level of service for Idahoans. The Southwest Idaho Treatment Center, a center that serves people with developmental disabilities, has also achieved incredible milestones.

The three state hospitals—North, South, and West—are managed by the Division of Behavioral Health. Southwest Idaho Treatment Center (SWITC) is managed by the Division of Family and Community Services.

State Hospital West

State Hospital West is a 16-bed adolescent psychiatric facility that opened in May 2021 in Nampa for youth ages 12 through 17. State Hospital West was accredited this month by The Joint Commission, the nation’s oldest and largest standards setting and accrediting body in healthcare. 

Accreditation is a significant accomplishment that demonstrates the hospital’s ongoing commitment to continuous improvement in patient care. 

State Hospital West provides a secure setting where youth receive more intensive comprehensive behavioral health services than they could in a community hospital, and they receive it 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

State Hospital South

State Hospital South in Blackfoot and State Hospital North in Orofino serve adults civilly committed to the state for treatment of a mental illness or to be restored to competency for criminal proceedings.

State Hospital South is Idaho’s oldest and largest state hospital. It opened in 1886 and has a 110-bed psychiatric facility and a 42-bed skilled nursing facility for seniors called Syringa Chalet. State Hospital South has been Joint Commission accredited since 1998.

When State Hospital West opened in 2021, it made space available at State Hospital South where adolescents had previously been housed. State Hospital South was subsequently converted into a more secure unit.

Syringa Chalet was also expanded during my time with the department. It became a skilled nursing facility in 1990 and was expanded from 29 to 42 beds when it moved into a new building in 2020.

State Hospital North

State Hospital North in Orofino is working toward accreditation by The Joint Commission. When achieved, this will be a reflection of the hospital’s commitment to meeting established performance standards for care and safety.

State Hospital North is working closely with with accreditation consultants to identify gaps and make recommendations to boost safety and achieve best practice standards. This has resulted in many positive changes at the hospital that will benefit both staff and patients for years to come. I’m confident the hospital will be accredited in the near future. 

Joint Commission accreditation, once achieved, will allow the hospital to bill Medicaid and Medicare for services provided to patients covered under those insurance plans. 

Southwest Idaho Treatment Center (SWITC)

The mission of Southwest Idaho Treatment Center (SWITC) in Nampa is to provide services as a short-term therapeutic stabilization and transition center for clients, focused mostly on those who have criminal activity or severe behaviors. 

SWITC has become a stabilization center for people with intricate and challenging needs, with the goal of transitioning them to effective community placements for long-term services.

SWITC is undergoing a major overhaul as part of the Crisis System Improvement Project. Outdated or unused buildings have been razed, and construction will soon begin on an assessment and observation unit, and transitional step-down units. 

The project team also explored licensing and accreditation types for future services and is field testing elements of the proposed new treatment model. The project team is working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to establish federal funding for future services.

I’m also proud to report that SWITC received compliments for positive improvements in a recent July 3 investigation by the Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations (OPE). 

Thanks to the teams who do this work

The strides made by the three state hospitals and SWITC are nothing short of commendable, and the staffs in Orofino, Nampa, and Blackfoot deserve the credit. Their concerted efforts have resulted in significant improvements in patient care and services, and I’m proud to have been a part of the work during my time with DHW.

These accomplishments help underscore that Idaho's mental health landscape is evolving positively, with a shared commitment to the well-being of Idaho citizens. 

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. 

During the past year the Department of Health and Welfare has worked to make sure that those eligible for health insurance through Medicaid remain enrolled. One of our chief concerns through that process has been to keep eligible children covered—a concern shared by our federal partners in a letter to Gov. Brad Little this week.

Medicaid provides health insurance coverage to eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities. Normally, federal regulation requires states recertify eligibility of Medicaid enrollees annually. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, enrollees could generally not be disenrolled even if they became ineligible, such as earning above the income threshold. Federal law temporarily required states to maintain Medicaid coverage for adults and children unless they died, moved out of state, or asked to be removed. This was called Medicaid Protection.

As the pandemic progressed, even though states could for the most part not disenroll members from Medicaid, we ran a series of tests of all automated renewal processes to simulate the end of Medicaid Protection. This ensured that our eligibility determinations would be accurate and, for those found ineligible, our electronic hand-off to the state-based exchange would work. The goal: help everyone find the coverage they need and qualify for.

That temporary pause on continuous eligibility for all enrollees ended this year. States submitted their “unwinding” plans to verify enrollee eligibility and continue coverage for eligible participants. Idaho’s plan prioritized enrollees, such as first processing renewals for enrollees who, based on available data, appeared no longer eligible. Idaho’s unwinding plan was approved and subsequently executed. 

Meanwhile, as soon as the department learned that the pause on disenrollments would end beginning April 2023, we began reaching out to Idahoans and community partners and going through records to figure out who qualifies for health insurance through Medicaid, and who does not. Doing so accurately and efficiently has been a top priority. Making sure that Idaho children who qualify remain on Medicaid has been of utmost importance.

Reexamining eligibility has been a large, complex and important undertaking that DHW has taken very seriously. Here are some examples of what we’ve done to try to ensure those who qualify remain covered:

• Staff were and are available to support all eligibility questions and complete reassessments to ensure accurate and timely coverage is provided. An individual can come into a field office, call, or go online to our mobile friendly application, Idalink, to check eligibility and, if needed, will receive coverage retroactively as far back as 90 days. 
• Idaho provides continuous coverage for kids. This means, once a child is enrolled in Medicaid, that child’s coverage will continue for one full year, even if during the course of that year the child becomes ineligible. Starting in January, this will be required for all states. In Idaho we’ve been doing it since 2020, long before it was required.
• We reviewed all our processes to ensure accurate outcomes. 
• We partnered with federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) that serve Medicaid participants to conduct targeted outreach to ensure families were aware of the need to provide updated information for redetermination efforts. 
• Multiple outreach efforts were made to Medicaid members to inform them of the end of continuous enrollment and the need to update their information, including traditional mail, email, and text messaging.
• We’ve specifically coordinated with Idaho tribes to conduct onsite redetermination efforts to ensure continuity of coverage for eligible tribal members. We also met with multiple advocate groups like Voices for Children, Office on Aging, Idaho Health Care Association, hospitals, and food banks. 
• We ran multiple social media campaigns highlighting the end of continuous enrollment and urging enrollees to contact us.

Along the way our federal partners provided updated direction with clarifying guidance, requiring states to review existing processes to ensure accurate coverage was being provided during the unwinding process. 

Upon receiving this guidance, department staff immediately took action. We paused procedural closures and pivoted to review and adjust processes and systems accordingly. As a result, 18,000 individuals, 6,000 of whom were kids, had their coverage reinstated. 

Despite our outreach efforts aimed to keep eligible Idahoans covered under Medicaid, many previously enrolled Idahoans did not respond and were removed from the Medicaid program. Our latest data shows 51,000 children have been removed from Medicaid. While this number is 10% lower than our federal partner claims, even 1 eligible child removed is one too many.

We appreciate the concern expressed regarding loss of coverage for Medicaid participants in Idaho and share the goal of ensuring qualifying individuals, including children, remain eligible for Medicaid. 

We know that we’ve taken the appropriate steps over the last nine months to make sure qualifying children and adults get and maintain the health insurance coverage they need. The department has cooperated with federal and state partners to complete the unwind of continuous enrollment in an accurate, efficient and compliant manner. On two occasions, we paused our process to ensure that eligible Idahoans remained covered. 

Ultimately, Idaho followed the law, federal guidance, and our federally approved plan to complete our unwinding work.  Most other states are still in process, with some just beginning. As they complete their unwinding activities, it will be interesting to see how the numbers compare. 

In Idaho, anyone can apply or reapply for Medicaid at any time. If you or someone you know needs health insurance, please contact DHW at 877-456-1233 to see if you qualify.

The Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) tackles numerous challenges in its day-to-day service of Idahoans, and one of the biggest the department undertook during my tenure was mandated by Idaho voters.

In 2018, just a few months before I was appointed director, Idahoans went to the polls and enacted Medicaid Expansion, which expands Medicaid coverage to nearly all adults with incomes up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level, which was $20,120 for an individual in 2023. 

In short, voters asked for more Idahoans to be eligible for health insurance through Medicaid. As the state agency that determines Medicaid eligibility and administers the program, DHW made that happen effectively and affordably. 

Enrollment began in November 2019, and coverage for those newly enrolled began in January 2020.

As of December 2023, around 94,587 Idaho residents were enrolled in Medicaid Expansion. These are individuals who have a monthly income of $1,563 or less, or a family of four with a monthly income of $3,192 or less.

Most of them, over 79%, have reportable income.

Some of them, 24% as of last winter, have a primary diagnosis of Serious Mental Illness. Medicaid Expansion allowed them access to a wider range of behavioral health services so they could get more comprehensive treatment. 

The cost of Medicaid Expansion is split with 90% paid for by the federal government and 10% paid for by the state. By comparison, for every dollar spent for traditional Medicaid, the federal government pays for about 70 cents, while the state pays for around 30 cents.

On average, people with a Serious Mental Illness live about 20 years less than others. Medicaid Expansion allows for more comprehensive treatment of both physical and behavioral health issues, which might help people live longer.

Containing costs is integral to making it work

Healthcare costs seem to increase each year, and containing Medicaid costs has been integral to implementing expansion.

The Healthy Connection Value Care Program focuses on paying healthcare providers for value, rather than volume. Medicaid participants are connected with a primary care provider who can help them make healthier decisions and get treatment before a condition becomes chronic and more expensive.

Going forward, Medicaid will need to continue the difficult and delicate balance of ensuring that individuals who qualify for Medicaid get access to the services that they need while managing the overall cost of the Medicaid program.

If you have questions about Medicaid, contact DHW at 877-456-1233 or email MyBenefits@dhw.idaho.gov. You can also visit idalink.idaho.gov.

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 response to the pressing need for suitable housing for foster children, a new placement is set to open in Payette in the coming months and offer a lifeline to kids who were previously placed in short-term rental accommodations.

During the past couple of years child welfare staff with Family and Community Services (FACS) faced difficulties finding suitable placements for children entering foster care. We initially turned to hotel rooms, but the inadequacy of such spaces for children became apparent and led to the innovative idea of using short-term rentals.

As the number of children in need continued to grow, program staff found themselves managing six separate short-term rentals. Recognizing the inefficiency and lack of cost-effectiveness, the program explored creation of a centralized placement that would provide a more organized and licensed space.

The placement will provide housing for children that the program is unable to place quickly with foster parents, either because they are older children or because they have complex needs. One of the first and most important goals when children enter our care is to find them appropriate housing, but that can be difficult when the need arises during evening hours or the children’s needs are beyond what most foster parents are able to handle.

FACS is in the process of securing a vacant assisted living facility, which will be more suitable for meeting children’s needs. It will house up to 12 children in a more structured and cost-effective manner than housing them in short-term rentals. This new placement is committed to assuring children have comprehensive services, including mental health, physical health, and education.

The best place for children to live is in a home with their nuclear or extended family. The child welfare program seeks to place children in homes with foster families when their original families are unable to care for them safely.

Foster families are needed in Idaho. Those interested in becoming foster parents or learning more about the program can call 2-1-1 to obtain an application. The program also welcomes treatment foster parents, who play a crucial role in providing enhanced support to children with complex needs.

Last year, FACS successfully reunited over 700 children with their families, and facilitated 260 adoptions. As of late November, there were 1,549 children in foster care in Idaho, emphasizing the ongoing need for foster families and placements like the new home in Payette.

The opening of the Payette placement represents a significant step toward addressing the challenges faced by the child welfare program, with the hope of positively impacting the lives of children in need.

Cameron Gilliland is the administrator of the Division of Family and Community Services. He has worked for the department since 1996 in various capacities and was promoted to administrator in August 2021. He has been trained as a clinical social worker and has overseen policy for the Child Welfare Program and managed several developmental disability programs in the department.

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