DPH Bureau Spotlight: Vital Records and Health Statistics
The bureau serves nearly 2,000 customers each week
The Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics (BVRHS) provides fundamental records and data services for Idaho and is a critical component of the Division of Public Health. Bureau Chief James Aydelotte has served in his position 14 years, the third longest serving State Registrar in over a century. Under his leadership, Idaho has seen a population boom, and the bureau has increased services accordingly, with a symphony of carefully planned processes and a high functioning and close-knit team. The bureau has three sections:
Vital Records Management, led by Jeremy Peterson, which includes automated systems, field coordinators, registration, data entry, and nosology (classification of diseases).
Vital Records Services, led by Anthony Thomas, which includes court actions, legal amendments, and customer services.
Health Statistics, led by Pam Harder, which includes vital statistics, State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS), and National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS).
Vital Records sections handle the legal documentation of key life events — births, deaths, marriages, divorces, stillbirths, and miscarriages — and are essential for individual rights, informed program and policy development, and public health.
Health Statistics provides the data needed to understand and address health issues at the population level, identify risk factors, track disease trends, and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions and policies. This data-driven approach allows for more targeted and effective public health efforts.
The bureau ensures that current and former residents have access to essential documents required for various parts of life, including legal identification for driver’s licenses, passports, and other IDs so they can access benefits such as Social Security, pensions, and insurance claims, as well as enroll in schools, access healthcare, and establish family connections.
By maintaining accurate and secure records, the bureau supports the legal and personal needs of Idaho’s residents. Because of the Star Card (Idaho’s REAL ID), many people are requesting birth certificates, one of the necessary documents to prove identity in the Star Card application. The bureau has seen a steep increase in orders because of the Star Card and many staff are working overtime to meet the demand. This is a time of great purpose and demand for the bureau, and we are incredibly proud of their efforts to serve!
Learn more on the DHW Vital Records webpage, the Reports and Statistics webpage, and the Birth, Marriage, & Death Records webpage, and reach out to James Aydelotte at james.aydelotte@dhw.idaho.gov or 208-334-4969.
Submitted by Sarah Poe, deputy administrator for DPH
BVRHS 2024 by the numbers:
Total number of records filed – 60,243
Number of customers served – 105,721 customer orders
Total number of certified copies printed – 180,039
Inbound Phone Calls received by Vital Records Customer Service Unit – 18,894
Average of 1,994 customer orders per week
Average turn-around time for standard mail orders – 6 days
Average turn-around time for mail rush orders – 2 days
Number of requests, reports, fact sheets, dashboards, technical assistance, data sets and other health statistics data products produced – 240
Third Space Project: Expanding Behavioral Health Access through Idaho Libraries
As Idaho continues to prioritize behavioral health, an innovative partnership is breaking new ground by bringing telehealth access to where people already gather: their local libraries. The Third Space Project, a collaboration between the Idaho Commission for Libraries and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, is creating private, tech-equipped spaces in libraries across the state, enabling residents, especially in rural areas, to access telehealth appointments. With 42 libraries now participating, Idaho leads the nation in offering telehealth-ready library spaces. Read the full spotlight to see how this creative approach is bridging the digital and healthcare divide for Idahoans who need it most.
Submitted by Karla Nelson and Katie Lamansky, State Health Assessment Team
Thank you for all you do, DPH staff
In honor of Employee Appreciation Week in early May, the Division of Public Health served root beer floats to staff the week of May 5 in Central Office, at StateComm in Meridian, and at the state lab on Friday. A daily trivia contest from Elke challenged staff on several topics, and a hike and employee barbecue are planned for June 4. (Remember to use your Wellness Coupon before it expires on June 4!)
Well Done!
Becky Creighton, Comprehensive Cancer Program manager in the Bureau of Prevention and Community Health, was lauded in a letter from the senior and associate directors for community outreach and the communications and public affairs director at the Huntsman Cancer Institute for her participation in a delegation to Washington D.C. in March. “You were a powerful addition to our team and your professional expertise and personal commitment to addressing issues facing Idahoans was invaluable in strengthening our relationships with the staffs of Senators Risch and Crapo,” the letter says. “From highlighting our innovative collaborations in the Mountain West to the lifesaving impact of health screening programs, you were able to underscore the vital role of cancer prevention, research, and care in Idaho to your senators and highlight the current, ongoing impact that federal changes are having on your community and Idaho constituencies.”
Jeremy Peterson, automated systems manager in the Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics, was awarded the Halbert L. Dunn Award at the 2025 NAPHSIS Annual Meeting in Dallas, TX. NAPHSIS is National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems. Jeremy is the 37th recipient of the award and the first from Idaho. This is a prestigious award in vital records and health statistics and has been presented since 1981. It has provided national recognition of outstanding and lasting contributions to vital records and health statistics at the national, state, and local levels. The award was established in honor of the late Dr. Halbert L. Dunn, director of the National Office of Vital Statistics from 1936 to 1960. Dr. Dunn was highly instrumental in encouraging the establishment of state vital statistics associations and played a major role in developing NAPHSIS. Jeremy attended the meeting with Pam Harder, research analyst supervisor.
Out and about
Dr. Chris Hahn, DPH medical director, presented a public health update to the Idaho Medical Association’s Board. Discussion centered around questions they had about measles immunization of infants prior to travel, or in outbreak areas; and changes to public health in light of changes at HHS, CDC, and state law.
Hayden Falkner and Betsy Hammar, Suicide Prevention Program, met with Bonner County Commissioner Asia Williams to discuss strengths and challenges in her communities for suicide prevention and her interest to serve on the Idaho Suicide Prevention Action Collective (ISPAC). She’s joining the next ISPAC meeting as a guest and Hayden will seek approval from the ISPAC steering committee to confirm her as a member.
The Idaho Home Visiting Program hosted the annual Home Visiting Connections Meeting with representation from the seven health districts and Bannock Youth Foundation. The meeting is a professional development opportunity for home visitors to learn best practices, connect with their peers, and help inform future program activities.
Drew Pendleton, Carolee Cooper, Will Reynolds, and Brigitta Gruenberg, all from the Environmental Health Section, met with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) program leads to discuss current and future project collaboration. Discussion included the Environmental Health Program (EHP) strategic plan, harmful algal bloom coordination, wildfire season, EHP maps, site assessment work and more.
The Food Protection Program started a cottage food committee and have met several times over the past few weeks. Members include environmental health professionals from across the state. The goal of this committee is to clear up confusion about what products can be allowed under the cottage food laws. Jarryd Samples, program manager, has drafted an allowable and not allowed list as well as a cottage food product testing FAQ document. Some foods like quick breads that contain fruits/vegetables are not allowed unless the producer has their recipe tested.
Sarah Leeds, Idaho Immunization Program, attended the American Immunization Registry Association national meeting. Other Program/Bureau attendees included Tamarie Olson (Vaccine Section), Sharon Matties (Immunization Information System (IIS) Section), and Elodie Koffe (Surveillance and Analytics Program). The team was able to speak with several IIS vendors about modernized platforms, attend sessions on data quality, staff and provider training, and IIS cost containment, to name only a few important topics.
Jonas Frankel-Bricker and Chris Murphy, Population Health Data, attended a virtual presentation by Eddika Hernandez, a Boise State University student who is part of the university’s Data Analytics for Statewide Health Collaborative (DASH Lab). The student was mentored by former division bureau chief Gina Pannel, who is now a PhD student at Boise State. Eddika used BRFSS data to examine demographic associations with food insecurity in Idaho. Notably, disabled adults and adults with poor mental health were both three times more likely to have food insecurity compared with other adults. Hispanic women were 33% more likely to have food insecurity compared with non-Hispanic women.
Chris Burgess, Public Health Preparedness and Response Program, has been focused on finalizing the order to begin shipment of Tamiflu to local public health districts. Chris also participated in calls with the districts to answer any questions they had about the shipments.
Levi Claussen, Public Health Preparedness and Response Program, has been providing education and outreach for public health district staff about emPOWER, VolunteerIdaho, IRTS, and SharePoint.
Jodi Fulbright, Public Health Preparedness and Response Program, has been engaged with Southwest District Health to support and encourage meaningful collaboration with the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes. This partnership is focused on fostering long-term relationships and building resiliency within the tribal community through inclusive planning and coordinated emergency preparedness efforts.
Staff changes
Division reorganization:
Palina Louangketh has moved into a new role as the Workforce and Performance manager in Division Administration.
Collin Elias has moved into a new role as the Sexual Violence Program manager in the Bureau of Prevention and Community Health.
Robert Graff and Becky Henry have moved from the Bureau of Prevention and Community Health to Population Health Data in Division Administration.
Song Boucree has moved into a new role as health program specialist in the Comprehensive Cancer Control Program in the Bureau of Prevention and Community Health.
Jackie Amende Lewis has moved into a new role as the Idaho Physical Activity and Nutrition Program manager in the Bureau of Prevention and Community Health.
Promotion: Kelly Berg is the new Environmental Health Program manager.
Retirement: Patricia Smith’s last day in the Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics was May 2. It is estimated that Patricia has reviewed and processed more than 100,000 Idaho death certificates during her tenure.
Moving on: Cyndee Burgess’s last day with the Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics was May 9.
Student immunization exemptions increase to 15.4%
The Idaho Immunization Program collects immunization data from Idaho schools each year. The 2024-25 School Immunization Report data have been finalized.
One Department: New Contract Report in LUMA
The report “270 Only Contract Report” displays active contracts at DHW and remaining amounts left on each and may be helpful when submitting a procurement request in One Department. It also includes fields such as contract monitor and manager, vendor information and other contract information.
From Infor in LUMA, select Report Catalog (bottom left). Type in above title in search field. Be sure to include 270 only or results will pull in other agency and inactive contracts. Full directions to pull the report can be found here.
Procurement Form Updates
All insurance rider options will now appear in Laserfiche after selecting the procurement request type, with the exception of RFI and exemption from bidding requests.
Page 3 - Insurance rider for Sexual Abuse and Molestation – there is now an N/A option. This rider is only required when working with youth and vulnerable adults and may not apply to every request.
Page 4 – An option for Other Insurance Riders has been added with a text box. This will allow requesters to identify other riders that are needed that are not already listed on the form.
Learn more at the DPH One Department Landing Page.
Send your One Department questions to Niki Forbing-Orr to be included in a future newsletter. Read a full FAQ.
How to report a bat in a building
Learning and growth opportunities
☑️ Internal / ✅ External / ⭐ Idaho
✅⭐ Last chance! Two-day grant writing workshop set for June 5-6 in Nampa | Nampa Police Department and Grant Writing USA will present a two-day grant writing workshop June 5-6 in Nampa. This training is for grant seekers across all disciplines. Attendees will learn how to find the funding sources and write grant proposals.
Beginning and experienced grant writers from city, county, and state agencies as well as healthcare organizations, nonprofits, K-12, colleges and universities are encouraged to attend. Tuition is $495 and includes two days of instruction, workbook, and lifetime access to the Alumni Resource Center of resources and sample grant proposals. Groups of five or more receive a $50 discount per person. Discounts for Grant Writing USA alumni and nonprofits are also available. Payment is not required at the time of registration.
For more information about the workshop, contact Tammy Pitts at 888-435-7281, tammy@grantwritingusa.com, or Sgt. Brian Jones, 208-565-5131, jonesb@cityofnampa.us.
For more information about limited funding available for DPH staff, email Keri.Garden@dhw.idaho.gov.
✅New Podcast Alert: "Foodborne" - Real Stories from Outbreak Investigators | The Washington Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence has launched “Foodborne,” a new weekly podcast series sharing stories from the frontlines of foodborne outbreak investigations. Episode 1: Listeria Mysteria dropped May 27, with new episodes coming every Tuesday. Subscribe and listen to wherever you listen to podcasts, or visit foodsafety.uw.edu/foodborne to learn more.
✅ASTHO Communication and Storytelling Learning Community | This facilitated asynchronous platform (engage at your convenience) gives you the opportunity to learn and bolster skills to create compelling communication stories and strategies highlighting the initiatives being implemented to ensure all communities have the opportunity to achieve maximal health.
These opportunities are facilitated by subject matter experts and are intended to enhance leadership and communication skills to share public health stories effectively. Participants will also have access to their peers across the country to share what has worked for their areas and hear about others’ successes. Join Here.
✅Boundary Spanning Leadership: Cross-sector Partnerships in Brain Health from ASTHO | June 16–17 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. ET | ASTHO, in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association, is offering a two-day, virtual Boundary Spanning Leadership training to enhance cross-sector leadership on Alzheimer’s and dementia. This program is open to 16 teams and includes collaborative learning, light pre-reading, and post-training evaluation. The deadline to apply is June 6. Space is limited. Register.
☑️ ⭐ DPH Open House materials | Materials from DPH Open House events are available on SharePoint. See you at the next open house at 1 p.m. June 18! (Word cloud below is from the May open house.)
☑️ DHW Director’s Bulletins | DHW Director Alex Adams regularly publishes bulletins that lead work and priorities throughout DHW. The latest bulletin was published on Feb. 10 and is about Medicaid waivers. All Director’s Bulletins are published on the Director’s Office SharePoint site.
☑️ ⭐ DHW Transparency Reports | To increase transparency and accountability of department operations, and to provide data for economic and statewide budget forecasting, the divisions of Medicaid and Self-Reliance (which includes WIC data) now issue monthly reports of program participation and expenditures. See the reports.
☑️ ⭐ DPH Communications can help you get started with a communications or marketing project | Start by visiting the DPH Communication Team page on SharePoint, which has step-by-step instructions to connect with Marketing and Brand Officer James la Marche to get started with your education and outreach projects.
☑️ ⭐ New resources and training for DHW computer platforms | Resources include SharePoint, Laserfiche, Gov Delivery, Microsoft, and MS365. Check it out!
✒️ DHW Voice blog | Articles written by DHW staff are available on the department’s website.
📰 DHW Connection | The department’s newsletter is published on Inside DHW each payday. Read the latest issue!
📰 DHW news releases | News releases are posted on the DHW website. Read the latest.
Send your ideas for newsletter stories, staff news, events, successes and other DPH Newsletter content to Niki.Forbing-Orr@dhw.idaho.gov.