Environmental Health Program helps keep Idaho safe and healthy at recent events
Staff worked recent garden shows in two different parts of the state to collect samples and provide information about radon, lead, well water testing, and more
The Environmental Health Program (EHP) engaged with hundreds of Idahoans at two major garden shows — the Boise Flower and Garden Show and the North Idaho Garden Show in Coeur d’Alene. These events provided a great platform for outreach, education, and community connection as the program works to keep Idahoans safe and healthy.
At the Boise Flower and Garden Show, the EHP team connected with more than 400 of the event’s 4,000 attendees, offering information on lead and radon exposure and assisting 40 people with free private well water testing. They even had a surprise visit from the Lorax!
Meanwhile, at the North Idaho Garden Show, Carolee Cooper and Drew Pendleton, in collaboration with Panhandle Health District, hosted an informational booth that reached many of the 3,500 attendees. Nine soil samples were submitted for lead and arsenic testing using an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) machine, and 20 water sample bottles were distributed to encourage private well testing. The team also provided radon brochures and guidance on home testing.
Both events were a great success and showcased the EHP’s ongoing commitment to a healthy Idaho!
State health assessment: Many Idahoans don’t have consistent access to healthy foods
Access to nutritious food is essential for health, yet many Idahoans face barriers, according to the 2024 State Health Assessment. In 2022, 221,000 people in Idaho (roughly 11.4 percent of the population) struggled to afford enough food. Of those, 69 percent earned too much to qualify for SNAP benefits.
In listening to partners and analyzing relevant data, the State Health Assessment and Planning Team heard and found the following: Access to nutritious food is essential for health, yet many Idahoans struggle to get it. Healthy foods are often more expensive, take longer to prepare, and require proper storage, all of which make it harder for people and especially those earning less than $15,000 per year to maintain a well-balanced diet. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data confirm that lower-income Idahoans eat fewer fruits and vegetables than the state average.
Programs like the National School Lunch Program and the supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) play a critical role in expanding access to healthy meals, the assessment shows. School meals, especially free and reduced-price options, provide essential nutrition for many children, so they have the energy to learn and grow. Even so, while 47% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in the 2017-2018 school year, that number has dropped to 39% in 2023-2024. The drop is a reflection of policy changes, enrollment shifts, and economic factors.
WIC offers nutritious food, breastfeeding assistance, and health education to parents and caregivers of young children. Only 45% of eligible Idaho families participate in WIC, leaving many without this crucial support.
Ensuring access to nutritious food supports lifelong health, academic success, and economic stability. As we work to keep people safe and healthy in Idaho, the state health assessment shows that access to nutritious food for all Idahoans is a critical piece of that puzzle.
By Katie Lamansky and Karla Nelson, State Health Assessment and Planning Team
Books and Baked Goods Festival set for April 23; donations accepted now
The Books and Baked Goods Festival is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 23 in the 4th floor lobby. The event is planned and hosted by the Wellness Committee to raise funds for upcoming employee appreciation events such as the Employee BBQ.
Staff are encouraged to donate books, CDs, DVDs, puzzles, and games to cubicle C404 anytime leading up to the event. Baked good can be donated the day of or day before the event.
Deputy Administrator Sarah Poe has donated several baskets of goodies that will be given aways in a drawing at 3 p.m. April 23. Tickets are available for a donation. More details to come for the drawing.
Questions? Contact Dea Johnson at Dea.Johnson@dhw.idaho.gov.
Now accepting nominations for DPH and DHW awards, along with de Beaumont’s 40 Under 40 in Public Health
DPH leadership would like to celebrate staff for being awesome and for doing awesome work! Nominations are being accepted for Director’s Awards, Division Awards, and for 40 Under 40 at the Employee Recognition page using the same nomination form. To be considered for a 40 Under 40 nomination, please indicate whether the nominee is younger than 40. Questions? Email Sarah.Poe@dhw.idaho.gov.
Out and about
Alex Prado, Bureau of Healthcare Access, attended the virtual Primary Care Office (PCO) academy in which he served as a mentor for new PCO staff across the country. This is his third year serving as a mentor which has been a valuable opportunity to network, receive federal updates, and share insight to new PCOs.
Chris Irizarry, Bureau of Healthcare Access, met with a project team from the Washington Department of Health to provide insight into how Idaho manages the Idaho Healthcare Directive Registry (IHDR) and account maintenance. Washington is currently working on establishing a more intuitive registry for their advance care planning documents. He also recently met with representatives from St. Luke’s and Saint Alphonsus of Fruitland to provide brochures about advance care planning and the IHDR and provided brochures about the WIC program that will be placed in the patient waiting areas at both locations.
Dr. Katheryn Turner, Bureau of Environmental Health and Communicable Disease, collaborated with colleagues in other states to determine if changes were needed to the current national measles case definition or whether an outbreak specific case definition should be developed to account for cases associated with the current increase in incidence. The current national case definition, developed in 2013, was based on the epidemiology of measles at that time during which cases were nearly always associated with an infected international traveler. Today, secondary and tertiary transmission and beyond is occurring much more often without a known epidemiologic link and our surveillance approach should be adapted to account for the changing epidemiology.
Nikki Cooley and Andy Bourne, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics, met with Ada County Coroner Rich Riffle to touch base and thank him for his ongoing support for the Idaho Violent Death Reporting System (IdVDRS) and Statewide Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS) programs. They discussed changes occurring with the coroners and received a tour of the new Ada County Coroner facility.
Betsy Hammar, Suicide Prevention Program, hosted a Safe Side Prevention, Youth Services training on Friday, March 28, for nine staff working in the foster care system with the Payette Assessment & Care Center. Next training event is scheduled in Southeastern Idaho for Region VI Youth Safety & Permanency staff.
Staff changes
Welcome, Victoria Rose! The Bureau of Laboratories welcomes Victoria Rose to their team. “Hello everyone! I'm Victoria Rose. I am so excited to start my new role here at the Department of Health and Welfare. I came from the Department of Agriculture where I was the Maintenance Facilities Forewoman for four years after starting out as their Maintenance Craftsman. When I'm not running all over the building here, I like to spend my time exploring the outdoors, going to many of the summer concerts and festivals, or being really nerdy and playing games or painting miniatures with my partner, Chloe (right in the photo below). We have been together for 24 years and have two amazing children. Thank you and I can't wait to see you around the lab!”
Welcome, Diane! The Bureau of Healthcare Access welcomes Diane Canady, a full-time AA2 temp. Diane and her husband moved to Boise about seven years ago from Texas. They enjoy the Idaho lifestyle and are getting used to the wonderful "actual" four seasons, which do not really exist in Houston. She’s grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of this community in general, but also the community here at DHW.
Marin Axtell’s last day as Outreach Coordinator in the Idaho Immunization Program was March 28, after working with staff to ensure a smooth transition. We wish her well!
Idaho Public Health Quick Fact: Mean Age at First Birth
The Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics collects and stores data from around the state. See more fact sheets and reports from the bureau.
One Department Q&A: Legal review of requests
Q: Do all One Department requests need to be reviewed by the Deputy Attorney General (the division’s assigned attorney) before they can be submitted to One Department?
A: Legal review is no longer required for all but two One Department categories. The DHW director has approved eliminating DAG review on all One Department requests except for Administrative Rule Proposals and Legislative Proposals. DAG review is still required for those submissions. The Laserfiche forms and Word templates have been updated to reflect this change.
Send your One Department questions to Niki Forbing-Orr to be included in a future newsletter. Read a full FAQ.
Learning and growth opportunities
☑️ Internal / ✅ External / ⭐ Idaho
☑️ QI Training: Performance Management | 11 a.m. to noon | April 24 | Sections include:
What is Performance Management?
How does Performance Management work?
Why are we doing Performance Management?
This will be an interactive session, designed to help you explore performance activities you are already doing and provide time for dialogue around how to incorporate Performance Management into your daily activities.
All staff, regardless of organizational level, can conduct activities that help improve programs, bureaus, and the division’s overall performance.
Register in Luma. To find the class, either copy/paste or type in the title of the class in the search field, “DPH - QI Training: Performance Management.” Participants will receive information for joining the webinar a day or two before the session date.
Please note: Luma may indicate the wrong time for the class, but it will be conducted from 11 a.m. to noon MDT on April 24. For more information, contact Dan Ward at Daniel.Ward@dhw.idaho.gov.
✅ Hot Topics in Practice | Local Efforts to Improve Childhood Vaccine Access | 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. | April 29|
Since the 1800s, immunizations have been a vital tool in protecting communities from infectious diseases. In 2023, the Clackamas County Public Health Division in Oregon sought to increase childhood immunization rates and partnered with the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice (NWCPHP) to conduct an analysis of the county’s childhood vaccine landscape. In this hour-long webinar, the presenters will discuss the outcomes of the analysis conducted in partnership with NWCPHP. The implementation of the recommended strategies has made a significant impact on local efforts to ensure equitable vaccine access and increase childhood immunization rates. 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. May 21!
Word Cloud from the April Open House: What food did you eat as a kid that you will you NEVER eat again as an adult?
☑️ 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.
☑️ ⭐ Contact DPH Communications to 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. The next issue will come out the week of April 30.