New DPH WIG scoreboard is now live, with limited data
DPH WIG: Decrease the number of children entering foster care by 10% by July 2026
Division staff are starting to collect and report data for the DPH Wildly Important Goal (WIG) on the division’s scoreboard. The division and the bureaus will track progress in meeting the DPH WIG, lag, and lead measures through monthly reporting that will be reflected on this scoreboard.
The current data in the division-level scoreboard is baseline data, and it will be updated and reviewed monthly. The data in the bureau-level scoreboard is either baseline or dummy data. The bureaus will begin reporting progress monthly and will also have the opportunity to adapt their specific scoreboards to best reflect their measures and preferred styles.
Bureaus will begin updating this data soon on a schedule that makes sense for each of their WIGs, but no less than quarterly. Bureaus also will have regular and frequent team meetings beginning in October. Watch for more details about this from your bureau chiefs and supervisors.
You can access the DPH scoreboard at the link above and also by visiting the DPH SharePoint home page and selecting the link on the lower left side of the page.
An update on Central Office fire alarms
The end of September was punctuated with a fire alarm triggered accidentally as well as a legitimate fire drill at Central Office in Boise. The building was evacuated both times, but this is a good time to review the DHW Emergency Evacuation Procedure.
In more news about fire alarms, DPH staff may have noticed people installing some new equipment in the ceiling on the 4th floor the week of Sept. 30. This is part of the new Fire Alarm Project, which is a Department of Administration project to replace fire alarm equipment and make adjustments so the new system meets current fire code. This includes new fire alarm panels, wires, and strobes.
New ideas in support of the WIG:
The Rural health Screening Program has been partnering with Kristi Lakatos, CDH WIC program to increase outreach and participation to refugees. Collin Elias visited the Afghan Cultural Center where Kristi holds a WIC clinic once a month. About 20 participants were present. Collin helped Kristi establish a partnership with the Idaho Office for Refugees. As a result, Kristi now participates in the quarterly Idaho Refugee Consultation meeting.
Idaho Home Visiting Program presented an overview on home visiting to WIC coordinators at their Nutrition Education Action Team meeting. WIC created a new referral option in their computer system to capture the number of referrals from WIC to home visiting.
The Women and Infant Health Program partnered with Idaho Home Visiting Program to provide a training to home visitors on breastfeeding and safe sleep in early September. Dr. Ann Kellams and Dr. Bryanne Colvin, shared their expert knowledge and answered questions. There were 31 home visitors in attendance from across Idaho.
Well done!
Kathleen Smith, OSS2 in the Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics, received a very pleasant voicemail from a client she has been working with for some time to get a birth certificate placed on file so their newborn could receive a Social Security Number. Kudos to Kathleen for providing great customer service!
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has highlighted successes achieved by Idaho’s Childhood Blood Lead Level Program for childhood lead poisoning prevention and surveillance programmatic activities conducted during September 30, 2022, to September 29, 2023.
The PRATS 2024 survey has been sent out to respondents, thanks to the hard work of Dawn Amos and the Population Health Data Team.
Across all states, Idaho had the fourth highest percent improvement in Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) participation in 2023 when compared to 2022, at a 99% increase. Idaho was one of only five states that improved by more than 50%. Over the most recent 5-year period, Idaho was fourth in terms of increase in participation over baseline (+97%) and one of just seven jurisdictions with an over 50% increase in DSMES participation. Finally, when examining net improvement over 5 years, Idaho ranks 6th out of just 10 states that improved their participation by over 50%.
Collin Elias in the Refugee Health Screening Program has assessed the level of partnership between the Community Advisor (CA) Program in Twin Falls and WIC. Enhancing refugees' access to and use of WIC, SNAP, and other social services has been a key goal since the launch of the CA Program in 2012. In Spring 2024, a resettlement agency in Twin Falls established a partnership with South Central Public Health District (SCPHD) to enhance service delivery and expand access to vital resources in Twin Falls. This initiative has led to monthly classes at SCPHD covering various critical topics, including maternal nutrition during pregnancy and postpartum, infant nutrition, developmental screenings, and parental coaching. With the expertise of organizations such as Parents As Teachers (PAT), Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and Doula/Childbirth Education/Lactation Consulting, these sessions have proven invaluable. The collaboration has not only strengthened the ties between women and families and the health district but has also introduced many to previously unknown resources. By addressing cultural and language barriers through the presence of USCRI advocates/community advisors, we have created an inclusive environment where women, regardless of their background, can share their experiences and seek guidance. This openness has fostered a community of support and knowledge-sharing among mothers.
The Suicide Prevention Program celebrated the conversion of the 988 Lifeline system to a geo-routing format that allows callers to be connected to their closest Lifeline center instead of to a center that aligns with their phone prefix. Two out of the three major carriers made the switch, with the third carrier anticipated to switch by the end of November. The Idaho Crisis & Suicide Hotline reported a smooth transition without expectation of a huge surge in volume.
The USDA recently released a report on national and state level estimates for WIC Eligibility in 2022. The last data we had was from 2021. Here is a link to the report: https://www.fns.usda.gov/research/wic/eer-2022. Idaho WIC had a 2% increase in coverage from 2021 going from 44.2% to 45.2%. Idaho’s rates are still lower than the national average, ranking us 41 out of 52 (including Puerto Rico and DC).
The Abandoned Child Registry (ACR) form has been approved by the Bureau Chief for Vital Records and Health Statistics and uploaded to the bureau website. Because of this project every form on the registries page of the bureau website has been updated. They are now fillable PDFs. The new forms are more user friendly and will reduce customer errors when filling them out. This should result in more customer requests being acceptable the first time they are submitted. A huge win for DPH customers and the bureau!
DPH bureau tracks REAL ID uptake
Monthly data updates from the Idaho Transportation Department are not showing a high uptick in percentage of Idaho identification records meeting the Real ID standards. Idaho currently sits at 51%.
Media articles indicate that the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is once again considering a modification to national rules that eliminate the need for Real ID identification standard for many purposes, including commercial airlines. DHS says the national Real ID percentage is close to 56%, leaving too many people with far too little time to upgrade before the current deadline of May 2025. Even so, the Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics will continue to prepare for a possible surge of document requests if REAL ID compliance becomes mandatory.
DPH staff changes
Moving on: The Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics says goodbye to Wendy Bryan. Wendy started as an OS2 in November 2023. She has accepted a job with the Division of Self-Reliance and her last day was Sept. 11. Wendy was a great asset to the bureau, and they wish her luck in her new position.
Promotion! The Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics would like to congratulate Connor Blocher on his promotion to TRS2 in the legal unit. Connor started as an OS2 in November 2020 in the legal unit. He was then promoted in November 2021 to a TRS1 in the CS Priority Services unit. Conor began his new position on Sept. 30. He is a great asset to the bureau, and they are happy to keep him and promote him to this new position. Congratulations, Connor!
Idaho WIC now in monthly Self-Reliance transparency report
To increase transparency and accountability of department operations, and to provide data for economic and statewide budget forecasting, the DHW divisions of Medicaid and Self-reliance now issue monthly reports of program participation and expenditures, as established in Director’s Bulletin 8. August was the first month for which WIC contributed data to the Self-Reliance report. WIC will continue contributing data to this report each month. See all the reports.
Learning and growth opportunities
☑️ Internal / ✅ External / ⭐ Idaho
☑️ ⭐ DPH September Open House materials | The recording and slides from the DPH Open House for September are available on the DPH SharePoint site. The DPH October Open house is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16. See you there!
☑️ ⭐ New resources and training for DHW computer platforms | Resources include SharePoint, Laserfiche, Gov Delivery, Microsoft, and MS365. Check it out!
☑️ DHW Director’s Bulletins | DHW Director Alex Adams regularly publishes bulletins that lead work and priorities throughout DHW. Three bulletins were published on Sept. 20. All Director’s Bulletins are published on the Director’s Office SharePoint site.
✒️ 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 Oct. 30.