Supporting the DPH WIG: Bureau's success may lead to change in measure
The Bureau of Prevention and Community Health has embraced the Wildly Important Goal (WIG) and is off to a 'tremendous start'
The Bureau of Prevention and Community Health is off to a tremendous start in their first quarter of reporting on the Wildly Important Goal. The BPCH WIG lead measure is to promote WIC and Idaho Home Visiting Program to at least one individual or organization per week (four per month), through community health programs. They are discussing changing their measure because they reached more than 70 last month!
Bureau Chief Jack Miller is holding WIG meetings first thing on Monday mornings, twice a month. Participants are able to set and review commitments for 11 programs in less than half an hour. The meetings are upbeat and it’s an encouraging way to start the week with the team.
Here are some of things they are doing to support the WIG:
Becky Henry built a bureau-level reporting tool for all programs in the bureau to use to log their commitments and successes weekly. She’s providing technical assistance to each program manager.
Becky Creighton, Comprehensive Cancer program manager, shared WIC information at an event with pregnant women and discussed the WIG with cancer coordinators in Districts 1 and 7 and has meetings planned with other five district coordinators.
Ashtin Glodt and the Tobacco team are holding their own WIG team meetings and planning for the upcoming Idaho Steelheads Project Filter campaign, where they will share information related to becoming a resource family.
Hayden Falkner and the Suicide Prevention team are discussing home visiting promotion with partners serving families with children younger than age 5. They are including WIG information in workgroup meetings, including Idaho Suicide Prevention Action Coalition (ISPAC). Betsy Hammer did a training in Payette for organizations working with foster children about the WIG and related resources.
Natalie Bodine and the DOPP team are discussing the WIG weekly and finding ways to share materials from the DPH WIG Communications Toolkit with partners. During district partner meetings, they are reviewing both department and division WIG.
Kelli Broyles and the Oral Health team handed out 50 fliers about WIC and home visiting at the Early Years Conference, where they got great feedback from partners who said they would post them at sites across the state.
Aimee Duval-Crister is adding language in heart disease program contracts to include promotion of leave for people who become foster parents. Along with Kelli Broyles, Aimee presented WIG information to Pocatello Free Clinic and they are following up to offer more support.
Section Manager Tiffany Robb is sending out the DPH WIG Communications Toolkit to Idaho Parents Unlimited and the Caregiver Alliance. Idaho Parents Unlimited, a partner organization for families with children with disabilities that has more than 4,000 Facebook followers, shared the “What is WIC” handout online. Tiffany also shared with program partner Malina Healthcare.
Jackie Amende Lewis and the Diabetes Program has two subgrants that will include WIG language, including for the program “Food is Medicine.”
Through IPAN (Physical Activity and Nutrition), Brooke Ambrose is including language to support WIC in their materials and an upcoming solicitation. The team is also discussing WIC in meetings with public health districts.
Heidi Cook is working with Becky Henry, who supports the Sexual Violence Prevention evaluation, to include more WIG information in new agreements and reporting. The Lutheran Community Services Northwest will implement Safe Families Program to include language and reporting around support for resource families. Heidi and Brooke are adding WIG info to the slides for their program partner meeting.
Women’s Health Check is planning to send out WIG information to providers who are under contract. Section Manager Ivie Smart is overseeing much of this work and supporting the other programs in her section.
Collin Elias is amending Refugee Health Screening and Community Health Worker (CHW) contracts to include WIG support language, including referring to WIC. CHWs are in key positions to help refugees learn how to use the WIC EBT cards and select healthy (and culturally appropriate) foods.
Key dates/resources for the 2025 session of the Idaho Legislature
The 2025 session of the Idaho Legislature begins on Jan. 6. Details are still being finalized. Gov. Brad little will give the State of the State Address, and the Legislature will convene for the first time in 2025. Here is a list of resources to keep handy:
Idaho Legislature’s official website, includes calendars, committee memberships, meeting schedules, agendas, and more: https://legislature.idaho.gov/
Idaho in Session, where you can listen and watch committee hearings and floor debates: https://www.idahoptv.org/shows/idahoinsession/Legislature/
Key committees are the House Health and Welfare, Senate Health and Welfare, and the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee, commonly called JFAC. (The web page for 2025 JFAC had not been created when the newsletter was published.)
The budget process and schedules: https://legislature.idaho.gov/lso/bpa/process/
When bills are introduced and start the process to become law, you can track them at the 2025 Legislation site: https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2025/legislation/
An exciting new roadmap and central challenge: ‘DPH is a trusted, united, and innovative team of professionals advancing positive health outcomes for all Idahoans’
The new DPH Strategic Plan for SFY 2025-2027 was created by a group of 29 staff from across the division. It lays out six goals staff developed that will lead us by 2027 to where “DPH is a trusted, united, and innovative team of professional advancing positive health outcomes for all Idahoans.” The goals are:
Goal 1: By June 30, 2027, DPH employees are engaged and satisfied.
Goal 2: By June 30, 2027, DPH is recognized as a credible and valued source of information and services.
Goal 3: By June 30, 2027, DPH’s funding and policies are strategically aligned and adaptable to maximize impact.
Goal 4: By June 30, 2027, DPH’s business process are optimized to enhance employees’ success.
Goal 5: By June 30, 2027, DPH is strengthening and sustaining strategic partner collaborations to collectively asses and improve the health of Idahoans.
Goal 6: By July 2026, DPH will decrease the number of children entering foster care by 10%.
Training on the new plan is due by Dec. 23 and must be completed in LUMA. Log into LUMA and then select the link below to get started.
DPH Strategic Plan Overview 2025 (online) - https://HCM-IDAHO-PRD.TAM.INFORGOV.COM:443/hcm/EmployeeSelfService/pages/activity.html?learningActivity=DHW_002307
After you review the document, be sure to mark that you completed the training by clicking on the ellipses (three dots) in the upper right corner of the training screen and selecting “mark activity as complete.”
The plan is available in the plans section of the DPH SharePoint site. Watch future editions of this newsletter for more details about each goal and the activities staff can help with.
PH Wins Survey is now open until Dec. 20;
goal is for at least 90% participation
DPH leadership is asking all staff who have not taken the PH Wins Survey to consider doing so before Dec. 20, when it will close. It takes about 10 minutes. The survey must be accessed from the unique link in an email that was sent to each staffer. Search your inbox for “PH Wins” to find your link. Our goal is a 90% participating rate!
Well done!
Congratulations to the Kelli Broyles from Oral Health for being selected as one of five to participate in the Building State Capacity for Integration Learning Collaborative. The other four participants are from the Midwest or East side of the country. This 16-month project will focus on improving systems-level capacity for integrating oral health care and prenatal care. We know Kelli will represent the department and the West well!
Promotion! The Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics would like to congratulate Maria Taffola-Mora for her promotion to a TRS2. Maria began with the bureau in July 2001 as an OS2. In June 2022 she was promoted to a TRS1 in customer service. Maria started her new position as a TRS2 in customer service on Nov. 25. Join us in congratulating Maria on her promotion!
Out and about
Jonas Frankel-Bricker and Chris Murphy, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), attended a CDC joint BRFSS and State Injury Prevention Program (SIPP) presentation and panel discussion on applying BRFSS to inform state-level injury prevention. Core SIPP topic areas included general injury and violence prevention, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), transportation safety, and traumatic brain injury.
Karla Nelson, Office of Accreditation and Planning, supported the first Magic Valley workgroup focused on diseases of despair and facilitated the Magic Valley workgroup focused on training and education opportunities to advance transportation safety. The work group was attended by Jerome County Sherriff’s office, representatives from St. Luke’s Magic Valley, South Central District Health and the Drug Overdose and Suicide Prevention programs at DPH. Participants shared work they are doing to prevent impaired driving and suicide prevention. Cody Orchard from PHD5 will confirm that updated 988 signs are installed on the Perrine Bridge as Google images show outdated signs with the older 1-800 suicide prevention number. Other opportunities to enhance support in that location were discussed.
Katie Lamansky and Karla Nelson, Office of Accreditation and Planning, met with Courtney Kelly from Central District Health (CDH) to hear monthly progress updates on Get Healthy Idaho (GHI) work in Elmore County. Courtney shared updates on the recent CDH Board of Health presentation on the Community Health EMS (CHEMS) work, stating the presentation went “extremely well”, including solid health department leadership and support for the work. Board members were impressed with the progress CHEMS has made and the impact Dr. Rhodes has had on Elmore County residents. They were eager to share information on potential private grants to pursue knowing GHI funding is coming to an end. Courtney shared that the department plans to use some of its Opioid Settlement funds to support additional CHEMS personnel to support Dr. Rhodes.
Angie Bailey, Amy Hirtle and Mitch Kron, Bureau of Rural Health and Primary Care, traveled to Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), and a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) to meet with leadership and discuss updates, opportunities, and challenges. These in-person meetings allow for relationship building and connection as well as time to discuss opportunities to best support the hospitals and clinics. The team met with Weiser Memorial Hospital & Family Medical Center and Two Rivers Medical Clinic in Weiser, as well as Desert Sage Health Centers, St. Luke’s Elmore Medical Center and clinics in Mountain Home.
Betsy Hammer, Suicide Prevention Program, attended the Suicide Prevention of Inland Northwest (SPIN) annual conference to learn that it's well-run, targeted to a clinical audience, and significantly smaller than the annual conference on the east side of the state led by Community Suicide Prevention. Gained favorable reception for a leading representative from SPIN to join ISPAC if invited. Introductions will be made to the ISPAC co-chairs when the preferred SPIN candidate is identified.
Will Reynolds and Drew Pendleton, Environmental Health Program, attended the Idaho Pest Expo last month in Meridian and Twin falls. Will presented on harmful algal blooms in Idaho, and Drew shared valuable information about toxic mold in Idaho. They co-presented with Dr. Kris Carter and Samantha Kirkendall. Samantha also presented on West Nile virus data and other arboviral data collected in Idaho. She and her colleagues addressed an audience of 450 over two days.
Staff changes
Welcome! Melissa Roa is the new Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs director and Newborn Screening/Children’s Special Health Program manager
I was born and raised in Seattle, WA. I received my bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington in business administration and my master’s degree in business administration with a focus in leadership development from Seattle University. After graduating, my partner and I decided to take a few months off and travel to find a place to call home. We decided Boise checked off a lot on our list, so we took the leap and moved here in December 2023.
I am passionate about helping others and have worked at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and Saint Alphonsus.
I enjoy camping, hiking, reading, cooking, and hanging out with my partner, my 11-year-old dog, and our 3-year-old cat. I am so excited to work and learn from others in the Idaho Maternal and Child Health Programs!
Transition! Zinah Salih is the new Newborn Screening/Children with Special Healthcare Needs clinical coordinator, moving from another DPH program
I was born in Baghdad, Iraq, and served as a physician in my home country as well as in Muscat, Oman. I have been living in Idaho for the past nine years. Prior to this role, I worked as an Outreach and Education Specialist with the Idaho Immunization Program in the Bureau of Environmental Health and Communicable Diseases (BECD).
In my free time, I enjoy visiting parks and spending time with friends. I have two daughters, ages 7 and 12, and two cats who bring joy and love to my life. I am thrilled to be part of the Bureau of Family & Child Health team and contribute to its great mission.
Transition! Mariana Loya-Ponce is the new Idaho Home Visiting Program health program specialist, moving from another program
I was born and raised in Idaho. I attended the College of Southern Idaho and later graduated from Boise State University from the Public Health-Health Promotion and Health Education Program. I’m passionate about public health and keeping Idaho communities healthy.
While in college, I interned at the Leukemia Lymphoma Society and the United Way of Treasure Valley. I’ve gained public health program experience in my previous Health Education Specialist roles at Southwest District Health and most recently here with the Division of Public Heath supporting all BOCAPS programs.
I live in Boise and enjoy hiking, camping, traveling, reading, and spending time with my dog Winston and fiancé Jorge. I’m excited to work with the Idaho Home Visiting Program in a different capacity.
Influenza in Idaho is sporadic — for now
Data on flu in Idaho is updated each Friday except for holidays during the flu season, which is from October to May. See the interactive dashboard.
One Department Q&A: Controversial requests
Q: If I confirm that a request in One Department may be considered controversial or adverse to Idaho values, will the request automatically be denied?
A: No. The question is intended to get all of us thinking about whether something may be controversial. If the answer is yes, then we should naturally consider whether proceeding is worth possible risks. If you don’t think it is worth that risk, then you may want to speak with your supervisor and reconsider whether to submit at all. Other questions that may help: Is DHW the only organization who can do this, or is someone else better positioned to do this work? Is now the right time for this to happen, or could this wait?
Send your One Department questions to Niki Forbing-Orr to be included in a future newsletter.
Learning and growth opportunities
☑️ Internal / ✅ External / ⭐ Idaho
✅ Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) Unveils Top Five State Public Health Policy Issues to Watch in 2025 | Read it
✅ Webinar: Does It Really Matter? Examining the Impact of Accreditation on Population Health explores the critical importance of national public health accreditation in fostering trust and accountability within communities | Watch it
✅ Webinar: Collaborative Solutions for Outbreak Response and Prevention in Healthcare Settings | 1-2 p.m. MT Dec. 17 | In this hour-long webinar, the presenters will dive into the research behind the Equity Framework for Outbreak Response and Prevention in Healthcare Settings and offer guidance for how LHDs can work with healthcare facilities and the community toward implementing equity focused outbreak response and prevention interventions. Register
☑️ ⭐ Need help with a communications or marketing project? | Start by visiting the DPH Communication Team page on SharePoint, which has step by step instructions for how to get started with Riester, and how to get started using internal resources.
☑️ ⭐ DPH November Open House materials | The slides from the DPH Open House for November are available on the DPH SharePoint site. A recording is not available because of technical issues. The DPH December Open House is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18. 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. The latest bulletin was published on Nov. 22 and established a new Division of State Care Facilities. 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 Jan. 8.