<div dir="ltr"><p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center;margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><img width="130" height="132" alt="A picture containing logo
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<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center;margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:20pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">JOINT NEWS RELEASE</span></p>
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<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center;margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">From the Judicial,
Executive, and Legislative Branches of the State of Idaho</span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center;margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
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IMMEDIATE RELEASE</span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">July
14, 2021</span></p>
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<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center;margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><u><span style="font-size:20pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">New Plan Sets
Idaho’s Steps to Improve Behavioral Health Care</span></u></b></p>
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<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">(Boise,
Idaho) – Changes are coming to Idaho’s behavioral health system with the release
of a long-awaited strategic plan.</span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Members
of the Idaho Behavioral Health Council in recent days presented the council’s
first strategic plan to Gov. Brad Little, Idaho House and Senate leadership and
the Idaho Supreme Court. The plan covers state actions through 2024 and is
posted for the public to view at </span><a href="https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/about-dhw/boards-councils-committees/idaho-behavioral-health-council-ibhc" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">behavioralhealthcouncil.idaho.gov</span></a><span class="gmail-MsoHyperlink" style="color:rgb(5,99,193);text-decoration-line:underline"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration-line:none">. </span></span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Created
last year, the council is a joint effort of Idaho’s Executive Branch,
Legislature and Judicial Branch and includes members from each. It is chaired
by Department of Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen and Administrative
Director of Courts Sara Omundson.</span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Behavioral
health issues affect Idaho’s corrections system, judicial system, hospitals,
schools and local communities. The council is tasked with helping Idahoans who
live with mental illness and addiction to receive the behavioral health care
services they need, when they need them — improving quality of life, health and
safety in this state.</span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The
council worked with local governments, providers, community partners and
consumers of behavioral health services and their families to create the new
plan — a set of 34 recommendations to improve access to care, with nine
identified as key priorities for the next three years. </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Now,
the council will oversee turning the plan’s advice into action. Agencies across
state government will continue to collaborate on these steps, with full details
on their planned implementation expected by Oct. 1, 2021.</span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“I
am very pleased with the council’s work on this strategic plan. I am encouraged
by the recommendations and action steps they have identified, particularly
related to an adequate behavioral health workforce in both rural and urban
Idaho,” Gov. Little said. “From my earliest days as Governor, I have maintained
that my primary goal is for all Idahoans, now and in the future, to be able to
enjoy the highest quality of life. I commend the council for its accomplishments
in identifying solutions to improve Idahoans’ health, safety, and quality of
life.”</span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">“The Idaho Behavioral Health Council serves
as a vehicle to make needed improvements to the behavioral health system in
Idaho. We are grateful to have participated in the development of the council’s
Strategic Action Plan and are pleased with the collaborative process used in
developing the plan,” said Rep. Laurie Lickley, Rep. Brooke Green, Sen. David
Nelson and Sen. Jeff Agenbroad, who each represented the Legislature on the
council. “We are especially grateful for the tremendous amount of talent and
dedication of both public and private behavioral health professionals across
the state and they should be commended. We look forward to the next phases
of the process and are committed to being a part of the continued stakeholder
cooperation necessary for a successful implementation. We have confidence
that implementation of this plan will lead to an improved behavioral health
system for Idahoans living with mental illness and addiction.” </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">“This
plan is more than a path to better health outcomes for Idahoans — it is a model
for collaboration across Idaho’s government,” Idaho Supreme Court Chief Justice
G. Richard Bevan said. “I commend Directors Omundson and Jeppesen and the
members of the council for the leadership they brought to this issue. The work
is not over, and the Supreme Court will help to thoughtfully advance these
recommendations and continue this important partnership.”</span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Anyone
still wishing to submit feedback on the final plan can email </span><a href="mailto:IBHC@dhw.idaho.gov" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">IBHC@dhw.idaho.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">. </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" align="center" style="text-align:center;margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"># # #</span></p>
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<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">NEWS
MEDIA CONTACTS:</span></p>
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<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Nate
Poppino, Court Communications Manager</span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">State
of Idaho Judicial Branch</span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">208-296-9055
| </span><a href="mailto:npoppino@idcourts.net" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">npoppino@idcourts.net</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"></span></p>
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<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Marissa
Morrison, Governor’s Office Press Secretary</span></p>
<p class="gmail-MsoNoSpacing" style="margin:0in;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">208-943-1686
| </span><a href="mailto:marissa.morrison@gov.idaho.gov" style="color:rgb(5,99,193)"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">marissa.morrison@gov.idaho.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></p>
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