New Plan Sets Idaho’s Steps to Improve Behavioral Health Care

[Gov. Brad Little]

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JOINT NEWS RELEASE



>From the Judicial, Executive, and Legislative Branches of the State of Idaho



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 14, 2021



*New Plan Sets Idaho’s Steps to Improve Behavioral Health Care*



(Boise, Idaho) – Changes are coming to Idaho’s behavioral health system
with the release of a long-awaited strategic plan.



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
behavioralhealthcouncil.idaho.gov
<https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/about-dhw/boards-councils-committees/idaho-behavioral-health-council-ibhc>.




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.



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.



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.



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.



“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.”



“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.”



“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.”



Anyone still wishing to submit feedback on the final plan can email
IBHC at dhw.idaho.gov.



# # #



NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS:



Nate Poppino, Court Communications Manager

State of Idaho Judicial Branch

208-296-9055 | npoppino at idcourts.net



Marissa Morrison, Governor’s Office Press Secretary

208-943-1686 | marissa.morrison at gov.idaho.gov
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