988 HOTLINE: MENTAL HEALTH & SUICIDE CRISIS SUPPORT
The legislation was introduced by Rep. Laurie Lickley (R-Jerome) and would request that the Idaho Legislature partner with the Idaho Suicide Prevention Action Collective and Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to recognize 988 as the new mental health and suicide prevention crisis phone number starting July of 2022. Status: Passed
TELEHEALTH FOR SUPPORT SERVICES
In light of the COVID-19 public health emergency (Pandemic), on April 2, 2020, Governor Brad Little of Idaho issued a proclamation (Proclamation) that suspended 18 regulations (in addition to the 125 previously suspended administrative regulations) to increase access to telehealth and enable medical professionals to obtain necessary licenses more seamlessly in an attempt to better position the state to respond to the Pandemic.
Governor Little has suspended licensing requirements for treating patients in Idaho. For the duration of the Pandemic, MDs, DOs, PAs, and RTs holding a license in good standing from another state or country are permitted to treat patients, including via telehealth, in Idaho without securing an Idaho license. Out-of-state physicians may also supervise physician assistants practice in Idaho, so long as they complete the COVID-19 Modified Supervising Physician Attestation form. Similarly, Idaho is allowing RNs or LPNs with an active, unencumbered license in any state to work or practice telehealth in Idaho without applying for a corresponding Idaho license.
CHILD DEVELOPMENT IN THE CLASSROOM
"I still have a red notebook from undergraduate school which big block letters "Soc-Em Dev" (Social- Emotional Development) It was one of the many developmental courses I took in the early 90s." (Michelle Batten, MS in Human Development and Family Studies). The of social emotional learning is not a new concept in understanding the developing child but has become a controversial buzzword in Idaho politics. For many parents with children with SED and in the public school, they rely on teachers understanding the complexities of social-emotional development in the classroom. Recently, in effort to address youth behavioral health needs in schools, the State Department of Education released a work plan aimed at helping schools meet students' mental and behavioral needs. This is an important step since
"In a statewide survey last year, more than 90% of school leaders said they see the value in providing behavioral health services for students, but only 60% had some sort of plans in place to try and address those needs." (Edge, A., & Edge, R., Episode 33).
You can learn more about the work plan
here so that you can navigate this topic and advocate for youth with mental health needs.
If you are interested in exploring social emotional milestones then check out
this resource.
Edge, A. S. E. R. S., Edge, R. S., & Episode 33: Trustees talk about the job. (2021, October 7). State Department releases work plan to Address Youth Behavioral Health. Idaho Education News. Retrieved November 29, 2021, from https://www.idahoednews.org/state-department-of-ed/state-department-releases-work-plan-to-address-mental-health/.