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When you’re isolated at home, feelings
of anxiety, loneliness, or worry may become
overwhelming. Experiencing these feeling is
common during times of heightened stress.

Don’t be afraid to reach out. We’re here to help!

The Department of Health and Welfare has
opened an Idaho COVID-19 Hotline with an option
for behavioral health.

IDAHO COVID-19 HOTLINE
888-330-3010

We offer anonymous and confidential assistance for all, no matter your situation.
If you are experiencing any type of distress from feeling overwhelmed or isolated,
a mental health challenge, substance use disorder, or if you are seeking resources
during this difficult time, please reach out!

We have trained professionals ready and available to talk with you and assist you
in accessing the mental health and substance use disorder services you need.

Resources for Idaho Residents
Idaho Care Line: call 2-1-1 or visit www.211.idaho.gov
Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline: call 2-1-1 or 208-398-4357
Optum Idaho Member Crisis Line: call 855-202-0973

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BOARD APPROVES SCHOOL REOPENING FRAMEWORK

The Idaho State Board of Education today approved a framework plan to safely reopen Idaho public schools this fall. 

The Idaho Back to School Framework sets expectations, establishes guidelines and best practices for school districts and charter schools to use to open school buildings and plan for necessary actions based on local public health conditions. 

State Board President Debbie Critchfield says opening schools is a priority and local school officials should use the Back to School Framework as a guide in working with local stakeholders and public health districts to open schools in amanner that fits local circumstances.

“We’ve outlined recommended procedures based on the level of coronavirus transmission occurring in various communities across the state at any given time and we’ve listed the procedures by category,” Critchfield said. “For instance, a school located in a Category 1 area where there is no community spread occurring can use this framework as guidance on how to open the school.  On the other hand, a school located in a Category 3 area where there is substantial community spread will see suggested considerations for schoolboard decision making.”

“We put this framework together with help from educators, administrators, public health officials and lawmakers,” Critchfield added. “Local governance is paramount in Idaho’s public education system. We want these decisions to be made locally and this framework is designed to help school board trustees to do what they think is best for their schools and their situation on the ground.”

The Idaho Back to School Framework is posted on the State Board of Education website:

https://boardofed.idaho.gov/resources/idaho-back-to-school-framework-2020/

You can download the PDF of this document by clicking this link

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Governor Little emphasized the importance of students returning to school for in-person instruction, and the need for all Idahoans to slow the spread of COVID-19 in order to minimize disruptions in education delivery.

“We do know the 2020-2021 school year will not look the same as in previous years, but the expectation is that schools will not be closed for extended periods of time. Before coronavirus, too many Idaho students faced a significant achievement gap and ongoing risks to their mental and social wellbeing. It’s imperative that students return to their classrooms and interact directly with their teachers and classmates at the end of the summer,” Governor Little said.

The Idaho Back to School Framework sets expectations for reopening in the fall, provides support for local governance and decision-making, and offers guidance and best practices on the key operational components of reopening. It is available on the State Department of Education’s web site at https://www.sde.idaho.gov/re-opening/ and the State Board of Education’s web site at https://boardofed.idaho.gov/covid-19/.

Governor Little also announced that Idaho will remain in the final stage of the Idaho Rebounds plan for another two weeks.

“We cannot succeed in rebounding our economy and safely send children back to school if we do not individually and collectively take steps now to slow the spread of coronavirus in our communities,” Governor Little added.

Information on the stages of reopening is available at https://rebound.idaho.gov/.

Idaho shifted to a regional or localized approach in the response to COVID-19. Local public health officials and mayors have the authority to put in place more restrictive measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 in their communities.

# # #

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Marissa Morrison Hyer, Press Secretary

208-943-1686 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Click here to read the full text of the order

Additional details about Stage 4 are available on the Stages of Reopening page here.

View the Stage 4 Stay Healthy Guidelines as a PDF

STATE OF IDAHO

IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE

STAY HEALTHY GUIDELINES

June 13, 2020

BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES MAY CONTINUE TO RESUME OPERATIONS AT PHYSICAL LOCATIONS IN THE STATE OF IDAHO.

ALL BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES SHOULD ADHERE TO THE PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND SANITATION REQUIREMENTS DESCRIBED IN SECTON 4.

VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN THE STATE OF IDAHO MAY RESUME PUBLIC INTERACTIONS BUT SHOULD TAKE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES.

GATHERINGS OF ANY SIZE ARE ALLOWED BUT SHOULD ADHERE TO THE PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND SANITATION REQUIREMENTS DESCRIBED IN SECTON 4.

NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL CAN RESUME.

THE GOVERNOR AND IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE DIRECTOR FIND THAT:

1 – The virus that causes Coronavirus 2019 Disease (“COVID-19”) has resulted in a global pandemic, is present in Idaho, and has infected over 3,200 Idahoans, resulting in 85 deaths to date. The virus is easily transmitted, especially in group settings, and it is essential that the spread of the virus be slowed to protect public health and safety and safeguard the ability of public and private healthcare providers to handle an influx of new patients.

The Governor’s Guidelines for Opening Up Idaho are based on evidence of a reduction of severe cases of COVID-19 within the State of Idaho; as well as, the advice and input of state epidemiologists, public health experts, and guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) and the White House. These guidelines are also based on the scientific evidence and best practices regarding the most effective approaches to slow the transmission of communicable diseases generally and COVID-19 specifically, and evidence that the age, condition, and health of a significant portion of the population of the state places its citizens at risk for serious health complications, including death, from COVID-19.

Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, which the CDC considers a serious public health threat, there is a public health emergency throughout the State of Idaho. Making the problem worse, some individuals who contract the COVID-19 virus have no symptoms or have mild symptoms, which means they may not be aware they carry the virus. Because even people without symptoms can transmit the disease, and because evidence shows the disease is easily spread, gatherings can result in transmission of the virus.

At present, travel is a commonly known source of COVID-19 infections in Idaho. All fifty states and the District of Columbia have reported cases and declared states of emergency. Now, COVID-19 clusters with substantial community spread have developed across the United States, including in Idaho and neighboring states. One Idaho county had the highest per-capita number of cases in the country at one time and COVID-19 is believed to have been introduced into the county by a traveler or travelers visiting Idaho from out of state.

The scientific evidence shows that at this stage of the emergency, it is essential to slow virus transmission as much as possible to protect the most vulnerable and to prevent the healthcare system from being overwhelmed. Following State and CDC guidelines helps preserve critical and limited healthcare capacity in the State of Idaho. Opening certain business activities in stages reduces the risk of spread of COVID-19 to Idaho citizens, including Idaho’s most vulnerable population. In consultation with state and federal epidemiologists and healthcare experts, this staged approach is intended to preserve capacity in our healthcare system by opening businesses in stages and maintaining physical distancing.

2 – Vulnerable individuals in Idaho may resume public interactions but should practice physical distancing and wear face coverings or masks while in public. Vulnerable individuals should minimize exposure to social settings where distancing may not be practical. Vulnerable individuals that do not feel comfortable resuming public interactions are strongly encouraged to stay at home. Members of households with vulnerable residents should be aware that by returning to work or other environments where distancing is not always possible they could carry the virus back home.  

Vulnerable individuals are people who are at higher risk for severe illness as defined by the CDC located at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-at-higher-risk.html

3 – People participating in gatherings of any size should adhere to the Physical Distancing and Sanitation recommendations in Section

4 – “Physical Distancing and Sanitation Recommendations”Individuals should

Individuals should:

• Maintain at least six-foot physical distancing from other individuals whenever possible;
• Wash hands with soap and water for at least twenty seconds as frequently as possible or use hand sanitizer;
• Cover coughs or sneezes (into the sleeve or elbow, not hands);
• Regularly clean high-touch surfaces and not shake hands;
• Stay home if sick;
• Wear face coverings while in public, especially when six-foot distancing is not always possible (e.g., inside businesses); and
• Implement additional protocols established in the Governor’s Guidelines for Opening up Idaho published at https://rebound.idaho.gov/.

Employers should:

• Develop and implement measures to ensure employees and customers maintain at least six-foot physical distancing from other individuals whenever possible;
• Provide adequate sanitation and personal hygiene for employees, vendors, and patrons;
• Frequently disinfect commonly touched and high-traffic areas and regularly clean those areas;
• Identify how personal use items such as masks, face coverings, and gloves may be required by employees, vendors, and/or patrons;
• Provide services while limiting close interactions with patrons;
• Identify strategies for addressing ill employees, which should include requiring COVID-19 positive employees to stay at home while infectious, and may include keeping employees who were directly exposed to the COVID-19 positive employee away from the workplace, and the closure of the business until the location can be properly disinfected;
• On a case-by-case basis, include other practices appropriate for specific types of businesses such as screening of employees for illness and exposures upon work entry, requiring non-cash transactions, etc.; and
• Implement additional protocols established in the Governor’s Guidelines for Opening up Idaho and the business-specific protocols published at https://rebound.idaho.gov/. 

The Stay Healthy Order effective May 30, 2020 is hereby rescinded.

SIGNATURES:

___________________________________              Dated: June 11, 2020

BRAD LITTLE, GOVERNOR

STATE OF IDAHO

___________________________________              Dated: June 11, 2020

DAVE JEPPESEN, DIRECTOR

IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE

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April 16, 2020: BOARD APPROVES CRITERIA FOR SCHOOLS TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATIONS

Idaho State Board of Education Minimum Re-entry Criteria:

1. No statewide or local social distancing restrictions, including stay-home orders or extensive closures of businesses are in place.
a. Exceptions to the soft closure should continue to be considered for staff and student needs, on a case by case basis as determined at the local level (e.g. small groups of students that can be distanced in a way that meets the social distancing criteria for the purpose of proctoring exams or working one-on-one with special education students, as long as the school district or charter school has sufficient capacity to maintain hygiene and sanitation).

2. The peak of the state infection curve has passed, as determined by the State Department of Health and Welfare, and a minimum 14 days have passed from the identified peak. In those instances where local community spread has occurred, the local infection curve will be evaluated for determining the 14 consecutive days. School districts and charter schools located in counties that have experienced no community spread at the time state restrictions are lifted may have the 14 consecutive days criteria waived with approval by the local public health district.

3. Approval by the local public health district, after review of school district and charter school cleaning and disinfection protocols.

Read the full press release: https://boardofed.idaho.gov/resources/board-approves-criteria-for-schools-to-resume-normal-operations/
4. Re-entry plan approved by the local board of trustees identifying minimum school protocols (see list below).

Required Minimum School Protocols:

a. Cleaning and disinfection protocols.
b. Identify a plan for vulnerable staff and students with special emphasis on people over age 60 and those who are medically vulnerable.
c. Identify and plan for staff duties which require close contact.
d. Absenteeism plan for staff and students whose parents do not feel comfortable returning their student to school and for students who show symptoms of the coronavirus.
e. Communications plan for informing parents and staff of the school district and charter school response plans, protocols, and policies to manage the impact of the coronavirus.
f. Verify point of contact of each school district and charter school for effective communication and collaboration with the local public health officials.
g. Reopening plans are reviewed in consultation with local public health officials.

These re-entry criteria are subject to change in order to adapt to changing circumstances. Additional criteria will be developed for a fall start of the school year, based on conditions at the time.

The State Board voted unanimously to approve the criteria.

This is a link to the pdf of the order - the  criteria starts on page 14.

Click here for full information

Thousands of Idaho students don’t have a computer at home or a way to connect to the internet so they can learn remotely during this coronavirus pandemic. But nearly every family in Idaho has a television set and can watch Idaho Public Television. That is where IdahoPTV’s “Classroom Idaho: Learn @ Home” programming can connect these students with certified Idaho teachers so that they can finish learning for the balance of this school year.

Beginning April 20, Idaho teachers will provide instruction to students in grades 3, 4, 5 and 6 via Idaho Public Television’s CREATE channel (one of our five free over-the-air broadcast channels).

Third grade instruction begins at 8am MT/7am PT, and will repeat at Noon MT/11am PT; 4^th grade instruction begins at 9am MT/8am PT; 5^th grade instruction begins at 10am MT/9am PT and 6^th grade instruction begins at 11am MT/10am PT. The instruction will be aligned with what the students would be learning if they were still attending their brick-and-mortar schools.

The same lessons will also be available in playlists for students with connectivity at IdahoPTV’s YouTube channel.

Over the air channels include 26.3 in the Panhandle, 10.3 in Eastern Idaho, 4.3 in the Treasure Valley, 12.3 in the Paluse Camas Prairie, and 13.3 in the Magic Valley/Wood River. 
On Cable it is found on Sparklight Channel 45, Cox Cable 114, TDS Telecom 47, Xfinity/Comcast 318, and Time Warner/Spectrum 1276.

IdahoPTV’s over-the-air broadcast channels are free to receive. All you need is an antenna. Our signal is available to over 99 percent of the households in Idaho. For information on where to find our CREATE channel and other free channels in your area, or how to re-scan to find our channels, visit our website.

Our full channel lineup is also available on many major cable outlets around the state. Check with your local cable provider.

Idaho Public Television General Manager Ron Pisaneschi shared the station’s enthusiasm for the project noting that “We are pleased to partner with the State Department of Education and Idaho Business for Education to use the power of public television to deliver these lessons to students in homes throughout Idaho. PBS has always been America’s largest classroom, but now we are bringing Idaho’s teachers and their lessons directly into students’ homes.”

“Idaho Business for Education is working during this epidemic to get computers and internet connectivity to as many students as possible who don’t have these resources at home,” IBE President and CEO Rod Gramer said. “But we also know that getting these resources to every student in a timely way may not be possible. That’s why IBE so appreciates Idaho Public TV stepping up and providing “Classroom Idaho: Learn @ Home” so that all 3rd-6th grade students in Idaho have access to instruction from one of Idaho’s great teachers.”

“For the State Department of Education and educators throughout Idaho, a crucial objective during this soft closure has been to find ways to reach all of our students with distance learning, although online access and equipment is a major challenge in many communities and households,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra said. “I am thrilled that Idaho Public Television has stepped forward to level the playing field, providing instruction via equipment that virtually all households already have – their TVs.” “Through this partnership with Idaho Public Television and Idaho Business For Education, some of Idaho’s great teachers will provide instruction in math, history and more to students in grades 3 through 6, the key demographic that is not currently reached by educational TV in Idaho. We are thrilled to line up teachers for the project and help bring this brilliant idea to Idaho children and families.”

CLASSROOM IDAHO: Learn @ Home is a partnership of Idaho Public Television, Idaho Business for Education and the State Department of Education.
 

Read the entire letter by clicking hereclick here to collapse the article.

March 16, 2020
Dear Parent:

As you have heard, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has now been diagnosed in individuals in Idaho. As we learn more about this virus, we want to assure you that The Department is taking steps to prevent the spread of this virus while considering your child’s well-being.

To encourage social distancing during this time, the Children’s Developmental Disabilities Program is making the following accommodations:

• All Family Centered Planning meetings will be conducted over the phone through March 31, 2020 or until further notice to help reduce the threat of continuing  spread of the virus. If you feel you need to meet face to face with your Case Manager please call them to discuss the need.
• Your child’s Case Manager will be available by phone to answer any questions regarding access and services. Local offices will remain open during this time.
• All Family Directed Guide meetings will be suspended until further notice.
• If you have questions about the virus, it is important to obtain information from a trusted source such as https://coronavirus.idaho.gov/ or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Please consider obtaining information on how to prepare your household for possible exposure to the virus.

Here are a few steps you can immediately begin taking to help prevent the spread of this virus. For prevention measures, the CDC recommends that everyone follow the normal precautions for avoiding the flu and other respiratory diseases:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being in public; going to the bathroom, before eating after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least
• 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

Sincerely,

Susan Stumph
Children’s DD Program
Family and Community Services