Idaho State News

Behavioral Health Strategic Action Plan Suggests Improvements Through 2028

November 12, 2024

Published

November 12, 2024

(Idaho State) The Idaho Behavioral Health Council has published its newest strategic action plan describing 11 priorities that would materially improve Idaho’s behavioral health system over the next few years. That plan, the second created through the IBHC, is now available to read on the IBHC’s website.

“Recommendations through the IBHC so far have helped establish local behavioral health centers, improve crisis response, and provide local treatment options for youth receiving psychiatric care in other states. We are honored to have had the chance again to provide a vision for improvements,” said Sara Omundson, co-chair of the IBHC and administrative director of courts for the Idaho Judicial Branch.

The IBHC was established in 2020 as a collaborative effort of all three branches of Idaho state government. It is charged with bringing together state and local governments and community partners to focus on an effective, efficient, and recovery-oriented behavioral healthcare system for Idaho. The IBHC’s first strategic plan resulted in successful implementation of each of its strategic priorities.

The recommendations in the new plan were developed across several months and reflect public input provided by Idahoans across the state. The top priorities include:

Strengthening the behavioral health workforce.
Improving services to youth in foster care.
Increasing housing for people with behavioral health conditions.
Expanding the functionality of Idaho’s crisis centers.
Ensuring a continuity of care for people entering and leaving the criminal justice system.
Supporting people with occupational exposure to trauma through work in the justice system or crisis response, including first-responders and their families.
Other goals focused on prevention, treatment, recovery, and promotion of services to those who need them.

Each priority recommendation has sponsors who will work to advance it over the next three years. Anyone interested in helping to implement the recommendations is invited to contact the project manager for the IBHC about participating in that work.

The IBHC selected its priorities from a final list of 30 recommendations. The report also includes the remaining 19 in hopes that other groups in Idaho’s communities will collaborate on items above and beyond the IBHC’s capacity to do so.

“Meaningful change for Idahoans does not come overnight. It requires continued work and dedication from all who can influence our system,” said Jared Larsen, co-chair of the IBHC and legislative and regulatory affairs chief for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. “We invite all professionals and policymakers in our state to contribute however they can.”