Idaho Department of Health and WelfareGovernment

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) is the state executive agency dedicated to promoting and protecting the health, safety, and independence of Idaho residents. Its mandate encompasses administering Idaho Medicaid, public health and disease surveillance, behavioral health and substance use programs, child welfare and foster care, and economic assistance programs such as SNAP and TANF. Established in 1974 through a major statewide executive reorganization authorized by the Idaho Legislature, the department amalgamated previously separate health, public assistance, and mental health agencies into a single consolidated cabinet-level administration.