Idaho Partners in Policymaking is an innovative leadership development program for adults with developmental disabilities and parents of children with disabilities. Partners receive information, training, resources, and skill building so they may have the best possible life experiences for themselves and for their children. Partners in Policymaking was created in 1986 by Colleen Wieck, Executive Director of the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities. The program was developed specifically to teach people with disabilities and families of young children with disabilities to: Work on long-term change. Become active partners with policymakers who will shape policies that impact people with disabilities and families. Understand possibilities and how to create them.
Idaho SILC Resources for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
“This is a listing of SILC resources that individuals with disabilities may find helpful. These are suggestions only. The SILC is not responsible for their content or the services that they provide. This list is not all inclusive.
Idaho Home Choice Money Follows the Person program
Idaho Home Choice
Idaho Home Choice is Idaho’s Money Follows the Person program is designed to help people to move, also called “transition," from an institution into home-and community-based living settings, such as a home or an apartment.
Goals for Idaho Home Choice
Increase the use of Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) and reduce the use of institutionally-based services;
Eliminate barriers and mechanisms in state law, state Medicaid plans, or state budgets that prevent or restrict the flexible use of Medicaid funds to enable Medicaid-eligible individuals to receive long-term care in the settings of their choice;
Strengthen the ability of Medicaid programs to assure continued provision of HCBS to those individuals who choose to transition from institutions; and,
Ensure that procedures are in place to provide quality assurance and continuous quality improvement of HCBS.
ELIGIBILITY To participate in the Idaho Home Choice Program, the individual must:
Have lived for at least ninety consecutive days in a nursing facility, an intermediate care facility for individuals with mental retardation/intellectual disabilities, or an institution for mental diseases
Be a resident of Idaho
Be Medicaid eligible at the time of discharge
Qualify for either the Aged and Disabled or Developmental Disability waivers
Idaho Executive Order 2020-04: Creating the Idaho Behavioral Health Council (2020)
“NOW, THEREFORE, I, Brad Little, Governor of the State of Idaho, by virtue of the authority vested in me under the Constitution and the laws of the State of Idaho, do hereby establish the Idaho Behavioral Health Council (“Council”), and in so doing do also order that:
1. The scope and mission of the Council is to:
a. Bring together all three branches of state government, local governments and community partners to develop a recommended statewide strategic plan; and
b. Oversee the implementation of the approved statewide strategic plan, ensuring an effective, efficient, recovery-oriented behavioral healthcare system for all Idahoans in need of those services.”
“SECTION 1. That Chapter 2, Title 56, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby amended by the addition thereto of a NEW SECTION, to be known and designated as Section 56-270, Idaho Code and to read as follows:
56-270. LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL OF WAIVERS AND STATE PLAN AMENDMENTS. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the state department of health and welfare shall not seek or implement a Medicaid state plan amendment or a waiver pursuant to section 1115 or 1915 of the social 13 security act without first obtaining approval from the legislature. Such approval must be provided in statute. The provisions of this section shall not affect any state plan amendment or waiver program already implemented as of the effective date of this section.”
