The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) announced the dates in May that it will close nine of its offices and lay off 126 state workers. All the positions will be eliminated by May 18, and offices will close between May 11 and 25. The effort will save $7 million in operating costs for the department in the next budget, which begins July 1.
The dates of the office closures will be:
The nine offices employ 81 state workers. DHW will transfer 66 of those employees to other offices, while 21 positions will be eliminated. An additional 105 DHW workers around the state will lose their jobs to meet a smaller agency budget.
DHW will still have 20 offices around Idaho. People visiting DHW offices for public assistance or other programs, including help with child foster care, can consult a map and list at DHW's website for the closest open office location.
