Families across Idaho face ongoing barriers to accessing the resources they need to live a healthy life, particularly in rural and tribal communities. Supporting the environments where children live, grow, and learn is essential to prevention and improving long-term health outcomes. To strengthen local access to family-centered resources, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Idaho has invested in three community organizations working to support healthy families across the state.
As part of this effort, UnitedHealthcare established a learning cohort, bringing the organizations together to share their unique perspectives with a focus on shared learning, innovation and sustainability. The Idaho Children’s Trust Fund, a statewide organization with expertise in prevention and family support, is providing the cohort with technical assistance and guidance. This initiative aims to increase local capacity, amplify community voices and ultimately help create healthier starts for Idaho families.
The three family support initiatives are:
The Bannock Youth Foundation, an organization providing evidence-based parenting programs, home visiting and early childhood support. Since 1978, Bannock Youth Foundation has served children and families in southeast Idaho. The organization will expand community outreach to help more families participate in early childhood programs. Bannock Youth Foundation has also refreshed classrooms at the Family Resource Center in Pocatello, creating warm and welcome spaces for children and their caregivers.
The Idaho Hispanic Foundation’s Family and Community Resource Center in Nampa provides bilingual navigation services, health and social service referrals and workshops in parenting, financial literacy and wellness. Among Nampa’s rapidly growing Latino community, many families experience challenges accessing culturally and linguistically appropriate health care and services. With funding from UnitedHealthcare, the organization will launch Mujeres de Impacto, a bilingual leadership and wellness initiative that equips Latina women with mentorship, health education and resource navigation to strengthen family and community well-being.
Nimmipuu Generations United has served children and families on the Nez Perce Reservation through the Students for Success program since 1995, offering youth and family programming rooted in tradition and culture. The organization offers parental supports, community healing events and youth engagement programs designed in partnership with the community to reflect Nimmipuu values, language and tradition. With support from UnitedHealthcare, Nimmipuu Generations United is focused on improving access to services in Kamiah, where transportation is a significant barrier for many families. The organization will also host a family-centered event in the fall to create space for connections and cultural engagement.
These investments put trusted community organizations at the center of stronger, more connected support systems for Idaho families. Each organization is strengthening services in ways that reflect local needs, while the learning cohort creates space to build on best practices and generate long-term sustainability. Together, this work demonstrates UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Idaho’s work to uplift community-led solutions to help Idahoans live healthier lives.
