ELMORE COUNTY HEALTH COALITION

• ECHC Application
• ECHC Action Plan 2024 – Sep 2024
• ECHC Bylaws 2024 – Dec 2024

Welcome to our 2025-2026 Executive Committee Members: Allan Carroll, Lisa Melchiorre, and Cassi Garza!

Eating healthy during the holiday season can feel daunting, but eating a well balanced diet can be possible no matter the season! Here are several easy tips to help you make healthy food choices this holiday season:

1. Bring a Healthy Dish: Contributing a nutritious dish to gatherings can inspire others to choose healthier options, promoting a collective commitment to better eating.
2. Mind Your Portions: Focus on filling your plate primarily with vegetables. Remember, no food needs to be off-limits; with moderation, you can savor your favorite treats while maintaining a balanced diet.
3. Stay Active After Meals: Engaging in light activity after eating, such as a stretch break or 10-minute walk, can aid digestion and reduce stress, further enhancing your holiday experience.

At the Elmore County Health Coalition, we recognize that healthy eating goes hand in hand with having access to food. To support our community, we’re excited to share the newly created Elmore County Food Locator card, which highlights food banks and access points throughout the county, ensuring that everyone can enjoy healthy meals this holiday season.

As we continue to combat food insecurity and improve nutrition education efforts, the Elmore County Health Coalition is also working to bring Cooking Matters Store Tours to Elmore County. Cooking Matters Store Tours are a one-hour guided grocery store tour with a trained nutrition educator that helps adult learners understand how to get the most nutritional bang for their buck. Participants in the store tours will leave with a wealth of knowledge about shopping for their budget and a $25 gift card to purchase groceries. If you are interested in signing up for a Cooking Matters Store Tour, please contact Alex Dominguez at adominguez@cdh.idaho.gov or call 208-559-0279.

• ECHC/GHI Org Chart – Nov 2023
  ECHC works closely with the Get Health Idaho (GHI) Project, but there are distinctions, seen here.
• GHI Action Plan – Nov 2023
  See how Get Healthy Idaho is making differences in Elmore County.
• ECHC/GHI Updates – May 2024
  See the progress of the Get Healthy Idaho initiatives in Elmore County.

2024 ECHC Meetings

Oct 17, 2024 | Minutes
Aug 15, 2024 | Minutes
Jun 27, 2024 | Minutes
Apr 18, 2024 | Minutes
Feb 15, 2024 | Minutes

2023 ECHC Meetings
Dec 14, 2023 | Minutes
Oct 19, 2023 | Minutes
Aug 17, 2023 | Minutes
Jul 20, 2023 | Minutes
May 18, 2023 | Minutes
Apr 20, 2023 | Minutes
Mar 16, 2023 | Minutes
Feb 16, 2023 | Minutes
Jan 19, 2023 | Minutes

• Opioid Settlement Fund Focus Group Presentation – Nov 2024
• Boise VAMC Resources – Sep 2024
• Idaho Aware – School Based Mental Health – Nov 2023
• Idaho Food Bank – Nov 2023
• Mental Health Updates – Nov 2023
• Northpoint & Ashwood Recovery Services – Nov 2023

• Tobacco and Vape Prevention & Cessation – Nov 2023
• Youth Behavioral Health Community Crisis Centers – Nov 2023

ECHC Substance Use/ Nicotine Related Resources:

• Substance Use
  • Idaho Drug Free Youth: Statewide program that aims to foster connection in youth, so they don’t seek that connection in substances. Idaho Youth Summit 2024 is June 11th-14th! Know a teen between 8th-12th grade who would benefit from making connections with positive influences or who is ready to be a positive influence to others? Learn more and apply for Idaho Youth Summit here, by May 31st!
  • Mountain Home Behavioral Health: Located in Mountain Home and able to accept new patients covered by Medicaid, BPA Funding, or self pay. Specializing in: mental health counseling, group counseling, case management, substance abuse treatment, co-occurring treatment.
  • Doyel Ray Hope Center: Hosting celebration and recovery sessions.

• Nicotine
  • Resources for Teens/ Young Adults
    • KNOW VAPE: Youth informed anti-vape campaign hosted by Idaho Public Television.
    • Behind the Haze: National vape education campaign for youth.
    • My Life My Quit: Confidential, text- based quit vaping program for youth.
    • This is Quitting: Text-based quit vaping program for youth and young adults.

• • Resources for Adults
    • KICK! Your Cravings: Know Your Nicotine: Information and resources available to Elmore County residents related to nicotine education, prevention, and cessation.
    • Project Filter: State tobacco control program where adults can get behavioral support and medication to help them quit nicotine.
    • Catch My Breath Parent Toolkit: Toolkit to help parents recognize vape devices, signs of vaping in kids, and how to talk to their child about vaping and nicotine.

• • Free Trainings/Webinars

• • • American Lung Association (INDEPTH): Alternative to suspension, nicotine education program for youth in school. Interested in becoming a facilitator? Learn more and get trained for FREE.
    • Parents Against Vaping E-Cigarettes: Grassroots, national, parent driven organization to stop vaping and tobacco use in children.

• • • Operation Parent: Parent education helping to prevent drug use in children.

ECHC Nutrition Related Resources:

• • Nutrition Access
    • Idaho Food Bank: Food Assistance Locator: Find food pantry locations, community meal locations, and learn more about the Backpack Program.
    • Southwest Idaho Area Agency on Aging: Contact them to learn where congregate meals are served for seniors, and/or to get senior meals delivered.

• • Nutrition Education
    • Mountain Home Parks and Rec: Nutrition education and cooking classes for community members are hosted here. Including Freezer Frenzy and Little Chefs. Review the seasonal resource guide to sign up!
    • Cooking Matters: A 6-week nutrition education and cooking class that can be modified for families, teens, children, or adults! See the ECHC Calendar to find a class happening near you!

ECHC Mental and Behavioral Health Related Resources:

• • Mental/ Behavioral Health Resources (Elmore County)

• • • Yellow Bench Project: ECHC is working to rekindle this project that focuses on breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide. Start reading about it on page three of St. Luke’s Elmore County Resource Guide (2022). 
    • Free Naloxone/ Prescription Safety Supplies: Order naloxone, and FREE prescription safety supplies, drug deactivation kits and more! Can be shipped to you or picked up at the Mountain Home CDH Office!
    • List of Mental and Behavioral Health Services and Support Groups in Elmore County

• • Mental Health Resources (Idaho)

• • • Idaho Crisis and Suicide Hotline: For mental health crises, call or text 988 anytime (available 24/7). 
    • Region Four Crisis Centers  

• • • • Adult (Pathways of Idaho): call 1-833-527-4747 or visit the center at 7192 Potomac Dr. Boise, Idaho 83704 
      • Youth (Pathways of Idaho): call 1-833-427-4747 or visit the center at 9196 W Emerald Suite 100 Boise, Idaho 83704 

• • • Gun Locks and Medication Lock Boxes: Contact CDH (208-327-8592) or order online
    • Department of Health and Welfare Behavioral Health Resources
    •  NAMI – Idaho resources
    • Empower Idaho – Archived webinars
    • Idaho Resilience Project resources
    • Idaho State Department of Agriculture – Farm stress resources

• • Mental Health Resources (National)
    • The Trevor Project: Suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit organization for LGBTQ+ young people.
    • SAMHSA Suicide Prevention Month

• • Free Trainings 
    • Virtual Question Persuade Refer (QPR) Suicide Gatekeeper Training
    • ECHO Idaho Training: Youth Suicide Prevention Series
    • St. Luke’s Health Talk: Helping Youth Improve Mental Health and Prevent Suicide 
    • QPR and Youth Mental Health First Aid trainings