Idaho is a unique state in many ways, including when districts head back to school. Some schools have been in session for a few weeks, while others won’t start until after Labor Day. I hope our friends in education, whether they return to school soon or later, were able to enjoy their much-deserved time off and recharge their batteries for the 2025-26 academic year.

Jackie Yarbrough is a senior program officer for the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health

I’m grateful to support Idaho’s public education system in my senior program officer role at the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health (the Foundation). As the new school year begins, students are loading up backpacks, teachers are preparing classrooms, and communities are gearing up to support their local schools. For us at the Foundation,  this time of year reminds us how health and education go hand in hand.

In Idaho, where many rural and underserved communities face unique challenges, ensuring that students can succeed in the classroom requires more than textbooks and test scores. It takes a whole-community approach, one that addresses the health and well-being of all students and families, along with the academic component of school.

Education is a Key Driver of Health

Research shows that education is one of the most powerful predictors of lifelong health. Students who attend school regularly, stay engaged, and graduate with a high school diploma are more likely to experience better physical and mental health outcomes. They’re also more likely to earn higher incomes, engage in healthy behaviors, and contribute to their communities.

That’s why the Foundation partners with Idaho schools, communities, and organizations to create environments where all students can thrive — in and out of the classroom.

Our Work in Idaho Communities

This fall, the Foundation will continue its work to support education-related initiatives across Idaho. Our focus areas are:

  • Early Education: We partner with communities to create, expand, and improve access to quality childcare and early education opportunities. For the 2025-26 school year, we supported 12 school districts to launch or expand early education programs.
  • Health Professions Career Technical Education: We support the launch or expansion of health professions career technical education (CTE) programs at secondary schools. There are 16 health professions CTE programs starting or expanding in 2025-26 thanks to our grant funding.
  • Youth Behavioral Health: We partner with schools to provide behavioral health programs, training, and services, creating environments that enhance student well-being. We have supported behavioral health programming in 92 schools across the state.
  • Community Schools: We mobilize schools, school districts, and community organizations to bolster and expand Community Schools strategy statewide. We have supported 32 districts and 78 schools since becoming a partner of the Idaho Coalition for Community Schools in 2021.

We are committed to creating systems that foster healthier generations and encourage communities to continue supporting schools not just as places of learning, but as hubs of wellness, connection, and opportunity. It takes all of us — families, educators, public officials, school boards, community organizations, and nonprofits — working together to build a brighter, healthier future for every child in Idaho.

Because when our kids thrive, Idaho thrives.