Community Health & Engagement
Kami Root of Big Brothers Big Sisters Idaho was among those on hand at last summer's CHIF recipient celebration in Boise. Big Brothers Big Sisters is again a CHIF recipient in 2026.
By St. Luke's Public RelationsLast Updated January 9, 2026
One of St. Luke’s core goals is to create healthier communities by building strong partnerships, delivering measurable outcomes and maximizing our impact by inspiring others.
The health system aims to achieve this by collaborating with local organizations across the region — working together to improve the health and well-being of the people St. Luke's serves.
The Community Health Improvement Fund is one way St. Luke’s fulfills its community benefit commitment. This year, St. Luke’s awarded $998,874 in CHIF grants to 113 organizations. Awards ranged from $1,000 to $44,000, with an average grant of $8,840.
Funding priority is given to organizations whose programs address the most pressing health needs identified through St. Luke’s Community Health Needs Assessment and key social drivers of health, such as safe housing, transportation and access to nutritious food.
The Community Health Needs Assessment is a comprehensive analysis that helps St. Luke’s identify and assess communities’ most critical needs. This information guides both the health improvement programs we provide and the support we offer to community partners.
Patricia and her family were among those who have been aided by CHIF recipient CATCH, which provides help for families experiencing homelessness.
The most recent CHNA identified these top health priorities:
CHIF applications open each August for community organizations. All qualifying applications undergo a thorough review by each medical center’s Community Board, featuring local leaders and volunteers, to ensure alignment with local health priorities. Grant awards are distributed by year-end.
“In a time of funding uncertainty and growing needs, the CHIF program allows St. Luke’s partners the ability to count on our trusted support as they uniquely serve our communities’ greatest needs,” said Theresa McLeod, St. Luke’s administrator of community health and engagement. “St. Luke’s is dedicated to working with community partners doing meaningful work to care for our communities.”
St. Luke’s mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities it serves. In 2024, St. Luke’s provided $930 million in community benefit, including unreimbursed services, charity care, capital investments, and community programs.
Following are examples of programs CHIF grants support and how they make a difference:
Health system
Children's Home Society of Idaho's mission is to provide exceptional mental and behavioral health care to all children, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.
This year's CHIF grant will support the Community Support Program, which delivers comprehensive mental, emotional and behavioral health services to children and families, aiming to improve community well-being and access to care. Services include individual and family counseling, peer groups, medication management, school-based counseling and care farm therapy.
A team of dedicated clinicians addresses diverse needs such as physical, emotional and sexual abuse, grief, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and severe trauma.
In addition to providing access to care, CSP offers The Children's Home Training Center, which provides supervision and mentorship to graduate-level clinical interns and professional development opportunities for internal and community-based clinicians. This program ensures access to high-quality care for any child who walks through the doors, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.
St. Luke's CHIF grant to the Three Island Senior Center, seen here, will benefit the organization's home food delivery program in Elmore County.
Elmore
The Three Island Senior Center's mission is to promote the health and well-being of older adults, regardless of income, by providing and advocating for nutrition and social services. This year's CHIF grant will support the organization’s Home Food Delivery Program, serving seniors in Glenns Ferry, Hammett and the King Hill area. Funds cover meal preparation and delivery costs for homebound seniors seven days a week. In addition to nutritious meals, seniors benefit from social interaction and individual health checks.
Magic Valley
La Posada is an independent public charity dedicated to supporting those most in need throughout south-central Idaho and northern Nevada.CHIF funds will support its program providing temporary and emergency housing assistance. The program serves individuals and families experiencing homelessness, displacement or imminent housing insecurity, including people living in vehicles or on the streets, those facing eviction, survivors of domestic violence, individuals recently released from prison, and families struggling with unemployment or extreme poverty.
McCall
Rise Up 2 Thrive's mission is to inspire change in support of a thriving and respectful community. The organization’s CHIF grant will support its commitment to provide essential services to children and adults affected by domestic violence, sexual assault or human trafficking.The organization offers comprehensive, confidential and no-cost services, including crisis intervention, counseling referrals, support groups and classes, safety planning, case management, legal and court advocacy, medical support, emergency shelter, childcare, relocation assistance, pet fostering and other services.
Treasure Valley
The team at Charitable Assistance To Community Homeless, or CATCH, believes everyone needs a home. This year's CHIF grant will support the Linda Fund, which assists Treasure Valley households experiencing homelessness but who have achieved sustainable income and are prepared to live independently.
The program helps individuals and families identify suitable housing, advocates with landlords and provides one-time financial assistance for essential move-in expenses such as security deposits or first month's rent. This targeted support helps overcome initial financial barriers, paving the way for long-term housing stability.
Sister Rose Mary Boessen thanked and greeted St. Luke's team members at a recent luncheon in Magic Valley. A CHIF grant supports La Posada, a charity she founded.
West Treasure Valley
The Nampa Family Justice Center Foundation of Idaho's mission is to break the cycle of abuse in youth through therapeutic, adventure-based summer camps and monthly mentoring, promoting safety, self-sufficiency, hope and healing.
This year’s CHIF grant will support Camp Hope Idaho, which encourages youth to believe in themselves, others and their dreams through activities such as hiking, ropes courses, rafting, art therapy and mindfulness exercises. These experiences challenge young people, foster personal growth and teamwork, and strengthen their belief in themselves while empowering others.
The goal of Camp Hope is to create high-hope individuals and sustain that hope through ongoing support programs into adulthood.
Wood River
The Senior Connection in Hailey connects Blaine County's older adults with peers, local activities, meaningful programs and essential services to enhance health and well-being.
The Supporting Caregiving Services for Blaine County's Older Adults program provides caregiving support that helps seniors remain safely in their homes. Trained caregivers offer services tailored to individual needs, including light housekeeping, transportation and personal care such as bathing, dressing and eating. The program also offers respite care for family members or unpaid caregivers.
This year's CHIF grant will help bridge the cost gap for caregiving services, ensuring no senior in Blaine County goes without care due to financial constraints.
Learn more about Community Health Improvement Fund Grants at St. Luke's.
2026 CHIF Recipients
Advocates Against Family Violence, Inc.
Ageless Senior Citizens, Inc.
Alzheimer's Association - Greater Idaho Chapter
American Redcross
Angel Wings Network, Inc
Assistance League of Boise, Idaho Inc.
Because Kids Grieve
Because Kids Grieve - SYSTEM
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Idaho
Blaine County Seniors Council, Inc
Boise Bicycle Project
Boise Public Schools Education Foundation
Boise Rescue Mission, Inc.
Boise State University Foundation for Idaho Care Giver Alliance
Boys & Girls Club of Magic Valley
Boys & Girls Clubs of Ada County
Boys & Girls Clubs of Canyon County (aka Boys & Girls Club of Nampa)
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Treasure Valley
Breaking Chains Academy of Development, Inc.
CASA of Southwest Idaho DBA Third District Guardian Ad Litem
Cascade Medical Center Foundation
Cascade School District #422
Charitable Assistance To Community’s Homeless, Inc
Children's Home Society of Idaho
Children's Museum of the Magic Valley, Inc.
City of Boise - Parks and Recreation Department
City of Good
City of Mountain Home Parks and Recreation
Clemy's Crew, Inc.
Community Food Share, Inc.
Community Health Clinics, Inc. dba Terry Reilly Health Services
Donnelly Food Pantry
East End Providers
Elmore County Domestic Violence Council
Encircle Rec, Inc.
Everybody House
E-Well Lifeline
Family Advocate Program, Inc.
Family Health Services Corporation
Family Health Services Corporation
Family Justice Center Foundation of Idaho
Genesis Community Health
Giraffe Laugh, Inc.
Girls on the Run Southern Idaho
Girls on the Run Southern Idaho - SYSTEM
Glenns Ferry School District 192
Gooding County Senior Citizens Organization
Gooding Soil Conservation District
Helping Hearts and Hands, Inc.
Idaho Base Camp, Inc.
Idaho Diabetes Youth Programs dba Hodia
Idaho Farmers Market Association
Idaho Foodbank Warehouse, Inc. d.b.a. The Idaho Foodbank
Idaho Pediatric Cancer Coalition
Idaho Pediatric Cancer Coalition - SYSTEM
Idaho West Central Mountain Youth Advocacy Coalition (YAC)
Ignite Idaho Family Resource Center
Intermountain Fair Housing Council, Inc.
Jannus, Inc.
Jerome County Senior Citizens Service Area, Inc.
Jesse Tree of Idaho, Inc.
Kuna Food Bank, Inc formerly known as Alliance Serving Kuna, Inc
Kuna Joint School District #3
La Posada
Learning Lab
Life's Kitchen, Inc
Lincoln County Youth Center & Lincoln County Early Learning Center
Love Yourself, Inc.
Magic Valley Center for Community Health
Marsing School District
McCall Senior Center dba McCall Community Center
Men's Second Chance Living
Men's Second Chance Living - SYSTEM
Mountain Home Arts Council, Inc.
Mountain Home School District #193 West Elementary
Mountain Home Senior Center, Inc.
Nampa Schools Foundation
OATS, Inc.
Payette Lakes Community Association, Inc.
QRU Nonprofit Organization
Ride for Joy
Rise Up 2 Thrive, Inc
Roots Forest School, Inc.
Shepherd's Home, Inc.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace
South Central Public Health District
South Central Public Health District
Special Olympics Idaho
The Education Foundation for Joint School District No. 2, Inc. (known as the West Ada Education Foundation)
The Fund to Support Ada County Victim Services Center, Inc.
The Mentoring Network Inc
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, Caldwell
The Salvation Army, Nampa
The Space Idaho
The Walker Center
The Watering Hole Community Center Inc
The Wellness Project
Three Island Senior Citizen Center Inc
Tooth Fairy, Inc.
Treasure Valley Habitat for Humanity
Twin Falls County - Adult Misdemeanor Probation
Twin Falls County - Juvenile Probation Youth Services Program
Twin Falls Senior Citizens Federation, Inc.
University of Idaho Foundation on behalf of McCall Outdoor Science School
Unlimited Potential Athletics, Inc.
Valley Regional Transit (Safe Routes to Schools)
Visions Charities, Inc.
Voices Against Violence
Weiser Memorial Hospital Foundation, Inc.
Wellness Tree Community Clinic
Wendell Senior Center
West End Senior Citizen's Inc. of Buhl, ID
Women's and Children's Alliance
Wood River Community YMCA
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