Boise Initiative Expands Parent and Community Engagement Efforts

This year, Communities for Youth Boise offered a Citywide Data Walk as well “Quad Level” Data Walks in the Boise Schools, and school-level presentations for private and charter schools that participate in the Boise Youth Well-being Survey .

In 2025, these Data Walks have engaged more than 250 individuals who live or work in Boise including parents, grandparents, young people, business leaders, school staff and staff from youth serving organizations, and many others. In 2025, we also piloted training community members to present some of the data through a partnership with the Youth Mental Wellness Alliance (YouMeWeAll).

At each Data Walk, the most influential risk and protective factors for youth mental health and well-being are shared with small group discussions about how current youth issues can be addressed following the presentations. 

Communities for Youth volunteer and team member engage with Data Walk attendees

According to Communities for Youth analysis of the citywide 2024 survey data (that just means we looked at data across ALL the schools in Boise that administered the survey), one of the biggest challenges facing Boise’s young people and contributing to mental health challenges like depression is a lack of social connection. Social connection means having positive and meaningful relationships with peers, family, and non-parent trusted adults like teachers, mentors, coaches, and others.

To address the lack of youth social connection in Boise, our community must work together. All Boise community members (that means parents, grandparents, youth,  faith leaders, small business owners, civic leaders, coaches, mentors, and beyond!) are invited to join the Communities for Youth Boise Initiative. The Initiative currently has two options for those who would like to support youth social connection:

• Joining the Community Action Team

• Joining the Boise Citywide Coalition

This brief 3-minute survey can help those interested in contributing to increasing youth social connection across Boise decide which option is right for them and will connect you with one of the Community Contacts for the Boise Initiative. If you would prefer to more directly connect please email Andrea Hill (andreahill565@boisestate.edu).

For more information on the Communities for Youth Boise Initiative please visit our main page or sign up for our newsletter.