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November is a time to celebrate family caregivers, also known as care partners or carers, who provide free care to loved ones of all ages who are sick, disabled or whose parents are no longer able to fulfill this role. According to the American Association of Retired Persons and the National Council on Aging, there were 53 million adult family caregivers in the U.S. in 2020 (a 21.8% increase from 2015).
To support family caregivers in Idaho, the Idaho Caregiver Alliance – based at Boise State’s School of Public Health and Population – is a coalition of individuals and organizations focused on expanding support options for caregivers. With the family caregiver community growing, the alliance created Family Caregiver Navigator, a free, no-barrier, telephone-based service that provides individualized care plans and referral resources for Idaho caregivers.
Edwina French, a graduate of the Master of Public Health program, helped create “The needs of caregivers and parents as students in a university environment,” which was published in the Harvard Public Health Review Journal last summer. The article reported the results of a survey conducted at Boise State, which showed that 393 (26.1%) of respondents identified themselves as a parent or guardian, and nearly two-thirds said they were concerned about their academic success during the semester and expressed the need for additional resources.
Tracey Hinkley, a master’s of social work student, used her internship to connect with family caregivers and expand the social media presence of the alliance program and navigator. In collaboration with Las Senoras, Inc. has produced several videos such as “Empowering Latino Family Caregivers.”
Adrián Rodríguez, a Master of Public Health student, is a Family Caregiver Navigator health educator who leads efforts to connect with members of the Spanish-speaking community through the Alliance’s Latino Advisory Group and participation in initiatives sponsored by the Idaho Latino Commission, Las Senoras, Inc. and PODER from Idaho.
Rodríguez collaborated with faculty members Taylor Neher and Sarah Toevs to publish the article “Successes and Barriers Identified by Public Health Professionals Engaging Latinx Communities” in the Journal of Latinx Psychology. He presented the results of this work at local and statewide conferences, coordinating the association’s statewide project, “Amplify the Power of the Voices of Family Caregivers,” funded by Community Catalyst.
Jennifer Nguyen, another Master of Public Health student and a graduate research assistant for the Idaho Caregiver Alliance, examined the impact of Family Caregiver Navigator on caregiver health and well-being. She also coordinated statewide efforts Annual caregiver conference involving over 300 caregivers and scheduled for February 2025.
Raising awareness of the needs of family caregivers
Each November, the Idaho Caregiver Alliance encourages the community to celebrate family caregivers across the state. On November 14, Idaho Governor Brad Little will sign the Idaho Caregiver Month Proclamation to raise awareness and support for caregivers by promoting policies that address their needs and the people they care for.
To celebrate the alliance’s 10th anniversary and Family Caregiver Month, every dollar donated in November will be matched with $10,000 through the “Help Idaho Family Caregivers Thrive” campaign. PonyUp Campaign. The resources will help the alliance continue to provide opportunities for student learning and university engagement.
To connect with a navigator or recommend a family caregiver, call (208) 426-5899, email info@caregivernavigator.org or visit Idaho Caregivers Alliance Or Family caregiver navigator websites.