Idaho
Idaho State University receives large grant for school psychology program – Local News 8
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI)– The Idaho State University School Psychology Department was recently awarded a $4.5 million grant from the US Department of Education to address a lack of mental health professionals in Idaho schools.
Dr. Joel Bocanegra, chair of ISU’s School Psychology Department, applied for the grant with colleagues Dr.’s Howard Fan, Erika Coles, and Jenn Gallup in an effort to start a program that would staff school psychologists in rural areas.
“There’s certain locales in Idaho where, due to isolation and other variables, school psychologists are hard to come by,” said Dr. Bocanegra. “The idea is to provide funding so these students in these communities, people in the community, can come, be trained, and go back to the communities.”
The grant money will be used to cover the tuition of eligible students majoring in school psychology for three years plus an internship. In exchange, graduates of the program will spend three years working in high need school districts in Idaho post-graduation.
Dr. Bocanegra said that, ideally, there should be one school psychologist per 500 K-12 students–currently, in Idaho, there is about one school psychologist for every 1,700 students.
The disparity, according to Dr. Bocanegra, comes from the exclusivity of the masters-only school psychology program–but, by providing tuition coverage and raising awareness of the program, he hopes the ‘grow your own’ model will attract more students who can return home armed with the knowledge to help local schools.
“We need to get people in the field, we also want people that can stay in the field,” said Dr. Bocanegra. “Having people that can understand the community, go back to the communities where they have the connections, have the history, the roots, the families there… that’s kind of one of the goals.”
For more information, you can visit the Idaho State University School Psychology Department website.
On Saturday, the United States and Israel launched major strikes in Tehran, with President Trump calling for an Iranian regime change.
RELATED | Trump announces ‘major combat operations’ in Iran, reportedly killing hundreds
President Trump authorized the U.S military operation without congressional approval, a decision that Democrats in Congress are arguing is unconstitutional.
RELATED | Trump’s Iran attack raises legal concerns among Democrats in Congress
Idaho Democratic Party Chair Lauren Necochea says Democrats are “demanding answers and accountability on behalf of the American people, who are being dragged toward another open-ended war they do not support.”
Necochea says her greatest concern lies with American troops, contractors and civilians who she says “did not choose this conflict.”
“Idaho has thousands of active-duty servicemembers, National Guard members, and military families who live with the consequences when leaders make reckless choices,” she says.
However, not all lawmakers share Necochea’s sentiments.
Idaho Republican representative Mike Simpson commends President Trump’s “decisive action” in Iran.
Idaho News 6
“Iran was given every opportunity to resolve this peacefully through negotiations but chose not to,” Simpson said in a post to Facebook. “I commend President Trump for taking decisive action against a regime responsible for decades of terror. May God protect our men and women in uniform on this vital mission.”
POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Nearly two-thirds of Idaho voters approved Medicaid expansion, but local leaders say that coverage is now at risk.
According to the organizers of a town hall set for Saturday, February 28, proposed changes could severely impact Idaho’s rural hospitals and leave thousands of residents without access to healthcare.
The town hall, titled “Protecting What Works: Medicaid Expansion in Idaho,” will take place at Chubbuck City Hall from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
A panel of representatives from across the healthcare sector — including home health, hospitals, and public and community health — will answer questions about how Medicaid expansion works in Idaho and how potential cuts could affect communities. Organizers say there will also be time for audience questions.
One of the event organizers told Local News 8 why the discussion is important:
“There have been conversations in the last couple of legislative sessions about either fully repealing Medicaid expansion or making significant cuts to Medicaid,” Shantay Boxham, the organizer, said. “This is an educational forum to ensure voters and community members have the information they need about what the program is, what’s at stake, and how it supports Idaho and Idahoans.”
There are limited seats available for the meeting. To reserve a spot, visit members.pocatello.com.
Local News 8 will continue to follow this story and have updates tomorrow.
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