Area cities taking part in academy

A trio of Bonner County cities are taking part in the Community Health Academy, a Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health program for mayors and city officials that helps them learn and understand the city’s important role in building healthy communities.

Taking part in the five-month learning collaborative from Bonner County are East Hope Mayor Deborah Field, Ponderay Mayor Steve Geiger, and Sandpoint Mayor Jeremy Grimm.

The academy brings together leaders from Idaho cities to learn from local and national experts, collaborate, and activate a program or project that improves the health of their community. Each city will receive a $20,000 grant upon completion of the program.

The academy launches Friday, June 21, and will include monthly sessions through October. The academy uses a hybrid model with sessions done in person and virtually. Topics covered include community health, civility, childcare and early education, food systems and policy, communications and branding, designing healthy communities, and youth behavioral health.

“Community Health Academy is one of our most impactful programs because most mayors and elected officials learn how their actions can help build healthy communities,” said Courtney Frost, senior program officer for the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health. “The academy includes grant funding, so cities will have the resources to launch a project or program that will improve the health of communities in Idaho.”

Community Health Academy has been offered by the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health since 2017. Thirty-eight communities have taken part in previous sessions.