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Blue Cross employee grant funds play therapy for kids age 5-12 in Elmore County
Elmore County kids who are struggling with depression, anxiety and other mental disorders will have access to play therapy thanks to a grant provided by Blue Cross of Idaho employees.
The $5,000 grant will be used to purchase equipment and expand existing services to children ages 5-12. Currently, Desert Sage Health Centers provides counseling to middle and high school students in the Mountain Home School District. By offering play therapy, Desert Sage Health Centers will be able to expand behavioral health services to younger students.
Desert Sage Health Centers (DSHC) is a federally qualified health center that provides medical, dental and behavioral health services in Elmore and Owyhee counties. Services are offered on a sliding fee scale at clinics in Glenns Ferry, Mountain Home, and Grand View along with a mobile medical unit and three school-based sites.
The Blue Cross of Idaho Community Fund is generated by employee contributions. In 2025, employees selected access to mental health and behavioral health services as the focus area. Six grants up to $5,000 each were awarded through the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health.
“All counties in Idaho suffer from a shortage of mental health and behavioral health providers,” said Courtney Frost, BCIFH executive director. “This grant program allows the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health to support meaningful work around mental health and behavioral health in Idaho.
“We are grateful to our Blue Cross of Idaho employees who generously donated to the Employee Community Fund. They are helping to build a healthier Idaho.”
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, play therapy is an effective, evidence-based treatment for children dealing with emotional and behavioral challenges.
“Play Therapy has been shown to have numerous benefits including improved emotional regulation, enhanced communication and social skills, increased self-esteem, and helps children develop problem solving skills and coping mechanisms,” said Darin Gere, LCSW, Behavioral Health Director at Desert Sage Health Centers.
“With grant support, providers at the Desert Sage Health Centers can continue to build upon existing school and family partnerships," he said. “Working together, we can have a bigger impact on improving the mental health of children in our region."