Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation Awards $25,000 to Boise State University Foundation to Enhance Mental Health Support for Caregivers
Media Contact: Rhonda Frazier, Rhonda.Frazier@MolinaHealthCare.Com, (562) 980-3849
BOISE, IDAHO, May 27, 2026 – The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation, in collaboration with Molina Healthcare of Idaho (“Molina”), announced a $25,000 donation to Boise State University Foundation’s (“Boise State”) Idaho Caregiver Alliance (“ICA”) to provide support and skill-building opportunities to kinship caregivers in Idaho.
In Idaho, tens of thousands of individuals, including over 10,000 grandparents, are kinship caregivers, raising children in place of their parents. Kinship caregivers often face financial and emotional strain as they balance caregiving with their own well-being. Many take on unexpected costs, and older individuals, often living on a fixed income, face financial challenges.
“Our partnership with Molina is helping us provide the support and comfort that Idaho’s kinship caregivers deserve,” said Sheila Weaver, LCSW, MPA, program manager, School of Public and Population Health at Boise State University/Idaho Caregiver Alliance. “Many family caregivers step into the role unexpectedly and during times of crisis. This grant funding helps equip them with the tools to manage their mental health and well-being, ultimately creating more stable environments for the children in their care.”
This grant comes during Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness and expand access to mental health care for all communities. Through this funding, Molina will help boost ongoing trauma-informed education and skill-building opportunities for kinship caregivers, as well as support seasonal kinship events, respite care, and education scholarships for professionally facilitated support groups.
“Kinship caregivers are the quiet backbone of our communities, stepping in during moments of crisis to keep families together,” said Brandon Hendrickson, plan president of Molina Healthcare of Idaho. “Through our partnership with Boise State’s ICA, we’re standing by Idaho’s unsung heroes, offering respite and helping them build resilience, maintain healthy home environments, and provide the home life every child deserves.”
This partnership is part of the MolinaCares for Idaho Families initiative, a more than $250,000 investment in Idaho’s communities.
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About The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation
The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) established in 2020 by Molina Healthcare, Inc. The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation was created to improve the health and well-being of disadvantaged populations by funding meaningful, measurable, and innovative programs and solutions that improve health, life, and living in local communities.
About Molina Healthcare of Idaho
Molina Healthcare of Idaho, Inc. provides government-funded, quality health care, serving members through Medicaid, Medicare, and Marketplace programs in Idaho. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, provides managed health care services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs, and through state insurance marketplaces. For more information about Molina Healthcare of Idaho, visit MolinaHealthcare.com.
About the Idaho Caregiver Alliance
The Idaho Caregiver Alliance (ICA) is a coalition of individuals and organizations focused on expanding opportunities for respite care and other caregiver support. Established in 2012 with funding from the National Lifespan Respite Grant to the Idaho Commission on Aging, ICA has since grown to include more than 1,000 partners and members statewide. ICA works to elevate the voices of Idaho’s family caregivers and serves as a trusted source of support and connection for this community. For more information, visit idahocaregiveralliance.com.
About the Boise State University Foundation
The Boise State University Foundation advances Boise State University by providing fundraising leadership and support across the university and partnering with donors to inspire private philanthropy. Through stewardship of charitable gifts, the Foundation helps strengthen academic programs, student success initiatives, research and community partnerships that extend Boise State’s impact across Idaho and beyond. For more information, visit boisestate.edu/giving.