Region 2 Coalition Keeps Idaho Advocacy Award Alive
Families in North Central Idaho keep a local channel for behavioral health advocacy as the state reorganizes its regional boards.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Special Needs
The Region 2 Behavioral Health Coalition has named Jim Rehder its 2026 Behavioral Health Advocate of the Year. The recognition follows the decommissioning of Idaho's Regional Behavioral Health Boards earlier this year, after which the Region 2 board reorganized as the Coalition and kept the annual award in place for regional advocates across North Central Idaho.
Why it matters
The move keeps a local channel for recognizing behavioral health advocacy alive as the state restructures its regional boards. For families and residents in North Central Idaho who depend on local behavioral health coordination, continuity of these community-level structures matters for how services and advocacy are organized.
The recognition is an organizational award from the Region 2 Behavioral Health Coalition, not a study or measured outcome. The stub reports Rehder's career background of nearly 30 years with the Idaho Department of Correction, later service as an Idaho County Commissioner, and long-time chairmanship of the Region 2 Behavioral Health Board.
The players
Region 2 Behavioral Health Coalition
The regional body formed from the former Region 2 Behavioral Health Board, which preserved the annual advocate recognition and named this year's honoree.
Jim Rehder
A former Idaho Department of Correction employee and Idaho County Commissioner who long chaired the Region 2 Behavioral Health Board and was named the 2026 Behavioral Health Advocate of the Year.
The details
After Idaho's Regional Behavioral Health Boards were decommissioned earlier in 2026, the Region 2 board reorganized as the Region 2 Behavioral Health Coalition. The Coalition chose to preserve the annual advocate recognition, and it selected Jim Rehder for the 2026 honor. Rehder's background includes nearly 30 years with the Idaho Department of Correction and later service as an Idaho County Commissioner, along with long-time leadership as chair of the Region 2 board.
Timeline
Earlier in 2026: Idaho's Regional Behavioral Health Boards were decommissioned and the Region 2 board reorganized as the Coalition.
2026: Jim Rehder was named the 2026 Behavioral Health Advocate of the Year.
Health Landscape
Idaho's 2026 decommissioning of its Regional Behavioral Health Boards reshaped how regional behavioral health work is organized across the state. Regional coalitions such as the Region 2 Behavioral Health Coalition are now carrying forward functions that the boards once held.
If you or a family member relies on regional behavioral health services in North Central Idaho, it is worth asking your provider or local coordinator how the reorganized Coalition will handle referrals and advocacy. Questions about service continuity are a good conversation to bring to your doctor or care team.
The takeaway
Community-level behavioral health advocacy often depends on local leaders who stay involved across organizational changes. Families navigating these services can ask their care teams which regional body now coordinates their support.
Further reading
For more on the family-focused support this award recognizes, explore our Special Needs coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Big Country News.
