Region 2 Coalition Keeps Advocate Award Alive
Families in North Central Idaho will see regional behavioral health recognition and advocacy continue after the state's boards were decommissioned.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Special Needs
The Region 2 Behavioral Health Coalition named Jim Rehder its 2026 Behavioral Health Advocate of the Year. The honor comes as Idaho's Regional Behavioral Health Boards have been decommissioned, and the Region 2 board has reorganized as the Coalition to keep the annual recognition going.
Why it matters
For families in North Central Idaho who rely on behavioral health services, the regional board structure has shaped how local needs get organized and advocated for. The Coalition's decision to keep the advocate award alive signals that community recognition of local leadership will continue even as the state restructures the boards.
Jim Rehder spent nearly 30 years with the Idaho Department of Correction before serving as an Idaho County Commissioner and long-time Chair of the Region 2 Behavioral Health Board. The Coalition's award covers the North Central Idaho region.
The players
Region 2 Behavioral Health Coalition
The successor to the Region 2 Behavioral Health Board, it serves North Central Idaho and continues the annual advocate recognition.
Jim Rehder
A former Idaho Department of Correction employee, Idaho County Commissioner, and long-time Chair of the Region 2 Behavioral Health Board, named 2026 Advocate of the Year.
The details
Idaho's Regional Behavioral Health Boards were decommissioned earlier in 2026. Rather than dissolve entirely, the Region 2 board reorganized as the Region 2 Behavioral Health Coalition. The Coalition then selected Rehder for the 2026 award, continuing an annual tradition of recognizing a regional advocate.
Timeline
Earlier in 2026: Idaho's Regional Behavioral Health Boards are decommissioned and the Region 2 Coalition forms.
November 5, 2026: The Coalition names Jim Rehder 2026 Behavioral Health Advocate of the Year.
The Home Front
Idaho's decommissioning of its Regional Behavioral Health Boards in 2026 changed how regional behavioral health work is organized statewide. Region 2's move to a Coalition offers one local model for keeping advocacy and recognition in place as state structures shift.
If your household uses regional behavioral health services in North Central Idaho, contact your county or the Region 2 Coalition directly to confirm which services and contacts remain available after the board changes. Keep a written record of any providers, case managers, or service plans you rely on so you can request them quickly during the transition.
The takeaway
Regional structures can change quickly, but local advocacy often carries forward through the people and groups that remain. Keep a current list of your family's behavioral health contacts and check with your county for updated service information.
Further reading
For more on this area, browse the Special Needs section for family guidance on behavioral health and disability services across Idaho.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Big Country News.
