Genesee and Moscow Host First Community Data Walks

In late April, the communities of Genesee and Moscow, Idaho, hosted their first Community Data Walks as part of their new Communities for Youth Regional Initiative. Both of these communities brought together parents, health providers, local leaders, and community members to learn more about the current state of youth mental health and well-being in their communities.

Community members listen as Communities for Youth Executive Director, Dr. Megan Smith, presents overall survey results for Moscow teens

The event began with a presentation highlighting results from the 2025 Youth Well-being Survey, which was completed by Moscow and Genesee students in grades 6-12. The survey explored youth experiences related to mental health, overall well-being, and substance use. One encouraging takeaway from the survey was that over 86% of the students who participated reported being physically active for 1 hour per day or more.

Following the presentation, attendees participated in the Data Walk—an interactive experience where they explored posters showcasing key insights from the survey. Topics included risk and protective factors for mental health and alcohol/drug use for Moscow and Genesee youth, such as feelings of loneliness/lack of social connection, lack of sleep, self-awareness, and supportive relationships with family members.

C4Y staff member discusses survey insights with Genesee community members during the Data Walk

The Data Walk encouraged attendees to ask questions, share perspectives, and brainstorm ideas for community-led prevention efforts. Additional information on upstream prevention efforts in Genesee and Moscow will become available as they launch their regional initiative this spring.

The North Central Idaho communities of Genesee and Moscow will join forces to become a full regional initiative of C4Y. Becoming a full regional initiative means that Genesee and Moscow have committed to implementing the C4Y data-driven community engagement process for at least five years with the goal of moving upstream for youth well-being.

Full information about which community members will serve as the “Community Leads” for Genesee and Moscow, respectively, and the timelines for forming new coalitions and engaging additional partners is forthcoming. Both communities participated in the Idaho Youth Well-being Survey for the 2025-2026 school year, which is a foundational piece of the C4Y model and will serve both communities well in setting up the rest of the work.

Questions about the new initiative can be directed to Kenzie Campbell at kenziecampbell860@boisestate.edu.