Health and wellbeing in Owyhee County

Health and wellbeing

Family and consumer sciences programs work to improve the quality of life of adults, children and families — specifically through healthy lifestyles, nutrition, food safety and financial management.  

Contact the UI Extension, Owyhee County office at owyhee@uidaho.edu or 208-896-4104 for information on current classes and programs.

Food safety

Whether meals are prepared fully in the home, or purchased partially or fully prepared, Idaho consumers need reliable, up-to-date information on how to keep their food safe during selection, preparation and storage. Safe resources for food preservation are also heavily needed, especially with a large agricultural base of options available in the county.

UI Extension educators provide food safety training and information to consumers through classes, face-to-face and telephone consultations. The goal of food safety and food preservation education is to maintain the health of Idaho residents by preventing outbreaks of food borne illness.

Current virtual class offerings can be found on the Virtual Food Safety website.

Hands-on and virtual class topics include:

• Food preservation — pressure canning, boiling water canning, dehydration, freezing, freeze drying, fermentation and pickling
• Food preparation — smoking and grilling, jerky making, using herbs in fresh and preserved foods and air frying
• Holiday food hacks
• Safe gifts from the kitchen
• Germ City — A hand washing unit for youth

Food safety program

This is a hands-on food safety program that teaches participants how to safely preserve food products. Participants who successfully complete the program are certified as University of Idaho Extension Master Food Safety Advisors. Successful participants are also eligible to certify as Advanced Master Food Safety Advisors the following year. Contact the UI Extension, Owyhee County office at owyhee@uidaho.edu or 208-896-4104 for information on joining this program.

Health and nutrition

There is a growing concern about the number of people facing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, cancer and obesity nationwide. With the increasing demand for ways to live healthier lives, multiple classes are offered, including:

• Healthy Diabetes Plate
• Cook Once: Eat for a Week
• Healthy Living — Straight from the Garden

Financial resource management

To improve the financial literacy and money management practices of Idahoans, UI Extension provides an assortment of classes and workshops.

In response to the devastating fire in Owyhee County in August 2015 that ravaged over 280,000 acres of land, UI Extension now offers a class titled Financial Records Organization: Preparing for Emergencies and Disasters. This workshop is available to groups or information can be made available to individuals.

Health coalition  

The Owyhee Health Coalition, in Owyhee County, meets every other month to address local health-related needs and connect community members to much -needed resources. Local officials, residents and teens work together to make improvements in this close-knit rural town. Instrumental partnerships with local resources like the HUB food and clothing pantry continue to expand the impact of the coalition’s planning and volunteer power. Additional projects include youth-led anti-vaping education in local schools. For more information or to join the coalition, please contact Surine Greenway.