EFJH seeks $170k from town/county for student meals, counseling, dental

For families, this is about whether kids can get basics at school—breakfast/lunch help when money is tight, a path to therapy when things aren’t, and dental screenings that catch problems early. The Education Foundation of Jackson Hole (the school district’s philanthropic partner) is asking the Town of Jackson and Teton County to help fund those supports for FY2027.

In its request, EFJH seeks $85,000 from the county and $85,000 from the town (total $170,000) across three areas: food security ($40k town + $40k county) for its “Feeding the Whole” program (meal-balance forgiveness, snacks, and help subsidizing school breakfasts/lunches); behavioral health ($20k + $20k) for the Jean Coldsmith program that covers 8–10 counseling sessions for about 40 referred students; and oral/dental health ($25k + $25k) for “Love Your Teeth” screenings and follow-up care for uninsured K–5 students. EFJH says more than 1,150 students benefit from its nutrition support each year and about 315 elementary students receive dental screenings.

The big question for parents: if this request isn’t funded, do meal subsidies and these “bridge” services get cut back—or does the foundation have to raise more privately to keep them steady? The request is framed as filling gaps where state/federal school funding doesn’t cover food costs or out-of-school clinical care. Source: Health and Human Services Staff Report — Education Foundation of Jackson Hole Funding Request.