In our final episode of this season's "Session Voices" series, we talk (again) with Mary Collins, of UM's Center for Children, Families and Workforce Development. Mary talks about the many steps left to codify and implement new policies, now that the session has ended, and the ways in which communities can work together to implement these changes. We discuss the power of local coalitions, particularly Early Childhood Coalitions (ECC's) -- what they are, why they exist, and how you can get involved in one in your own community (or help create one).  

Guest Bio: 

Mary Collins has worked in a variety of social service settings where she provided counseling, advocacy, and supportive services to children, adolescents, and adults. She worked for the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) in a variety of leadership positions focused on improving Montana’s behavioral health system. In her role at the Center for Children, Families and Workforce Development, Mary works to support Montana's early childhood system. Her efforts are targeted at bolstering the capacity of Montana's Early Childhood Coalitions to support community-driven systems change.

[email protected]

Organizations/resources mentioned in this episode: 

The Montana Early Childhood Coalition: https://hmhb-mt.org/mtecc/

UM's Center for Children, Families and Workforce Development: https://www.umt.edu/ccfwd/

Zero to Five Montana: https://zerotofive.org/

To contact your federal representatives: https://mt.gov/govt/congressional_delegation

"Session Voices" was hosted and produced by Emily Freeman, with music by Caroline Keys. 

Connect with Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies

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For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, please visit LIFTS ( Linking Infants and Families to Supports) at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

In this episode we chat with Jackie Mohler, Executive Director of Family Outreach. Jackie discusses her legislative work on behalf of Montanans living with disabilities, and the ways in which engagement can -- and should -- continue after the session ends. 

Guest Bio: 

Jackie Mohler is Executive Director for Family Outreach Inc., a Montana-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports people with developmental disabilities and their families. She has earned a Master of Education degree from MSU Billings, specializing in Special Education with Advanced Studies in Applied Behavior Analysis. Jackie is a mother of two children diagnosed with learning disabilities who have greatly benefitted from developmental support services and these issues are very close to her heart. She brings over 25 years of experience working in the human services field in both direct support and management roles. As president of the Montana Association for Behavior Analysis in 2017, Jackie worked with colleagues and lawmakers to develop legislation creating a framework for behavior analyst licensure in the state of Montana. Jackie is a Licensed Behavior Analyst and serves as Vice Chair for the Montana Board of Psychologists. In 2020, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities selected her as an Emerging Leader, recognizing her commitment to civil rights and social justice. She continues to provide professional guidance to lawmakers concerning developmental disability services, interventions, and treatments.

Organizations/resources mentioned in this episode:

Family Outreach: https://familyoutreach.org/

Behavioral Health System for Future Generations: https://dphhs.mt.gov/FutureGenerations/Index

Behavior Analyst Licensure Information (MT Department of Labor and Industry): https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/psychologists/license-information/behavior-analyst

Montana Association of Community Disability Services: https://mtacds.com/

Connect with Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies

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For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, please visit LIFTS ( Linking Infants and Families to Supports) at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

In this episode of Session Voices, we speak with Dillon Sarb, a community organizer with Catalyst Montana. Dillon will help us to better understand the role played by community organizers in the political ecosystem, and share a little bit about a creative and impactful storytelling project centered around Medicaid expansion.

Catalyst Montana: https://www.catalystmt.org/

Montana Medicaid Storybook: https://www.catalystmt.org/community/montana-medicaid-storybook

Guest Bio: 

Dillon Sarb, originally from Billings, Montana, now resides in Missoula. He earned a Master’s in Political Science from the University of Montana, where he also studied German. Dillon’s passion for politics, particularly in how it intersects with helping people, led him to start working in the field in 2022 as a field coordinator for state legislative races. This experience gave him insight into the diverse ways people, both urban and rural, engage with politics.

In 2023, Dillon transitioned to tracking state legislation, further deepening his understanding of how politics shapes policy. He has since worked on various political campaigns, including a local mayoral race and as a field director for labor unions in Montana. Each role has expanded his understanding of how communities across the state approach politics.

Currently, Dillon works at Catalyst Montana, where he organizes around healthcare and economic justice issues. His diverse experiences in connecting with people from all walks of life enable him to effectively communicate and mobilize individuals for common causes, such as Medicaid Expansion.

Connect with Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies

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For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, please visit LIFTS ( Linking Infants and Families to Supports) at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

This week’s guest is Karen Filipovich, Executive Director of Montana Head Start. We’ll learn how Head Start has engaged with the legislature this session, and discuss the transformative power of storytelling to strengthen families and build community.  

Montana Head Start Association: https://www.mtheadstart.org/

Head Start: https://headstart.gov/

Best Beginnings: https://dphhs.mt.gov/ecfsd/childcare/BestBeginningsScholarships

Zero to Five Montana: https://zerotofive.org/

Mother Love is hosted by Emily Freeman, with music by Caroline Keys. Got a great idea for a person or project to be featured on the podcast? Email us at [email protected]. 

Connect with Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies

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For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, please visit LIFTS ( Linking Infants and Families to Supports) at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

Today, we’re joined by former Montana State Legislator Jenny Eck. Jenny served three terms in the House of Representatives, including two terms in leadership roles. We’ll discuss her path to the legislature, and the importance of finding common ground with one another, in order to effectively move the political process forward. 

Guest Bio: Jenny is the Communication and Development Director at the Indian Law Resource Center where she promotes the organization’s mission of supporting the rights of Indigenous peoples across the Americas. She is passionate about authentically helping those impacted by secondary trauma to find resilience and healing through awareness and connection, and works providing leadership trainings in this area.  She became interested in this work after serving three years as Executive Director of the Friendship Center of Helena, a nonprofit organization providing shelter and crisis services to those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. 

From 2013-2018, Jenny served three terms as an elected legislator in the Montana House of Representatives, including a two-year term as House Minority Leader. During her tenure, eleven of her bills were passed into law, reflecting her focus areas of safer communities, mental health, consumer protection, justice system reforms, and gender equity.  She was one of the lead negotiators in the 2017 Legislative Special Session and chaired the subcommittee which overhauled the Legislature’s anti-harassment policies and procedures. Jenny got her start in politics working on Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2008 and went on to run Hillary Clinton’s Montana campaign in 2016.  

In 2015, Jenny was chosen as a Rodel Fellow with the Aspen Institute and in 2020 she was one of fifty people worldwide to receive the Rotary Peace Fellowship.  Jenny recently graduated with honors from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, having earned a masters degree in International Peace and Conflict Studies. During this program she had the opportunity to travel to one of the most remote areas of Nepal where she interviewed women about climate adaptive agriculture, social discrimination, and personal protection.

Jenny lives in Helena, MT.  She loves spending time with her two adult children, Sage and Owen, and hiking the hills near her home.

___________

Mother Love is hosted by Emily Freeman, with music by Caroline Keys. Got a great idea for a person or project to be featured on the podcast? Email us [email protected]. 

Connect with Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies

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For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, please visit LIFTS ( Linking Infants and Families to Supports) at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

Guest: Megan Bristol, MSN, CNM (Intermountain Health St. James Hospital)

In tandem with Jenna Clark (Ep. 04), Megan provides birthing families a midwife option in a hospital setting. We’ll talk about her work in Butte, and the Maternal Health Connection program, which offers telehealth and hybrid care to women in Granite and Powell counties. 

https://doctors.intermountainhealth.org/provider/megan-m-bristol/2197974

https://news.intermountainhealth.org/because-every-woman-deserves-specialized-care/

Connect with Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies

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For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, please visit LIFTS ( Linking Infants and Families to Supports) at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

In conversation with Amy Stiffarm, PhD, MPH, we learn about the creation of Senate Bill 319, supporting and promoting doula care in Montana.

Learn more about the value of doula care, and SB 319, here:

https://hmhb-mt.org/for-partners/doulas-and-birth-workers/

https://hmhb-mt.org/2025-doula-legislative-information/

Interested in supporting SB 319? Details and resources for providing testimony or written comment:  

Hearing date/time: Monday, February 24, 2025, 3:00 PM

Senate Public Health, Welfare, and Safety Committee, Room 317C
Montana State Capitol, Helena MT

Need help with your testimony or written comment? Contact any of the following for more information or support:

Dani Vazquez - [email protected]
Amy Stiffarm [email protected]
Stephanie Morton - [email protected]

Testifying virtually? Sign up at least two hours before the hearing: http://participate.legmt.gov

Submit written comments: https://participate.legmt.gov

Leave a message for a legislator or committee: Call 406-444-4800

Watch the hearing live: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00309/Harmony/en

Organizations/resources mentioned in this episode: 

Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies - Montana: hmhb-mt.org

Cultural Safety Toolkit and Indigenous Birth Preference Guides: https://hmhb-mt.org/native-american-initiatives/

Montana Obstetric and Maternal Support (MOMS): https://mtmoms.org/
Yarrow: https://www.yarrowcommunity.org/

Montana Doula Collaborative: https://www.montanadoulacollaborative.org/

Connect with Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies

• Website
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For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, please visit LIFTS ( Linking Infants and Families to Supports) at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

Guest: Jenna Clark, MSN, CNM, WHMP (Intermountain Health St. James Hospital)

Working in partnership with Megan Bristol (Ep. 05), Jenna offers midwifery care at St. James Hospital. Learn what makes midwifery different from an OB approach, and how Jenna made her professional transition. 

https://doctors.intermountainhealth.org/provider/jenevieve-l-clark/2197973

Connect with Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies

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For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, please visit LIFTS ( Linking Infants and Families to Supports) at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

In this episode of "Session Voices" we chat with Grace Decker, coordinator of Montana Advocates for Children (MAC). We'll talk about how to engage with the legislative process, the unusual but necessary guidelines around clothing and decorum, and the value of building relationships with lawmakers year-round.

Links and Show Notes: 

Montana Advocates for Children

MT Legislature Livestream

Public Participation Link (requires account set-up)

Guide to making public comment (from Zero to Five Montana).

[email protected]

Host: Emily Freeman, HMHB Storytelling Coordinator
Music by Caroline Keys

Connect with Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies

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For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, please visit LIFTS ( Linking Infants and Families to Supports) at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

Guest: Amy Lowney, MSN-RN, LMT, CST (Prima Natural Wellness)

Amy pivoted from her work as a hospital labor and delivery nurse, and now offers complementary wellness services to moms and babies in Butte. We’ll talk about her own professional journey, as well as the emerging landscape of holistic providers in the mining city.  

Connect with Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies

• Website
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For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, please visit LIFTS ( Linking Infants and Families to Supports) at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/