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Welcome to the Montana Rural Health Initiative (RHI) quarterly newsletter. Our hope is to increase communication while supporting the work of communities and individuals across Montana. Please let us know if we can be of assistance.
Sincerely,
RHI staff / Carolyn Pollari
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News from the RHI
Staff Changes
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Thank you for your continued interest in the Montana Rural
Health Initiative. We want to take a moment to update you on staff changes
within the Montana RHI. Shalina Mirza, our current
Project Coordinator and Juli Louttit, our Assistant Project Coordinator will be leaving
to attend school this fall. Shalina was
accepted into the WWAMI medical school program and will begin the first year of her studies
at Montana State University-Bozeman. She will then finish at the University of Washington campus in Seattle. Juli was also accepted into graduate school at
the University of Washington. She will be pursing a Masters of Public Health in Nutrition.
Our new Project Assistant is Carolyn Pollari. She is in her senior year at Montana State
University pursuing a degree in Community Health. She will serve as the current contact for all
RHI activities.
Shalina and Juli will be greatly missed, however we are very
excited about the future of the RHI. We look
forward to continuing to provide Montanans with reliable health and wellness
information.
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| | Florence Go Day: Wellness in the Bitterroot
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Photo by Micheal Hoyt | Surrounded by mountains and streams, with plenty of sunshine, Florence, MT is a mecca for outdoor activities. However, it is the involvement and collaboration of community members that ensure Florence is known as a healthy, vibrant community.
Florence contains several trail systems that lead to local landmarks such as the school, the river, and even to nearby Lolo, Montana. These trail systems enhance the Florence School Districts' Safe Routes to School Program as well as allow for hikes and walks around town during P.E. class. In addition, several outings are planned for each grade, including a hike to the top of Saint Joseph Peak in the fourth grade.
The school in Florence has also begun preliminary construction of a community garden to increase awareness and access to healthy food options. Produce from the garden will supplement the school lunch program and the curriculum.
In June, to celebrate National Get Outdoors Day, the community of Florence, Montana hosted a community-wide event to bolster interest in physical activity as well as highlight the wonderful outdoor recreation opportunities that Florence has to offer.
Over 100 adults and children alike gathered to participate in the variety of activities that were featured at the local Hideout Mountain park. Events included a 1 mile and 5K fun run, family bicycling including a "build-a-bike" station, family tennis lessons, art in the park, dry land fly fishing, and a family hike and bird watching.
Thanks to a pooled community effort, the 2nd annual event was a large success. The Go Day will continue to be an annual event in Florence, and will surely continue to see community-wide support along with the encouragement it receives for all of the wellness activities in and around Florence.
Photo by Micheal Hoyt | |
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New Hospital in Deer Lodge, Montana
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*courtesy of the Neenan Company  | Construction began
on August 2, 2010 for the new hospital in Deer Lodge, Montana. The new 43,000 square
foot Deer Lodge Medical Center will replace the existing Powell County Medical
Center, which has provided medical services to communities in the Deer Lodge
Valley since 1964. Hospital administrators are confident that a modern hospital
will keep more healthcare dollars in Deer Lodge and assist in recruiting and
retaining physicians and staff to the community. Services provided in the new
facility will include emergency department, laboratory, surgery, imaging,
physical therapy and clinic services. The center will be located on the north central edge of town next to
Interstate 90, providing convenient access and increased visibility. The hospital
expects to start seeing patients in the new facility in August 2011.
For more information on the new facility, please contact Kate Hagdorn at (970)
416-3521 or kate.hagdorn@neenan.com.
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Upcoming RHI Webinars
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September 9th,
10 AM - "Healthy Built Environment"
Cathy Costakis, Physical Activity Coordinator for the Montana
Nutrition and Physical Activity Program (NAPA), will talk about the impact of
the built environment on the Public's health and well-being. Understanding which factors promote health and
which damage health is vital in creating healthy communities. Join us to learn
how our built environment ultimately influences our health.
To Register: Click Here
October 13th, 10 AM - "Food
Power - Healthy Kids' Menu Directory"
Robin Mochi, Nutrition and Physical Activity Co-Coordinator
for the Montana Nutrition and Physical Activity Program (NAPA), will discuss
her role in encouraging restaurants in the Gallatin Valley to expand menu
choices for children, enhancing their opportunity to consume more fruits and
vegetables. Robin will speak about her experiences in working with local restaurants,
and will offer suggestions to those wanting to take on similar projects within
their own community. Registration information coming soon!
November -
"Increasing Access to Fresh Produce at Gallatin Valley Food Bank"
Join us in November as Tim Trzinski, Program Director of the
Gallatin Valley Food Bank, will discuss his experience and success in promoting the donation of more fruits and
vegetables. Tim will speak about his goals to advance the availability of more
healthful foods at the Gallatin Valley Food Bank, as well as his strategies for
encouraging consumers to choose more healthy options. Registration information
coming soon!
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National Funding and Webinars
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BIKES BELONG Offers Funding for Bicycle
Advocacy and Facilities Programs
Bikes Belong, a national coalition of bicycle
suppliers and retailers,
provides grants to organizations and agencies within
the United
States that are committed to "putting more people on bicycles
more
often." Fundable projects include paved bike paths, rail-trails, mountain bike trails, bike parks, BMX facilities, and large-scale
bicycle advocacy initiatives. The Bikes Belong Grants Program funds
projects in the categories of facilities and advocacy. Bikes Belong reviews applications on a quarterly cycle.
Applications must be e-mailed by the due date in order to be considered for funding.
Due Date Decision Date
· May 28, 2010 Early August 2010
· August 27, 2010 Early November 2010
· November 30, 2010 Early February 2011
For more information: Click Here
Safe Routes
to School and Liability
NPLAN Webinar
The National
Policy and Legal Analysis Network to Prevent Childhood
Obesity (NPLAN) will
host a webinar training on the basics of liability
in the context of Safe Routes to School (SRTS) and
how school districts, nonprofit organizations, and others can reduce their
liability in SRTS programs.
To be held: August 11, 1:00 - 2:30 pm ET / 10:00 -
11:30 am PT
To register: Click Here
For more information: Click Here
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Upcoming Conferences
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SAVE THE DATE! AUG 31 - SEPT 1, 2010 · BOZEMAN
Neighborhoods, schools, cities and towns are bringing all kinds of people into creative
community problem solving and building a future for rural Montana. This is your
chance to share, learn, connect and mobilize with others dedicated to creating
a thriving rural Montana by finding solutions, sharing sucess stories and adopting new
tools. You will leave ready to move from waiting to leading and talking to action.
Break-Out Sessions ·
National Keynote Speakers
Panel Discussions · Community Resource Fair
To register or for more information: Click Here
2010 Montana
Public Health Association Conference & Annual Meeting
SEPTEMBER 14 - 15, 2010 · Helena, Montana
2009 MPHA
CONFERENCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
· to provide evidenced based skills and
knowledge for
public health professionals
· to provide a venue for professional
networking
· to celebrate the accomplishments of
local health
jurisdictions (LHJ) and individuals
· to present trends and issues relevant
to Montana's public
health workforce
· to demonstrate the application of
public health standards, guidelines, ethics and best practices in frontier, rural
or urban settings
Pre-Conference
Workshop: The Science and Art of Advocacy:
A Workshop for Public Health Professionals
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 13 1:00 PM - 5:30 PM
*Additional
fee of $25 to attend, please check the box on the registration page to attend.
To
register or for more information: Click Here
"Parks, Pathways and Partnerships"
MRPA Annual Conference 2010 Tri-State Recreation, Parks,
& Trails Conference
MONTANA, IDAHO & WYOMING
If you recreate in the great outdoors or take part in organized recreation programs and want to learn about the latest trends and issues, don't miss the Tri-State Recreation, Parks, and Trails Conference October 6 - 9, 2010, West Yellowstone, Montana!
To register or for more information: Click Here
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