Focus Area: Human Services

ParentingMontana.org Videos Win National Award

Posted on May 15th, 2019

Logo for ParentingMontana.org shows outline of state with the website address and tagline "Tools for your child's success"The commercials produced for the ParentingMontana.org project have been selected by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts for the Communicator Award of Excellence.  This honor recognizes the production work by Cactus Productions, which created the videos for the Parenting Montana promotional campaign. With over 6,000 entries received from across the US and around the world, the Communicator Awards is the largest and most competitive awards program honoring creative excellence for communications professionals.

ParentingMontana.org is a website that features practical tools for parents with kids ranging from age five to age nineteen, covering challenging topics such as anger, bullying, chores, homework, peer pressure, and underage drinking.  The Center for Health and Safety Culture (CHSC) developed the project in cooperation with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS).

Congratulations to Cactus Productions, MT DPHHS, (CHSC), and all the partners for the dedication to produce outstanding content for this project!

 

Governor Launches Parenting Website Created by CHSC

Posted on February 11th, 2019
Photo of Montana Governor Steve Bullock and Annmarie McMahill seated at a news conference
Montana Governor Steve Bullock and Annmarie McMahill

Attention Montana parents! The Center for Health and Safety Culture (CHSC), in partnership with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, has created ParentingMontana.org – a new website packed with informative tools on guiding children and teens toward safe and healthy behaviors.

On January 23, Montana Governor Steve Bullock officially launched the website with a news conference, stating “In Montana, we want what’s best for our kids and we all want to be the best parent possible. Now, there’s a new resource available to tackle the wide variety of challenges youth deal with and to support the success of each child in Montana.”

The website features practical tools for parents with kids ranging from age five to age nineteen, covering challenging topics such as anger, bullying, chores, confidence, conflict, discipline, friends, homework, listening, lying, peer pressure, reading, routines, stress, and underage drinking. It is the product of months of thorough and detailed work by the entire staff at CHSC.

Principal Investigators Annmarie McMahill and Jay Otto had the opportunity to participate in the news conference to celebrate the website going live. “It is exciting to see all these great tools come together in one easy-to-use location,” said Annmarie, “and so gratifying to work on a project that will be immediately helpful to parents, teachers, and caregivers in our communities.”

CHSC has posted the Governor’s full news release on its website.

Several news stories also feature photos, video clips and quotes by CHSC staff:

KXLH Channel 9 (Helena); KRTV Channel 3 (Great Falls); and KPAX (Missoula) News: https://kxlh.com/news/montana-and-regional-news/2019/01/24/state-announces-new-program-for-montana-parents/

Montana Public Radio: http://www.mtpr.org/post/state-launches-website-help-parents-raise-their-kids

Great Falls Tribune: https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/2019/01/23/montana-launches-parenting-website/2662375002/

CHSC Researchers Invited to Present at National Conferences

Posted on August 19th, 2018

Annmarie McMahill from Center for Health and Safety Culture (CHSC) will present at the National Prevention Network (NPN) Conference
Annmarie McMahill from Center for Health and Safety Culture (CHSC) will present at the National Prevention Network (NPN) Conference
Two researchers from the Center for Health and Safety Culture (CHSC) will be traveling to major national conferences in the coming weeks to present their research on critical safety topics.

Annmarie McMahill will be presenting at the National Prevention Network (NPN) Conference on Tuesday, August 28, 2018. Her presentation titled, “Reducing Underage Drinking in Montana with Practical Tools that Develop the Social and Emotional Skills of Parents and Their Children,” involves a recent study showing Montana parents with higher social and emotional parenting skills were over six times more likely to engage in best-practices to reduce underage drinking. Her presentation will review social and emotional skills, how they are protective for youth, and a project creating practical tools for parents to reduce underage drinking and strengthen social and emotional skills.

Dr. Nic Ward will present at the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM) Scientific Conference
Dr. Nic Ward will present at the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM) Scientific Conference
Dr. Nic Ward will present at the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM) Scientific Conference in Nashville, TN this October. The AAAM Scientific Conference will focus on the “Haddon Matrix,” which addresses pre-crash, crash, and post-crash related research, as well as topics that explore ways to eliminate road traffic injuries worldwide. Nic’s presentation is titled, “Preliminary data to identify cultural predictors of impaired driving from combining alcohol and cannabis.

International Audience Attends CHSC Inaugural Symposium on Positive Culture

Posted on July 17th, 2018

At the end of June, the Center for Health and Safety Culture (CHSC) hosted its first research symposium on the role of positive culture in promoting safe and healthy behaviors. Nearly 50 participants from across the country, and even from as far as American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands, gathered in Bozeman, Montana for three days to learn about the latest best practices and research relating to transforming culture.

While CHSC staff, including Nic Ward, Jay Otto, Katie Dively, Kari Finley, Kelly Green, Annmarie McMahill, Jamie Arpin and Tara Kuipers, facilitated the symposium sessions, all participants were encouraged to actively participate and share knowledge. “Our attendees included health practitioners, safety professionals, prevention specialists, and advocates,” said Director Nic Ward; “we hope they gained a stronger understanding of what positive culture can do, and especially some communication skills and leadership strategies to integrate these principles into their daily work.”

More information about the Symposium is available on the CHSC website. Also, watch interviews with Nic Ward and Katie Dively that were featured in a news story on ABC Fox Montana.

CHSC Webinar: Leadership, Communication, and Integration – PCF Skills.

Posted on January 22nd, 2018

The Center for Health and Safety Culture will be hosting a free webinar to teach skills that advance prevention efforts. Three critical skills include prevention leadership, communication, and the integration of prevention strategies. Strong leaders create conditions in which people choose to be healthier and safer. Communication helps correct misperceptions, address cultural factors, and tell a new story about the community. Integration of efforts seeks to align and leverage strategies for greater impact. This webinar will provide an overview of each of these essential prevention skills.

If you were unable to attend this webinar CHSC hosts and training archive page where you can view recordings of previous trainings.

https://chsculture.org/outreach-events/webinars/

Center for Health & Safety Culture announces Symposium

Posted on November 17th, 2017

The Center for Health and Safety Culture (CHSC) has announced the dates for its inaugural symposium.  From June 20-22, 2018, CHSC will host a symposium in Bozeman, Montana focused on “Exploring How Positive Culture Improves Health and Safety.” Attendees will learn about current research and best practices in transforming culture, by engaging in group discussion, listening to presentations in multiple formats, and creating knowledge together.  Additional information is available on the symposium website.

Facilitative Leadership Workshop:

Posted on November 6th, 2017

The Center for Health and Safety Culture will be hosting a Facilitative Leadership online workshop from 9am-12pm beginning Friday January 5, 2018 and ending February 2, 2018 (weekly for 5 weeks). Participants will learn to:

  • Define the role of a facilitator, and the characteristics of an effective facilitator.
  • Identify group dynamics and the corresponding emotions and behaviors, important for facilitative leaders to manage.
  • Use best practices related to various meeting management and group process skills.
  • Select, implement and evaluate a number of facilitation techniques and skills.

WTI staff who would like to participate should contact AnnMarie McMahill at annmarie.mcmahill@montana.edu

If you were unable to attend this webinar CHSC hosts and training archive page where you can view recordings of previous trainings.

https://chsculture.org/outreach-events/webinars/