Montana Office of Rural Health and Area Health Education Center

Have you heard? The Triage Essentials for Obstetric Emergencies course from Billings Clinic is now live! Equip your rural hospital team with essential skills for effectively triaging common obstetrical emergencies to improve patient outcomes. Learn more: https://billings-clinic-mch.thinkific.com/courses/ob-emergencies

We are officially kicking off our summer of MedStart camps today! 🎉 Huge welcome to the amazing students arriving at the MSU Billings campus.

MedStart helps rising high schoolers explore healthcare careers, experience college life, and find their path to higher education. By investing in these students today, we are empowering the hands that will shape the future of Montana's healthcare.

The Montana Family Support Program is a workforce development program focused on preparing paraprofessionals to support youth and families impacted by opioid and substance use disorders through foundational learning, supervised experience, and specialized training. Interested to learn more? https://healthinfo.montana.edu/bhwet/mfsp/index.html

So many wildflowers bloom across Montana in May and June, it's one of our favorite parts of springtime. What flowers have you been enjoying across Montana this spring? Some of our favorites: Arrow leaf balsam root, lupine, glacier lilies, and shooting stars!

A meaningful step forward for rural and tribal health in Montana. The Montana Area Health Education Center network is growing with the addition of the Montana American Indian AHEC Center, hosted by Aaniiih Nakoda College in Harlem in the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. This new center represents an important investment in strengthening healthcare pathways, workforce development, and community-based partnerships for American Indian communities across our state.

We believe Montana communities are strongest when healthcare education and opportunities are rooted in connection, collaboration, and local leadership. We are honored to continue this work alongside tribal nations, educators, students, healthcare professionals, and community partners committed to improving health outcomes for future generations.

Read more: https://www.montana.edu/news/25350/montana-area-health-education-center-adding-american-indian-center

Meet Janene! As an AmeriCorps member serving at Salish Kootenai College, I am passionate about encouraging students and community members to explore educational opportunities in public health. I enjoy building relationships within the community, supporting students, and helping promote future cohorts by sharing resources, guidance, and encouragement with individuals interested in making a difference in their communities.

Janene Padilla
Salish Kootenai College – Health Promotion Practices Department
Community Health Corps Montana

Throughout May, MORH/AHEC has joined the National Rural Health Association in their Champion Your Health campaign by promoting prevention, access to care, and the resources that help rural older adults thrive.

Championing your health does not end here. Staying up to date on preventive care, maintaining strong social connections, choosing nutritious foods, staying active, and prioritizing mental well-being are steps that support long-term health and independence all year long. We remain committed to strengthening rural health systems and supporting older adults across Montana every day.

Learn more at ACL.gov/OAM

Meet Ang, our Project Coordinator for the MORH/AHEC AmeriCorps program, Community Health Corps Montana (CHCM).

Ang moved to Montana from northeast Florida in 2015 after a visit made it clear this was where she wanted to be. What started as a cross-country move with everything packed into a small trailer has turned into over a decade of calling Montana home.
In her role, Ang supports the launch of Community Health Corps Montana, a new AmeriCorps State program beginning in January 2026 and the only program of its kind in the state focused on health.

Outside of work, Ang enjoys spending time outdoors with her partner—hiking favorites like Lava Lake and Drinking Horse, paddleboarding at Hyalite Reservoir, and snowboarding at Bridger Bowl. When she’s not outside, you can find her reading, painting, or relaxing with her dog.

Montana’s health? We are thrilled to announce that applications for the next cohort of Community Health Corps Montana are open! CHCM offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience, build your professional network, and support rural health initiatives across the state.

We encourage early submissions as we review applications and fill roles on a rolling basis. Interviews will begin in June. Join us in shaping a healthier Montana! Apply here: https://healthinfo.montana.edu/chcm/members.html