summit

Registration Closes February 26, 2026

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Drafted Agenda:

Tuesday, March 10
7:30 AM
Registration Opens, Breakfast
8:20 AM - 10:15 AM
Welcome and Opening Remarks
  • Keynote: Strengthening Communities, Building a Profession:  Daniel Champer - Florence Crittenton Training Institute
10:15 AM - 10:30 AM
Break
10:30 AM - 11:15 AM

BREAKOUT SESSION 1 

  • Complex Care Coordination & Money Follows the Person: Shawna Karjala, April Staudinger, Haley Horn - Department of Public Health & Human Services
  • Human Trafficking Awareness: Penny Ronning - Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force
11:15 AM - 11:30 AM

Break
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM        

BREAKOUT SESSION 2

  • Rural Healthcare Transformation Program: Amanda Harrow - Department of Public Health & Human Services
  • Aging in the Community: Empowering Community Health Workers to Support Older Adults: Catherine Orr - Ravalli County Council on Aging
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM
Lunch, MTCHWA Membership Meeting
1:15 PM - 2:00 PM

BREAKOUT SESSION 3

  • Peer Power: Family Support in Montana: Beth Ayers - Family Peers for Hope
  • Cover Montana Medicaid Update: What CHWs Need to Know: Olivia Ruitta & Tierney Queen-Stewart - Montana Primary Care Association
2:00 PM - 2:15 PM

Break
2:15 PM - 3:00 PM

BREAKOUT SESSION 4

  • Beyond the Clinic: How Urban Indian Organizations Empower their Communities: Frances Altekruse - Montana Consortium of Urban Indian Health
  • Pathways to Purpose: Supporting Youth Behavioral Health Futures: Kim Spruzem - University of Montana Center for Children, Families, & Workforce Development
3:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Break
3:15 PM - 4:15 PM

BREAKOUT SESSION 5

  • Navigating Changes & Shaping a CHW Program: Kayla Thomas & Patti Anderson - Providence Health Systems
  • Community Justice Workers: Increasing Access to Justice Through Lay Advocacy: Hayden Ramsey - Montana Legal Services Association
4:15 PM

Closing Remarks
4:15 PM - 6:00 PM

MTCHWA Reception - All Attendees Welcome, Heavy Appetizers & No Host Bar
6:00 PM - 6:30 PM

CHW: State of Resilience - Documentary Screening

 

Wednesday, March 11

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Networking Breakfast
9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

BREAKOUT SESSION 1

  • Navigating the Legislature: Dillon Sarb & Han Pate - Catalyst Montana
  • Montana Angel Initiative: Helping Individuals Break the Cycle of Substance Use Disorder & Justice - Involvement in Our Communities: Dan Tronrud - Sweet Grass County
9:45 AM - 10:00 AM Break
10:00 AM - 10:45 AM

BREAKOUT SESSION 2

  • CHW Policy in Montana: An Unfinished Story: Stacey Anderson - Montana Primary Care Association & Mackenzie Petersen - University of Montana Center for Children, Families, & Workforce Development
  • Don't Boss Me! Jamie Vanderlinden - Montana Primary Care Association
10:45 AM - 11:00 AM

Break
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM        

BREAKOUT SESSION 3

  • The Birth of a Bill: Advancing Doula Care in Montana: Sheri Walker - Montana Doula Collaborative & Mary Collins - Health Mothers, Healthy Babies
  • Earn While You Learn: Apprenticeships in Montana: Glen Disque - Montana Department of Labor & Industry & Madeline Boehme - Health Career Advancement Program
11:45 AM - 12:00 PM Closing Remarks                                                                                                                                                                  
12:30 PM - 4:30 PM MTCHWA Board Member Meeting

 

Past CHW Summits

Learn about our previous CHW Summits!