Mark Douglass

This document outlines priority areas identified by the MECA Board, with a review and update prepared by DPHHS. It details existing efforts, identifies remaining gaps, and explores potential funding opportunities across key domains such as Workforce Development, Quality Improvement Initiatives, Affordability Initiatives, and Innovation Initiatives. The goal is to ensure alignment between board priorities and current initiatives, strengthening and improving services.

This document outlines the Montana State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) for the period of 2025-2027. It focuses on three overarching priority pillars: Behavioral Health, Cardiovascular Health, and Maternal Health, with specific goals for reducing suicide, drug/alcohol-related deaths, coronary heart disease, stroke, preterm births, and congenital syphilis, while improving maternal mental health and early prenatal care. The plan details population strategies for adults and adolescents, including objectives and actions related to substance use, mental health, chronic diseases, and reproductive health. Cross-cutting strategies emphasize leveraging task forces, partner engagement, and ensuring equity and cultural relevance for diverse populations.

This strategic plan aims to sustain and strengthen Montana's comprehensive early childhood system to improve young children's health, well-being, and developmental outcomes. It focuses on five key areas: expanding access to high-quality services, building a supported early childhood workforce, centering families as partners, improving system coordination and navigation, and establishing robust governance. The plan envisions a future where every Montana family can access and engage with early childhood services from pregnancy through age eight.

The meeting addressed several administrative and operational matters. The Director's report detailed committee seat renewals, noting resignations and vacancies, and summarized application statistics from the previous fiscal year. Outreach highlights included participation in various events such as the Family Learning Weekend and the Montana Association of the Deaf Conference. Updates were provided on TV, radio, and social media advertising, as well as the growth of Relay Friendly businesses, which totaled 22. Contract statuses were reviewed, including the final year extension for Teltex, the ongoing process with Sockeye due to a merger, and research into a sole source contract for Hamilton Relay, which the committee agreed was in the best interest for retaining both traditional relay and captioning phone services. Significant discussion involved updating the income guidelines, which involved initiating a public hearing on October 31st to incorporate the 2025 poverty level figures, and a motion was passed to specifically define 'gross' earned income for these guidelines. The committee also discussed expanding smart device distribution criteria and heard projections for increased funding in FY2026 and FY2027 to cover new costs. Budget reports for state fiscal year 2025 were reviewed, as were personnel updates from DPHHS regarding new positions. Outreach efforts by staff focusing on Text-to-911 capabilities and attendance at events like MontCOMM were reported. Finally, quarterly performance metrics for Hamilton Relay services, including call answer times and quality scores, were presented, and the FY2026 budget was approved.

The meeting began with a confirmation of quorum and included a discussion regarding legislative intent, featuring Senator Laura Smith, who detailed the creation and funding challenges of HB 924, emphasizing the need for strategic, sustainable investments and fiscal mindfulness. The board reviewed priorities, identifying eight high-need projects and voting on the five most important areas, including Quality Incentives for Providers and Incentives for Serving Children with High-Needs. Following a discussion about inclusion of the Strategic Plan and sustainability, the board unanimously passed a motion requiring DPHHS to present formal proposals covering identified priority areas at the next meeting, noting that the Child Care Worker Pilot would not be implemented in FY26 due to system complexity. A motion to table the proposals until the next meeting was also approved, with the March meeting extended to two hours to accommodate the discussion.