Hometown Helena Thursday, May 22nd: 2025 CHIP

 Watch this week's meeting here.

Hometown Helena this Thursday, May 22nd: 2025 CHIP

May 20, 2025


Hey Y’All,


We’re going to get a preview of the 2025 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) this week at Hometown Helena.  Emily McVey, with United Way, informed me that the final edits are being made to this comprehensive document even as I type these words. So, a PDF isn’t included herein for your reading enjoyment, or for your future reference. Copies will be available once the document is final and ready for distribution to the community.


I’m old enough to remember when the participating agencies each did their own thing in terms of a ’needs assessment’ of the community health needs. It’s a credit to them all that they have combined forces and worked together on a project of this scope and magnitude. The CHIP is a much better work product than what each of the agencies did on their own.


The principal participating organizations include: St.Peter’s Health, the Helena Indian Alliance, Lewis and Clark Public Health,United Way of the Lewis and Clark Area, Rocky Mountain Development Council, PureView Health Center and Shodair Children’s Hospital. This broad coalition has adopted the moniker “Healthy Together. A community partnership to improve health.”


They have cast a wide net and involved many other community based and governmental entities, including: the City of Helena, Lewis and Clark County, Habitat for Humanity, AWARE, Inc., Family Outreach, Good Samaritan Ministries, Helena Housing Authority, Helena Food Resources, Volunteers of America, Many Rivers Whole Health, the YWCA; and certain federal agencies such as the Veterans Administration and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. A complete list of the Steering Committee members and the organization they represent is included in the CHIP.


The top three priority areas identified through extensive and intensive surveys, interviews and discussions with stakeholders, including the people being served by these programs are: Behavioral Health, Chronic Disease and Housing. Each priority area gets an in-depth discussion that includes baseline data, available assets and the resources and strategies required to address the issues identified.


Please plan to join us this week at Hometown Helena for a formal presentation and discussion of this excellent document, the 2025 CHIP. As always, we’ll be at Helena College this Thursday, from 7-8 am. And, as always if you cannot join us in person you’re welcome to Zoom into the meeting, courtesy of Aja Rail and her colleagues at Pinion.


And this week following the regular Hometown you are invited to stay if your schedule permits for a special presentation. At 8:15 am we will show the video “Why Should I Care?’  This high quality video deals with the issue of homelessness in Helena. It was underwritten by Helena Civic Television (HCTV), and produced by Jeanie Warden and Valerie Hellerman. There will be time following the video for some additional discussion of this critical issue in our community. Please plan to stay another 30-45 minutes following our regular meeting for this special presentation.


Looking forward to seeing you this week at Helena College.


Jim Smith

406-949-1002

May 29

  • Blair Stapleton, State Auditor’s Office

  • Helena’s Septemberfest Derby


June 5

  • City, County, State Transportation

  • John Cech’s recap of his tenure at Carroll College


June 12

  • Westmont

  • Glacier National Park


June 19

  • Helena School District Bond Election

  • Superintendent Rex Weltz


June 26

  • Helena History Tours


July 10

  • Shodair

  • Hope and Thunder Days

Announcement period is from 7:00 to 7:15.

Please limit announcements and comments to 2 minutes.

Hometown Helena - Thursday, May 22nd, 7 a.m. @ Helena College & Live via ZOOM hosted by Pinion:

  • Emily McVey, United Way of the Lewis & Clark Area

  • Jeanie Warden and Valerie Hellerman, “Why Should I Care?”

  • Online Meeting Instructions: Please keep your phone or microphone muted during the meeting and note that your camera may be on depending on your ZOOM settings. Please "raise your hand" at the start of the meeting if you will have an opening update or introduction.


  • In-Person Announcements: Please plan on approaching the front of the room to make announcements directly to our host so online attendees can hear. There is time at the beginning of the meeting for announcements. Please limit announcements and comments to 2 minutes.


  • View Program Recording: Hometown Helena is recorded and posted at HometownHelena.news, typically within a day.


  • Hometown Email List: This private email list is not shared. You can join or update your email information at HometownHelena.news or by clicking the button below.

The Hometown Helena Team is Jim Smith, Rick Hays, Kelly Cresswell, Emily McVey, Tom McGree, Peter Strauss, Ann Waickman, Haley McKnight and Matt Elsaesser

How Else You Can Help


We are also gratefully accepting financial contributions to help send our Helena students to Nationals. Donations can be made:

Online: Click HERE

By Mail:

Helena Speech & Debate

1300 Billings Ave

Helena, MT 59601


Please make checks payable to “Helena Speech and Debate Nationals.”


As the Helena School District has nonprofit status, your donation is tax-deductible. Online donors will receive an automatic receipt confirmation.

As a judge and supporter of speech and debate, you’ve seen firsthand the growth, skill, and confidence our students develop through this activity. With your support, we can help these outstanding students seize the opportunity to compete nationally and make Montana proud.

Thank you so much for believing in our team and for helping us make this journey possible.

- Coach Jen Hermanson

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