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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced grants to 41 health programs operated by the Indian Health Service; tribes and tribal organizations; and urban Indian organizations. The grants will help improve outreach and enrollment of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) uninsured children eligible for, but not enrolled in, their state’s Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Programs (CHIP).

Blackfeet Tribe, Po'Ka ProjectMontana$300,000Indian Health Board of Billings, Inc.Montana$300,000

Washington, DC (April 2, 2010) – Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, today joined with grassroots advocates to celebrate the passage of three more state autism insurance reform bills this week in Iowa, Kansas, and Kentucky. The effort to end autism insurance discrimination nationwide has gained new momentum with these recent victories, combined with President Obama’s enactment this week of the Health Care Education and Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010, which contains a provision including behavioral health treatment as part of the essential benefits package required in certain health plans.

Yellowstone County voters will find many candidates for office on the June 8 primary election ballots, but only one ballot issue: a proposed 3.2 mill countywide levy to help sustain mental-health services. The three county commissioners, Bill Kennedy, John Ostlund and Jim Reno were unanimous in their decision to put the question to voters. The commissioners are asking voters to consider funding a portion of some local crisis mental-health services that help local law enforcement agencies do their job of protecting public safety.

On Wednesday, December 22, President Obama signed the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Act of 2010 (H.R. 1246/S. 3199) into law. The bill, which was passed earlier this month by the Senate, was passed by the House on December 15.

The legislation reauthorizes and expands EHDI legislation passed nearly 10 years ago, increasing state funding for follow-up services to ensure that babies initially identified with a potential hearing loss receieve full diagnostic evaluations and, if necessary, are enrolled in early intervention programs. The act also promotes culturally sensitive family support services.

A 2-year-old state-run program aimed at helping autistic children has given a Billings couple hope that their son, once considered nonverbal, will be integrated into a regular second-grade classroom.

Groundbreaking Transition Legislation for Youth with Significant Disabilities Introduced in House A trio of federal bills, called the Transitioning towards Excellence in Achievement and Mobility (TEAM) legislation , designed to improve transition outcomes of youth with significant disabilities was introduced in Congress in mid-February.  The TEAM legislation--which consists of the TEAM-Education Act (H.R. 602), the TEAM-Empowerment Act (H.R. 603), and the TEAM-Employment Act (H.R. 604)--focus on realigning  and strengthening federally funded programs to more successfully move youth with significant disabilities toward further education, integrated employment, and community living.

Pre-Registration required. To register call the Salvation Army at 245- 4659 What: A lot of times parents need help, but don't feel comfortable asking for help! That's why Drs Les & Leslie Parott have created this new video-driven study. their teaching take a faith-based approach into the traits parents want their children to have, and the traits they want to learn to model for their children. Captured on these DVD are real-life parenting moments taken inside the home of 20 real families who are trying to raise their kids in the best way possible. When: Thursdays, October 6 - November 10, at 4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. While children are in the Billy Booth Fine Arts Program. Babysitting will be provided for preschoolers.

For more information on the Ready 2 Read early literacy initiative, visit http://ready2readmontana.org or contact Sara Groves at (406) 444-5357 or at sgroves@mt.gov. (HELENA) --- The Montana State Library (MSL) is pleased to announce that it has received $45,000 in grant funds from two separate Montana foundations. The First Interstate BancSystem Foundation, based in Billings, awarded the State Library $35,000, and the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, based in Missoula, awarded the State Library $10,000. The money will be used to expand the Montana State Library’s statewide early literacy initiative, Ready 2 Read. Launched in 2009, the Ready 2 Read program is an effort to help parents and caregivers understand the value of sharing language and literacy with their children. The program has provided collections of high-quality children’s books to libraries, early childhood training to librarians, and extensive information and training to parents and caregivers on the importance of sharing books with children from birth forward. “New research suggests that there is no greater investment than in early childhood education,” said Darlene Staffeldt, Montana State Librarian. “Montana libraries have evolved to meet the challenge of providing programs, services, and materials for our youngest library patrons – children from birth to three years old. We look forward to working with the First Interstate BancSystem and Washington Foundations to expand our offerings even further.” Funding from First Interstate BancSystem Foundation will be used to support training of librarians to further their expertise in early literacy and early childhood education.

Today State Representative Bill Wilson (D) of Great Falls sent a letter to the Montana Attorney General's Office, asking for a formal investigation into those disturbing allegations at North Middle School.

WASHINGTON — Montana's program to aggressively screen combat veterans for signs of mental trauma is going national.

President Barack Obama signed a Department of Defense authorization bill Wednesday, which among other provisions extends the Treasure State's program by requiring all military personnel to get face-to-face screenings before they leave for combat and periodically after they return to see if there are signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or other mental illnesses.

Long-awaited legislation to replace three federal reading programs—Early Reading First, Reading First, and Striving Readers—was introduced Nov. 5 by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and would authorize $2.35 billion in funding to improve reading and writing in kindergarten to 12th grade.

TRENTON -- Adults with autism would be specifically covered by anti-discrimination laws under one of two new measures designed to assist people who have the disorder, Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts said today.

What: You are Cordially Invited to Attend the 2011 Annual Dinner and Celebration Of the Great Falls Chapter of Mental Health America-Montana, Guest speaker John Schaffer will talk about a Policeman’s perspective on Autism at 7:00pm, followed by the presentation of the 2011 Virginia Blend Award. When: May 2, 2011 No-Host Cocktails: 5:30 p.m. Dinner: 6:15 p.m.Presentation: 7:00 p.m. Where: Good Eats – 801 2nd Avenue North Great Falls, MT Tickets: $12.00 per ticket Please RSVP By Friday, April 22 Diana Meyers (406-452-7189) or Sharon Odden (406-454-6083)

Click here to download the flyer (PDF) | Click here to register What: Join us as we explore useful technology tools for the classroom. Each month we will explore technological tools that can enhance the educational experience for educators and students. This “hands on” opportunity will use technological tools available in everyday activities: personal computers, cell phones, iPods, iPads, and much more! Free downloadable programs to broaden the educational experience through such sites as Wiki, and Google will be explored. The goal of these sessions is to provide useable and practical technology for educators in such a way that it puts the “fun” back into education. November’s Technology Tuesday will be a “show and tell” of useful technologies that Trina finds useful within the classroom setting. It will also be an opportunity to share the technology that others use in their classrooms. This “sharing” of technology will build the foundation of future Technology Tuesdays. When: Wednesday, November 16, 2011 5:00pm - 7:00 pm Mountain Where: Fromberg Elementary Bldg (Use the North Door)Room 301 Fromberg, MT Contact: John Keener by phone 406-657-1743 or email john.keener@msubillings.edu Debra Miller by phone 406-657-2072 or email dmiller@msubillings.edu

Last week several hundred disability rights advocates were on Capitol Hill to support the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act. The current version of the bill was introduced in February 2013 and would allow individuals with disabilities or their families to open a tax-sheltered savings account to pay for certain long-term expenses.

Jamie Barnes, fourth grade teacher at McKinley Elementary School, and her son Cole Barnes, 16, a Billings Senior freshman with cerebral palsy, have received a $10,000 grant to make their home more accessible for Cole's wheelchair.

Parents of developmentally disabled Montanans probably left a recent legislative forum with more questions than answers.Most of the 14 legislative candidates attending the June 17 forum at City College in Billings admitted they didn’t know much about services for folks with disabilities.To their credit, the candidates came to learn.

Mike Uhrich, owner of Carter’s Brewery in Billings, Montana, created a new beer named after his 3 1/2 year old son, Mason, who was recently diagnosed with autism. Called “Mason’s Awareness Ale,” Uhrich will sell 326 gallons of the ale and donate the proceeds to an autism charity.