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Addressing the Complex Needs of Children & Families
From the University of Montana's Center for
Children, Families,
and Workforce Development
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Issue 9, September 2018
Montana Data Dashboard
Data can be used as a pivotal tool to create change that will better serve children, families, and communities across Montana. Data allows us to better understand the changes in Montana's suicide rates over the last decade or to identify how many Montana children live below the poverty line. Data provides a comprehensive picture of service gaps in Montana so we can begin to collaboratively and creatively address them. With technological advances, we can now use data to pinpoint these gaps and use evidence-based approaches to improve outcomes. Data can inform new programs and policies that target the needs of children and families within the state, and so much more.
The Montana Data Dashboard is a tool that we developed to help policy makers, key leaders, and program developers to use data to inform new services and programs across Montana. The dashboard is also a tool for community members and families to better understand the strengths and challenges of their communities. Moving forward, we envision the Montana Data Dashboard inspiring Montanans, communities, and our leaders to create the Montana we all want future generations to inherit.
The University of Montana's Center for Children, Families, and Workforce Development was established in 2015 to partner with the child protection, health, educational, and judicial systems to develop and deliver educational and training resources to professionals and caregivers statewide. The Center also conducts research that focuses on solving problems that impact children and families. The Center receives support from the University of Montana, College of Health Professions and Biomedical Sciences, and School of Social Work.
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Man looking at data
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Data can be used to:
- Provide tangible information for grant-writing
- Identify trends over time
- Determine needs and resources for particular issues
- Improve outcomes for families and professionals
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| CCFWD Research and Data Webpage |
CCFWD recently launched our online
data dashboard. This online resource can provide interactive statistical information.
Available Data Includes:
- People: population, median age, population by age group, population by race, veteran status, people experiencing homelessness, youth experiencing homelessness, single parent families, kids by heads of household education level, children in foster care, children in foster care by gender, and family homelessness
- Education: Public K-12 school enrollment, special education enrollment, home-schooled children, high school graduation rate, high school drop out rate
- Health: Low birth weight babies, birth rate, prenatal care, pre-term babies, teen birth rate, children insured through Healthy Montana Kids, children with an uninsured parent, uninsured children, child immunization rate, teen asthma, cancer rate, chronic lower respiratory disease rate, heart disease, accident rate, stroke rate, primary care physicians by 100,000, death by top 5 leading causes, excessive drinking, and drug-related deaths
- Economics: Free and reduced lunch, TANF, SNAP, WIC, Child food insecurity, food insecurity, best beginnings scholarships, cost of living, severe housing problems, poverty, children below 150%, 200%, and 250% poverty, children under age 8 living below 200% poverty, income inequality, average wage by sector, top 5 employment sectors
- Teen Wellness: Cigarette use, alcohol use, age of first alcoholic drink, feelings of hopelessness, suicidality, sexual assault, school safety
- Community Vitality: Civic engagement, partner and family member assault, drug offenses, violent crime, recidivism rate, and cause of recidivism
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| Data in various graphic forms |
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Perinatal Mental Health Conference
This conference is an intensive workshop designed to introduce attendees to perinatal mental health issues. We will review the prevalence, risk factors, diagnostic features, screening, and preventative factors. We will also discuss the complexities of high-risk scenarios, and how to navigate coordination of care. Presented by the UM Clinical Psychology Center.
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Montana State Conference on Mental Illness
This annual event brings some of the leading researchers, clinicians and advocates to Montana to help improve our mental illness treatment and recovery systems.
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Fostering Cooperative Relationships with Stakeholders and Partners in Child Welfare
This training will be on November 7, 2018 in Billings. Save the date.
The training is intended for all partners and stakeholders in child welfare, to include Child Protective Staff of all kinds, Kinship and Foster Families, Parents, CASA/GAL, Service Providers, Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Providers, In-Home Services workers, Attorneys, Tribal Representatives.
This training is designed to reinforce the importance of collaboration and teamwork in improving outcomes for children and families in child welfare. We will assess communication, engagement & partnering skills, professionalism and cultural competence as they all relate to successful practice in child welfare.
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