Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
Serving Southern Jefferson County in the Great State of Montana
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The origin of the Red Ribbon Campaign traces back to 1985, following the tragic murder of Drug Enforcement Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena. This initiative, begun by NFP (National Family Partnership), symbolizes a commitment to raising awareness Enrique "Kiki" Camarena was a Drug Enforcement Administration Agent who was tortured and killed in Mexico in 1985. In honor of Kiki's memory and his battle against illegal drugs, friends and neighbors began to wear red badges of satin. . Parents then...
As the 2024-25 school term begins, this is an ideal time to introduce and reintroduce parents and guardians to the ParentingMontana.org website. This website was established in 2018 following a survey of parents throughout Montana. So, this is a program that was developed from the responses of MT parents and therefore is home grown. The MT Department of Public Health and Human Services and Montana State University’s Center for Health and Safety has sponsored the program and continues to u...
Environmental prevention strategies are interventions that modify or change the environment in which individuals make choices. Environmental strategies focus on changing the environment in ways that encourage people to make healthy choices (Frieden, 2010; Pettibone, Friend, Nargiso, & Florin, 2013). Environmental strategies for substance misuse prevention are rooted in a public health approach that targets change across entire populations or communities. Environmental strategies can be used to...
Jefferson County has long been a quiet, agricultural pass-through for folks traveling through the mountains west of Helena. As metropolitan areas spread in Montana and populations increased, Jefferson County has seen a steady increase in residents from even the 70's. Virtual work and a desire for space has led many to settle in this area, increasing the county population by over 6%, just since 2018. This increase of people inevitably leads to an increase in any number of youth risk factors and...
As I explained in a previous article the science of prevention has grown through research and study over the past 50 years. It naturally follows that the approaches, materials and programs have also changed. In this article I will explain more about social-emotional learning, known as SEL, as part of that change process. Schools presently use evidenced-based programs which provide a good foundation for SEL development. Social, emotional, and behavioral learning focuses on developing skills to...
What an exciting time to be involved with prevention services and to share about community engagement! Every day, each of us has opportunities to participate in our community. From simple things like picking up the trash that litters the sidewalks or greeting someone as you pass to more committed ongoing involvement in a committee or community activity—each one of these matters. The primary purpose of this article will be to focus on how we participate with the youth in our community. Some examp...
This is a great question to address in the second of this series on PREVENTION. Each of us engages in various ways with prevention in our daily lives. Parents with toddlers do things in their homes to ensure their little ones are safe around electrical outlets, sharp corners, etc. I like this example someone recently shared: when a sapling is planted, the tender plant is tethered to stakes to support it. What a great example of the science of prevention. Over the past 50 years, many different...
This is the first of a series of articles about prevention services in Jefferson County. For the past decade-plus, the county has received federal prevention block grant funds to service the youth of Jefferson County to address substance use issues. It is apparent that, as a society, to change the current norms over the use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other drugs, we must continue to concentrate our efforts on the younger generations. Various activities and messaging have been provided...
Dear Editor, Jefferson County Southwest Prevention and Tobacco Use Prevention services have presented throughout JC a social norming campaign called "NO JOKE." The campaign message is: MOST TEENS DON'T DRINK OR SMOKE! As you frequent local businesses, medical facilities, restaurants, schools, etc. you will see large posters with various messages: "Don't you know that stuff makes you an airhead?" - Most teens don't approve of smoking marijuana. "Nothing erases your brain cells faster than...
On December 30, 2021, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office conducted an Alcohol Compliance Check from the north to the south end of the county. During the compliance checks, all businesses that serve or sell alcohol were checked for compliance with alcohol sales and service laws. The Cardwell General Store and Whitehall Liquor were closed by 7 PM and not included. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has made Alcohol Compliance Checks a priority in conjunction with the current statewide ini...
The Memorial weekend kicks off the busy summer travel season when many Montanans hit the road for vacation, celebrations, and recreation. Memorial weekend also marks the start of the deadliest time of year on Montana roads. In Montana, nearly 50 percent of all fatal crashes occur during the summer months. Many of these fatalities could have been prevented by wearing a seat-belt – reducing the chance of fatal injury by nearly half. Law enforcement agencies across Montana are adding additional p...
Dear Editor, We have a super Health Department - aren’t we lucky? I wish to add my voice to all those who have expressed gratitude to the Jefferson County Health Department for their tireless efforts to keep us all safe during this COVID pandemic. In addition, I have great appreciation and respect for our county health board and officer for issuing a mask directive for Jefferson County. Thanks for keeping us safe and focused on what is important – the health and safety of all residents. Bar...
