Happy New Year 2025, I look forward to the new and exciting challenges and blessing that will come this year. The Office of Faith and Community Based Servcies (OFCBS) is looking forward to many new partners and collaborative ways to serve Montanans. In 2024, collaborative team of OFCBS and house of faith were able to remodel several Child and Family Services family visitation rooms with either toy refreshed to full transformation. Check out the latest remodel story in Bozeman by Chabad Lubavitch of Montana led by Rabbi Chaim Bruk, see full story in the body of this news bulletin.

November/ December the OFCBS was able to deliver toys for children and child-based programs to several communities; Butte, Bozeman, Polson, Libby, Billings, Baker, Fortine, Browning, Cut Bank, and Choteau for a total of 27 communities across Montana in 2024. A big thank you to the Toys for Tots organization for making the toys avaiable.

The partnerships developed across the State between houses of faith and government help to meet the needs of many of our in-need Montana families. The OFCBS would love to visit and talk about ways that we can work together to meet these needs.

HHSOFCBS@mt.gov

From officials at the Supreme Court, to the Department of Public Health and Human Services, to the Governor, Pastors are meeting with government officials as part of the Church Ambassador Network. The meetings are the same as with legislators, bringing scripture and prayer to these officials to build them up in Christ and see themselves as God’s shepherd of government. All of these institutions - executive, judicial, and legislative - need the moral guidance and counsel of the Church. And we want to grow these connections and show that the church is their partner by fulfilling its rightful role in society.  More on that in 2025! A final reminder to see our Capitol Schedule below and sign up.  I will continue to be in touch, and please let me know of anything I can do to help you meet with your elected official. God bless!

Keith Downey, Director

Contact: keith@canmontana.org

Pastors at the Capitol...Sign up today!

January 14th and 15th February 12th March 12th

Join with other Pastors from around Montana to meet with your legislator to share the word and pray for them. Present your legislator with a personalized embossed bible. Specific arrangements and instructions will be sent to you before your visit.

DPHHS Family Visitation Room Receives a Boost from Local Partners

BOZEMAN – Officials with the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), Chabad Lubavitch of Montana, and various community partners hosted an open house on Monday, December 23^rd, to unveil a newly remodeled family visitation room at the Bozeman Child and Family Services Division (CFSD) office.

The event celebrated the completion of a project that has involved months of collaborative efforts from several community organizations who came together to enhance the space.

“This is another excellent example of local community organizations joining forces to support Montana’s children and families,” DPHHS Director Charlie Brereton said. “This effort is appreciated by DPHHS and will truly make a difference.”

Led by DPHHS Office of Faith and Community Based Services Coordinator Rob Lawler, the local organizations received input from Bozeman CFSD staff on the renovation of the visitation room located at 220 West Lamme, Suite 2B.

Visitation rooms are used for safe parenting time between children in foster care and their parents. “Family connections are crucial while a child is in foster care, and these family visitation rooms help in this process,” Brereton said.

DPHHS officials explain that parenting time is an integral part of the reunification process, as it allows parents to interact with their child and maintain connection. This valuable time helps foster positive relationships and supports the eventual goal of reunification.

“We truly appreciate our local partners for their generosity and commitment to Montana children and families,” Lawler said. “This project is designed to provide additional accommodations for families and to support them as much as possible.”

Lawler explained the project started with a conversation with Rabbi Chaim Bruk and blossomed from there. 

Rabbi Bruk said Chabad Lubavitch of Montana, a Jewish Synagogue, has a social service division called Project Dignity that spearheaded the effort to raise funds.  Through the support of about 15 individuals, businesses, and foundations, they successfully raised the necessary funds to cover all of the remodeling expenses for the visitation room.

The updates to the visitation room include a variety of improvements aimed at creating a more welcoming and comfortable environment for families. These updates include new furniture, a large wall-mounted TV with a Disney Channel subscription, new children’s clothing for youth in need, new baby furniture such as highchairs and baby seats, stuffed animals, and a fresh coat of paint.

“These are the types of projects that we truly enjoy taking on every year,” Rabbi Bruk said. “Helping those in our community is very important, and once we learned there was a need to remodel the visitation room, we jumped at the chance. And, we’re very fortunate to have so many partners who joined the effort as well. We want what’s best for families, and we hope this project will have a positive impact.” 

Rabbi Bruk said Project Dignity is dedicated to helping those less fortunate by providing vital assistance. This includes emergency medical care, hunger relief, temporary shelter, funding during financial crises, counseling during family emergencies, and more.

Lawler mentioned that the room also received a generous donation from Toys for Tots. The organization has been expanding its national efforts, including by supporting foster care initiative, and this work is now reaching Montana. In 2023, DPHHS received about 2,000 toys; a portion of this donation will directly benefit the Bozeman CFSD office.  

DPHHS officials emphasized that having donated toys on-site, suitable for youth of all ages, is incredibly helpful during parenting time because it provides a positive way for parents and children to interact.

Lawler stressed that faith and community organizations play an essential role in strengthening Montana’s children and families, while also empowering communities to be good stewards of their health and wellness. The OFCBS is a conduit between DPHHS and faith and community organizations across Montana creating a two-way flow of information, resources and programs to serve the identified health and wellness needs in each community most effectively.

Lawler works year-round to replicate these types of volunteer partnerships in other communities, with the goal of better supporting Montana’s child welfare system.

This work also connects to recently passed legislation. Senate Bill 163, sponsored by Sen. Dennis Lenz, establishes a volunteer program to support child protective services activities.

Lawler said DPHHS has established an online portal to refer potential volunteers to faith and community-based organizations offering volunteer opportunities that support child protective services activities.

Photo caption: DPHHS staff and Rabbi Chaim Bruk pose for a photo inside the newly remodeled Bozeman CFSD family visitation room on Monday, Dec. 23.