Website Main Menu

August 28, 2006

Developmental Disabilities Program
Plans Town Meetings

The Developmental Disabilities Program (DDP) of the state Department of Public Health and Human Services will hold meetings in 11 towns across Montana in September to get guidance from the public about the future of state services for people with developmental disabilities.

 “These meetings will be very helpful to us,” said Jeff Sturm, DDP director. “They give us an opportunity to hear ideas, suggestions, and opinions from the people most affected by our services, so that we can enhance the quality of life for everyone who benefits from our services.“

Family and friends of people who have received services for developmental disabilities are invited to attend. The meetings are expected to last about two hours.

DDP regional staff will be on hand at each location to facilitate discussion and gather feedback. The program also plans to create a strategic planning task force, which will meet in October and November to review the feedback from the town meetings and incorporate as much of the information as possible into a plan for the developmental disabilities system over the next few years.
 
People with developmental disabilities or their family members who are interested in being part of the task force should call DDP at 444-4088.

The town meetings will take place as follows:

  • Missoula: Sept. 5, Missoula Library, 301 East Main Street, 6:30 p.m.
  • Helena: Sept. 5, Lewis & Clark Library, 120 South Last Chance, 6:30 p.m.
  • Butte: Sept. 6, DDP Office, 700 Casey, 6:30 p.m.
  • Bozeman: Sept. 7, Fish, Wildlife & Parks Office, 1400 South 19th Avenue, 6 p.m.
  • Great Falls: Sept. 13, DDP Office, 201 First Street South, Suite 3, 6 p.m.
  • Kalispell: Sept. 13, Fish, Wildlife & Parks Office, 490 North Meridian Road, 6:30 p.m.
  • Havre: Sept. 14, Havre Day Activity Center, 235 First Street North, 6 p.m.
  • Miles City: Sept. 14, Fish, Wildlife, & Parks Meeting Room, Highway 10 West, 7 p.m.
  • Billings: Sept. 21, DDP Office, 2121 Rosebud, 11:30 a.m. (brown bag lunch).
  • Lewistown: Sept. 25, CMMC Conference Center, Room 1, 11:30 a.m. (brown bag lunch).
  • Glasgow: Sept. 26, Job Service Meeting Room, Plains Plaza, 7 p.m.

An additional meeting is scheduled Sept. 15 at 1 pm in Butte specifically for People First self-advocates.

Page last updated: 08/30/2006