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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: August 22 2023

Contact: Jon Ebelt, Communications Director, DPHHS, (406) 444-0936, (406) 461-3757
jebelt@mt.gov

DPHHS Family Visitation Rooms Receive a Boost from Local Partners

HELENA - Lt. Governor Kristen Juras joined Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Director Charlie Brereton to accept 2,000 new children’s toys and various furnishings from local community partners Tuesday, August 22 at the Child and Family Services Division (CFSD) office in Helena to benefit family visitation rooms.

“Establishing strong partnerships with faith and community organizations is critical in helping provide that extra boost of support for Montana’s children and families,” Lt. Gov. Juras said. “Many organizations are wanting to lend a hand, and this is an excellent example of local organizations coming together to make a difference.”

Led by DPHHS Office of Faith and Community Based Services Coordinator Rob Lawler, Helena Toys for Tots, Buffalo Church, Promise 686 and CFSD staff worked together to make improvements to three visitation rooms located at the Arcade Building in Helena. The rooms are used for safe parenting time between children in foster care and their parents.

“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. This effort started with conversations between Toys for Tots – Helena co-coordinator Howard Mears and Set Free Ministries Church Pastors Murph and Kim Powers, who are also foster parents in Helena.”

Angie Fillinger of Toys for Tots Helena said the organization has been looking to expand their support beyond Christmas time toy donations to support the child welfare system throughout the year. “This is another way we can give back to the community outside of the holiday season, and we’re proud to partner with DPHHS,” Fillinger said.

She said Toys for Tots has been growing its footprint nationally, such as expanding into support for foster care, and this is now happening in Montana. In 2022, Helena Toys for Tots donated nearly 19,000 toys to about 2,500 children, and today’s donation includes about 2,000 more toys.

DPHHS officials say the ability to have donated toys on site that are appropriate for youth of all ages is extremely helpful during safe parenting time because it allows a way for parents and children to interact.

In addition, Buffalo Church, a partnering Promise 686 church, is supplying furnishings such as infant changing tables for all three rooms, lighting, and decorations to instill a family room atmosphere. “ We appreciate the opportunity to pitch in and help the families in this community that we love, and this is an amazing chance for us to give back to our city and help make a positive difference,” said Buffalo Church Lead Pastor, Todd Nicholson.

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 Office of Faith and Community Based Services 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 said plans are in the works to replicate these types of volunteer partnerships in other communities to better support 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 in the coming months DPHHS will establish a registration online portal to refer potential volunteers to faith and community-based organizations offering volunteer opportunities that support child protective services activities.

“We’re looking forward to providing an easy avenue for Montanans interested in partnering with us,” Lawler said. “We know that organizations are more than eager to help and that’s exciting.”