Public invited to discuss needs of Montanas kids

A community meeting will be held Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 a.m. in Havre in the HRDC board room, 2229 Fifth Ave., to access children's needs in Havre, Hill County and Montana. The meeting will also provide an opportunity to consider and discuss a children's legislative agenda to be presented to the 2003 Montana Legislature.

Community representatives will have an opportunity to meet with local legislators and other community leaders to discuss the status of area children. There will also be an opportunity to discuss issues of importance to mothers, children and families across Montana.

Topics will include health issues, such as tobacco use; access to health care for children and families; access to dental care; highway injury and death issues; family security issues, such as foster care and juvenile justice issues; children's mental health issues; and proposals for new revenue. A broad range of early childhood issues will also be discussed, including issues impacting child care and Head Start programs.

The meeting will be an opportunity to review what is being done for children, what needs to be done, and the next steps the community needs to take.

Everyone who has an interest in children's issues is invited to attend. The meeting is being co-sponsored by HRDC Childcare Link, Hill County Family Support Coalition, Consumer Credit Counseling Service and the Hill County Health Department. Statewide co-sponsors include: Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies; the Montana Coalition; American Lung Association of the Northern Rockies; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana; March of Dimes Big Sky Montana Chapter; Montana Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics; Montana Public Health Association; Montana Children's Alliance; and the Montana Council for Maternal and Child Health.