Being a decision-maker for your own healthcare is important. Families and healthcare providers want children to become good decision-makers. For some children this takes more support, practice, and some special tools. Learning this skill should begin in childhood and continue into adulthood. The Skills and Strategies for Health Care Decision-Making guide helps families and healthcare providers support children to learn the skills they need.

The Montana Deaf-Blind Project is pleased to welcome Julie Maier, California Deafblind Services Educational Specialist, to provide an introduction to and overview of interveners. Attend this free webinar for answers to questions such as:

• What is an Intervener?
• How do they differ from paraprofessionals and interpreters?
• Why might students with deaf-blindness need an intervener?
• How do you determine that an individual student needs an intervener?
• What skills and training does someone need to be an intervener?
• Where can they learn those skills/obtain that training?
• What is the Cogswell-Macy Act and what does it have to do with intervener services?

The Rural Institute partners with the National Center on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB) to provide support to Deaf-Blind projects around the country. The Rural Institute provides technical assistance on transition from school to adult life.

For more information on the NCDB, click on the video link below.

Welcome to the National Center on Deaf-Blindness

If you would like to talk to a Rural Institute staff member about the NCDB or Rural Institute Deaf-Blind projects, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

According to the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Montana has the 6th highest maternal mortality ratio in the nation. Racial and rural health disparities plague Montana’s health system with 52 of Montana’s 56 counties having at least one Medically-Underserved Area (MEA) designation.

The Montana Obstetrics and Maternal Health Support (MOMS) program connects rural providers to obstetrical/gynecological, perinatal, mental health and substance abuse specialists to support perinatal providers. MOMS is a Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA)-funded grant to improve maternal health across the state of Montana.

The Rural Institute is the Research and Evaluation partner for the MOMS program.