Montana is facing state budget cuts, and one of the proposed cuts is Part C Early Intervention Services for all of Montana. In Billings, this includes Early Childhood Intervention, or ECI, and Support and Techniques for Empowering People, or STEP. ECI is available for children 0-3 years of age, and STEP services are available for children from 3-21 years of age. Early intervention has a documented positive effect upon children’s future outcomes, which ultimately impacts an entire classroom and community when children enter their elementary school.
Please see the information and resources below and take action if you are willing. Thank you so much for your support! The children and families that need this service are depending on our voices joining theirs to be heard.
On August 30, the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) announced to ECI and other organizations that serve children through Montana Milestones Early Intervention (Part C) that funding will be cut by 12.5% per child as of January 1, 2018. Then, on September 8, DPHHS posted their proposal to eliminate these services entirely, as part of the effort to balance the state budget.
If these services are eliminated, many children will lose access to the therapies, instruction, resources and assistance they need to develop and grow. Research consistently shows that children who do not receive timely, appropriate, sufficient services do not make optimal progress in their development. They are restricted from reaching their full potential and may ultimately require more costly services in later years. Eliminating the federal/state Early Intervention program in Montana would give our state the dubious distinction of being the ONLY state in the union to stop all services to infant and toddlers who have delays and/or disabilities.
Caring for our children is an important Montana value. Let’s not hamper the success and vitality of future generations of Montanans by making these drastic and short-sighted cuts.
Quick action: We welcome your signature on the change.org petition to Governor Bullock, and you may also use these resources to send individual letters to those listed.
Write to state officials and legislators using these sample letters. The Parent Letter is for those who currently use or have used ECI or STEP services. The Community Letter is for concerned community members who recognize the value of and need for adequately funding these services.
| Person | Mailing Address | Phone Number | Email Address |
| Governor Steve Bullock | State Capitol, Room 204
PO Box 200801 Helena, MT 59620-0801 |
406-444-3111 | governor@mt.gov |
| DPHHS Director
Sheila Hogan
|
PO Box 4210
111 North Sanders, Room 301 Helena, MT 59604 |
406-444-5623 | sheilahogan@mt.gov |
| Medicaid and Health Services Branch Manager
Marie Matthews |
PO Box 4210
111 North Sanders, Room 301 Helena, MT 59604 |
406-444-4048 | mmathews@mt.gov |
| Developmental Services Division Administrator Rebecca de Camara | PO Box 4210
111 North Sanders, Room 305 Helena, MT 59604 |
406-444-6951 | rdecamara@mt.gov |
| Developmental Disabilities Program Bureau Chief
Novelene Martin |
PO Box 4210
111 North Sanders, Room 305 Helena, MT 59604 |
406-444-5662 | nmartin@mt.gov |
| DDP Region 3 Manager Shannon Cole-Merchen | 2121 Rosebud, Suite H
Billings, MT 59102 |
406-655-7601 | SCole-Merchen@mt.gov |
Get more information about the issue here:
Gazette: Guest opinion: Billings physicians speak up for early kids’ intervention
Gazette: Montana families could use critical help for young kids under massive cuts
Q2 coverage on proposed cuts to ECI
ECI Billings Facebook @ECI-Early Childhood Intervention
Poly Drive Elementary PTA 