UM Student from Rocky Boy Makes National Contribution to Public Health (MT UCEDD/LEND)

May 1, 2018

After working for several years as a research assistant for the Montana Disability and Health program at the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities, and completing her Master's in Public Health at UM, Helen Russette went to work for the Missoula City-County Health Department (MCCHD). There, she aided in the development of a community health needs assessment (CHA) process that fully includes representatives of marginalized populations. She recently shared this work in February 2018 article published with co-author, Robin Nielson-Cerquone, MJ, MCCHD Accreditation Specialist, on the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) website.

The article, "An Inclusive Community Health Assessment Process," details steps taken to ensure inclusive and meaningful participation in the process. Recruitment strategies to increase the diversity of participants and the positive outcomes are described.

In fall 2017, Helen, who grew up on the Rocky Boy Reservation (Chippewa-Cree Tribe), returned to UM as a doctoral student in the School of Public and Community Health Sciences. The Rural Institute is proud of Helen's commitment to include "representation from people that utilize community services and experience health inequities." We are excited to follow the impact of the work she was involved in at the Missoula City-County Health Department.

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