The Caring Foundation of Montana and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana have partnered with Montana State University’s Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing to help tribal communities meet federal Head Start program requirements by addressing child health needs.
The Caring Foundation’s Care Van® program supports the college’s mobile clinics and efforts to provide nursing students from five campuses clinical training in tribal communities across the state. Students assist health care providers with patient assessments, including height, weight and blood pressure measurements, vision, hearing, blood lead and BMI screenings, immunizations and behavioral and developmental health evaluations.
The screenings are required by Head Start, established almost 60 years ago to meet the emotional, social, health, nutritional and psychological needs of preschool children of low-income families.
More than 600 students have helped provide medical and dental care for children of the Flathead Nation, Northern Cheyenne, Blackfeet and Crow nations.
The opportunity gives them more confidence in providing care in rural and underserved areas, says MSU professor and program director Laura Larsson. Her work focuses on improving health outcomes and quality of life in partnership with Montana’s Native American communities.
“The students love that real experience of working in the community, and it puts them to the test,” says Larsson. Native American nursing students appreciate the opportunity to serve the people they know, she says.
Additionally, the Care Van program supports community-based health clinics in the Bozeman area in partnership with Proyecto SALUD of Moyce Immigrant Health Lab to serve Gallatin County’s immigrant population.
“Montana State University is an incredible partner to all Montanans,” says Jesse Zentz, BCBSMT community relations manager. “We are grateful for this opportunity to partner with the College of Nursing to help provide invaluable resources and services.”
The Caring Foundation works to ensure Montanans have access to preventive health care services, regardless of insurance coverage or ability to pay. Through partnerships, including with MSU, the foundation provides services at low or no cost to people of all ages.
It primarily focuses on rural and frontier communities with little or no health care access. Its Care Vans have traveled more than 140,000 miles to deliver more than 50,000 vaccines, health screenings, educational resources and preventive services statewide since 2014.