FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: December 23 2024
Contact: Jon Ebelt, Communications Director, DPHHS, (406) 444-0936, (406) 461-3757
jebelt@mt.gov
DPHHS Family Visitation Room Receives a Boost from Local Partners
BOZEMAN – Officials with the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), Chabad Lubavitch of Montana, and various community partners hosted an open house on Monday, December 23 rd, to unveil a newly remodeled family visitation room at the Bozeman Child and Family Services Division (CFSD) office.
The event celebrated the completion of a project that has involved months of collaborative efforts from several community organizations who came together to enhance the space.
“This is another excellent example of local community organizations joining forces to support Montana’s children and families,” DPHHS Director Charlie Brereton said. “This effort is appreciated by DPHHS and will truly make a difference.”
Led by DPHHS Office of Faith and Community Based Services Coordinator Rob Lawler, the local organizations received input from Bozeman CFSD staff on the renovation of the visitation room located at 220 West Lamme, Suite 2B.
Visitation rooms are used for safe parenting time between children in foster care and their parents. “Family connections are crucial while a child is in foster care, and these family visitation rooms help in this process,” Brereton said.
DPHHS officials explain that parenting time is an integral part of the reunification process, as it allows parents to interact with their child and maintain connection. This valuable time helps foster positive relationships and supports the eventual goal of reunification.
“We truly appreciate our local partners for their generosity and commitment to Montana children and families,” Lawler said. “This project is designed to provide additional accommodations for families and to support them as much as possible.”
Lawler explained the project started with a conversation with Rabbi Chaim Bruk and blossomed from there.
Rabbi Bruk said Chabad Lubavitch of Montana, a Jewish Synagogue, has a social service division called Project Dignity that spearheaded the effort to raise funds. Through the support of about 15 individuals, businesses, and foundations, they successfully raised the necessary funds to cover all of the remodeling expenses for the visitation room.
The updates to the visitation room include a variety of improvements aimed at creating a more welcoming and comfortable environment for families. These updates include new furniture, a large wall-mounted TV with a Disney Channel subscription, new children’s clothing for youth in need, new baby furniture such as highchairs and baby seats, stuffed animals, and a fresh coat of paint.
“These are the types of projects that we truly enjoy taking on every year,” Rabbi Bruk said. “Helping those in our community is very important, and once we learned there was a need to remodel the visitation room, we jumped at the chance. And, we’re very fortunate to have so many partners who joined the effort as well. We want what’s best for families, and we hope this project will have a positive impact.”
Rabbi Bruk said Project Dignity is dedicated to helping those less fortunate by providing vital assistance. This includes emergency medical care, hunger relief, temporary shelter, funding during financial crises, counseling during family emergencies, and more.
Lawler mentioned that the room also received a generous donation from Toys for Tots. The organization has been expanding its national efforts, including by supporting foster care initiative, and this work is now reaching Montana. In 2023, DPHHS received about 2,000 toys; a portion of this donation will directly benefit the Bozeman CFSD office.
DPHHS officials emphasized that having donated toys on-site, suitable for youth of all ages, is incredibly helpful during parenting time because it provides a positive way for parents and children to interact.
Lawler stressed that faith and community organizations play an essential role in strengthening Montana’s children and families, while also empowering communities to be good stewards of their health and wellness. The OFCBS is a conduit between DPHHS and faith and community organizations across Montana creating a two-way flow of information, resources and programs to serve the identified health and wellness needs in each community most effectively.
Lawler works year-round to replicate these types of volunteer partnerships in other communities, with the goal of better supporting Montana’s child welfare system.
This work also connects to recently passed legislation. Senate Bill 163, sponsored by Sen. Dennis Lenz, establishes a volunteer program to support child protective services activities.
Lawler said DPHHS has established an online portal to refer potential volunteers to faith and community-based organizations offering volunteer opportunities that support child protective services activities.