Research and Evaluation Section
The Research and Evaluation Section collaborates with the Early Childhood and Family Support Division (ECFSD) programs and maternal and child health partners to effectively use data in monitoring and addressing maternal and child health issues in Montana. The section analyzes and interprets data for use in program planning, evaluation, assessment, and policy development.
- Population Health Needs Assessment and Surveillance: To assess the status, needs, and disparities within the maternal and child health population through data collection, data analytics, and GIS.
- Measurement and Reporting: To measure and report the impact of health conditions and respond to data requests by agency executives, legislators, federal and local partners, advocates, media, and the public-at-large.
- Program and Intervention Evaluation: To measure the impact and return on investment of MCH programming and highlight potential improvements for future interventions.
- Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS): To collect, analyze, and report Montana-based data on maternal behaviors and experiences before, during, and after pregnancy.
- State Systems Development Initiative (SSDI): To develop, enhance, and expand maternal and child health data capacity in Montana and provide epidemiological support for the Title V MCH Block Grant program.
- Montana Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System Dashboard
- Sleep-Related Infant Mortality and Safe Sleep Dashboard
- Healthy Montana Families Needs Assessment Dashboard
- Healthy Montana Families Demographics and Service Utilization Dashboard
- Healthy Montana Families Performance Measures Dashboard
- Montana Youth Risk Behavior Survey
- Kids Count Montana Data Center
- Data Resource Center for Child & Adolescent Health
- ChildTRENDS Databank
- March of Dimes PeriStats
Erin Dobrinen, MS, MAS, CPH, is the Research Analyst Supervisor for the Early Childhood and Family Support Division. She is a proud graduate of Montana Tech and Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. She has previously worked at Rocky Mountain Tribal Epidemiology Center, Montana State University, and for local Public Health. She is excited to work with the Early Childhood and Family Support team to provide actionable data to address health disparities in Montana populations. Erin is a fifth-generation Montanan who enjoys her free time reading good books and camping with her family.
Melissa Lavinder, BS, CPH, is the State of Montana's Early Childhood Program Evaluator, primarily focused on evidence-based and universal home visiting programs. She completed her BS in Pre-Professional Biology with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2013 and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Montana. Melissa has accumulated over 10 years’ experience working at DPHHS to strengthen families and prevent child maltreatment. She has experience in program administration and evaluation, grant allocation processes, and stakeholder engagement. Melissa is a recipient of the Service to Children and Abby M. Zent Service Recognition awards. Melissa spends most of her free time with her family, enjoying the outdoors, baking, and crafting.
Mary Duthie, MPH, is the State of Montana's Maternal Health Epidemiologist for the Early Childhood and Family Support Division. She has completed her BS in Microbiology at Montana State University and received a Master's of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Arizona. Mary has previously worked as an epidemiologist for the Asthma Control Program in Montana's Public Health and Safety Division, and as a SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid Overpayment Adjustor in the Quality Assurance Division. Mary spends her free time testing new recipes, watching figure skating, and playing Dungeons and Dragons with her friends.
Ellysse Boughey, MPH, is the State of Montana’s MCH Spatial Epidemiologist. She holds a Master’s of Public Health and Certificate of Epidemiology from the University of Montana. She is also currently working towards a Public Health Geographic Information Systems Certificate from the University of Illinois-Chicago. Ellysse has worked in the public health field since 2018, starting as an AmeriCorps member with the Richland County Health Department in Eastern Montana. She has experience in community health assessments and improvement planning, policy analysis and development, commercial tobacco use prevention, and chronic disease prevention. She is passionate about using spatial analysis and data visualization to address MCH issues in Montana. During her free time, she enjoys recreating outdoors and watching live music.
Maren Weber, BA, MCPH, works as a research analyst for several early childhood programs. Her main focus is the PRAMS program, managing the data, running the day-to-day activities of the research program, and completing analysis of program activities. She also supports data needs of the Fetal Infant Childhood Maternal Morbidity (FICMMR) program, the Newborn Screening Hearing Program, and others within the Research Analysis unit. She completed her BA at the University of Montana Western and MCPH at the University of Montana. Maren is passionate about maternal health and early childhood needs and improving conditions of young families in Montana. Previously she has worked with Helena College in Registration and Admissions and with Social Security Disability Determinations. In her free time, she stays busy caring for two young daughters, two dogs, and a husband. She enjoys camping, fishing, gardening, off roading, traveling being fluent in the best internet memes, and generally being hilarious.
Kara Grandy, BS, CPH, is the Montana Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) Coordinator and Epidemiologist Lead. Kara completed her BS in Health and Human Performance-Health Promotion from Montana State University-Billings in 2013. Since then, she has acquired several certificates in public health and is working on her Master’s in Public Health. She has worked in public health for over 11 years in the areas of maternal health, teen pregnancy prevention, food access, referral systems, built environment, and chronic disease prevention. She has experience in program management and evaluation, stakeholder engagement, and policy development. When she is not at work, you can find her camping with friends, sewing, and spending time with her amazing partner, stepson, and three dogs.
Melissa Lavinder, BS, CPH, is the State of Montana's Early Childhood Program Evaluator, primarily focused on evidence-based and universal home visiting programs. She completed her BS in Pre-Professional Biology with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2013 and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Montana. Melissa has accumulated over 10 years’ experience working at DPHHS to strengthen families and prevent child maltreatment. She has experience in program administration and evaluation, grant allocation processes, and stakeholder engagement. Melissa is a recipient of the Service to Children and Abby M. Zent Service Recognition awards. Melissa spends most of her free time with her family, enjoying the outdoors, baking, and crafting.
Mary Duthie, MPH, is the State of Montana's Maternal Health Epidemiologist for the Early Childhood and Family Support Division. She has completed her BS in Microbiology at Montana State University and received a Master's of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Arizona. Mary has previously worked as an epidemiologist for the Asthma Control Program in Montana's Public Health and Safety Division, and as a SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid Overpayment Adjustor in the Quality Assurance Division. Mary spends her free time testing new recipes, watching figure skating, and playing Dungeons and Dragons with her friends.
Ellysse Boughey, MPH, is the State of Montana’s MCH Spatial Epidemiologist. She holds a Master’s of Public Health and Certificate of Epidemiology from the University of Montana. She is also currently working towards a Public Health Geographic Information Systems Certificate from the University of Illinois-Chicago. Ellysse has worked in the public health field since 2018, starting as an AmeriCorps member with the Richland County Health Department in Eastern Montana. She has experience in community health assessments and improvement planning, policy analysis and development, commercial tobacco use prevention, and chronic disease prevention. She is passionate about using spatial analysis and data visualization to address MCH issues in Montana. During her free time, she enjoys recreating outdoors and watching live music.
Maren Weber, BA, MCPH, works as a research analyst for several early childhood programs. Her main focus is the PRAMS program, managing the data, running the day-to-day activities of the research program, and completing analysis of program activities. She also supports data needs of the Fetal Infant Childhood Maternal Morbidity (FICMMR) program, the Newborn Screening Hearing Program, and others within the Research Analysis unit. She completed her BA at the University of Montana Western and MCPH at the University of Montana. Maren is passionate about maternal health and early childhood needs and improving conditions of young families in Montana. Previously she has worked with Helena College in Registration and Admissions and with Social Security Disability Determinations. In her free time, she stays busy caring for two young daughters, two dogs, and a husband. She enjoys camping, fishing, gardening, off roading, traveling being fluent in the best internet memes, and generally being hilarious.
Kara Grandy, BS, CPH, is the Montana Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) Coordinator and Epidemiologist Lead. Kara completed her BS in Health and Human Performance-Health Promotion from Montana State University-Billings in 2013. Since then, she has acquired several certificates in public health and is working on her Master’s in Public Health. She has worked in public health for over 11 years in the areas of maternal health, teen pregnancy prevention, food access, referral systems, built environment, and chronic disease prevention. She has experience in program management and evaluation, stakeholder engagement, and policy development. When she is not at work, you can find her camping with friends, sewing, and spending time with her amazing partner, stepson, and three dogs.