Montana Public Health Associaiton Recieves APHA Capacity Building Grant

The Montana Public Health Association(MPHA) received an American Public
Health Association (APHA) Capacity-Building Initiative grant of $89,679 allowing us to improve our leadership, management, programs and services. On October 30, 2007, the Executive Boardof the Montana Public Health Association (MPHA) was informed of the grant award from the Kellogg Foundation. The Capacity-Building Grant, administered by the American Public Health Association (APHA), will cover the period of October 1, 2007 through February 28, 2011. As evident in the name, the grant monies are to be used to improve the infrastructure, management, communication and leadership of MPHA.With this infusion of grant monies, MPHA will be able to build on successes, including enhancing leadership possibilities, influencing health policy and leading community programs, providing stronger out-reach and networking capabilities, and building a robust relationship with APHA and other state affiliates. Included in the strategic planning is increasing advocacy and education in order to expand MPHA’s ability to inform policy makers on public health issues. The grant will also work to ensure that MPHA has a business plan and can expand its ability to engage the public
and other measures. Already underway within the framework of the grant are efforts to gain non-profit incorporation of the Association, build on and initiate new and enhanced communication capabilities between the membership, and a plan to expand the
ability to engage the public and other public health partners in the mission of public
health.

Please watch for new and innovative ideas to come your way through the use of
this important funding. YOU are MPHA, and this effort is for YOU and about
YOU….to that end, please feel free to contact any member of the MPHA Executive Board should you have questions, concerns or suggestions for the use of this
Capacity-Building grant money.