STATE OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH - Montana State Office of Rural Health Montana State University 302 Culbertson, PO Box 170520 Bozeman, Montana 59717-0520 Natalie Claiborne 406-994-6001 | Natalie.Claiborne@montana.edu | https://healthinfo.montana.edu/ Total Funds Requested: $1,217,050. The project period covered by this submission by the Montana Office of Rural Health (MORH) is for July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2031. The annual project request is $243,410 per project year. Montana is the fourth-largest state in the nation and is predominantly rural and frontier, with nearly 90% of its land area classified as frontier. The National Center for Frontier Communities identifies Montana as one of the most frontier states in the U.S., encompassing more than 133,000 square miles of frontier geography. Despite its vast size, Montana has a relatively small population of approximately 1.14 million residents, ranking 43rd nationally. The Montana Office of Rural Health (MORH) works to reduce the burdens of rural and frontier healthcare delivery by strengthening the state’s rural health infrastructure across three core goal areas. In doing so, MORH supports Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in identifying community health needs and implementing locally grounded programs that reinforce the conditions for strong families and resilient communities, including improved access to mental health services, chronic disease prevention and management, and preventive health supports. MORH prioritizes partnerships with populations experiencing the greatest health challenges. Recognizing community health and family well-being are central to sustaining strong rural health systems. Montana Office of Rural Health will address the State Offices of Rural Health program authorizing legislation through the following activities: Goal Area #1: Collect and Disseminate Information MORH serves as Montana’s rural health information clearinghouse, ensuring timely, actionable information reaches providers, communities, and partners through its website, newsletters, email communications, social media, and direct inquiry responses. MORH promotes national resources such as the Rural Health Information Hub (RHIhub) and Rural Health Research Gateway, among others. The office also convenes webinars, trainings, and statewide forums to elevate best practices and emerging rural health priorities including chronic disease prevention. Goal Area #2: Coordinate Rural Health Activities MORH strengthens alignment across Montana’s rural health landscape by building and sustaining partnerships with healthcare systems, public health agencies, Tribal nations, education institutions, and community organizations. Staff actively participate in statewide and national committees, councils, and advisory groups to improve coordination, reduce duplication, and leverage shared resources. MORH also supports rural workforce development through training pathways, recruitment and retention strategies, and cross-sector pipeline initiatives. Goal Area #3: Provide Technical Assistance MORH provides targeted technical assistance to public and nonprofit partners engaged in rural health programs, informed by ongoing engagement and community needs assessments. Support includes community health needs assessments (CHNA/CHSD), data analysis, strategic planning, grant development, and Rural Health Clinic network development. MORH maintains the CHSD Data Hub to strengthen access to actionable data and support community-driven planning and implementation, building local capacity to improve rural health outcomes.
