Blog

Native SAPST

The first week of May, more than 30 prevention professionals gathered in Billings to attend Native SAPST. Participants came from across Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota to acquire the basic knowledge and skills to plan for implementing effective, data-driven prevention programs, practices, and policies that reduce risk factors and improve wellness across the lifespan, with …

Behavioral Shaping

By Len Lantz, MD WHAT IS BEHAVIORAL SHAPING IN PARENTING? Behavioral shaping, or behavior-shaping, is a strategy for changing a person’s behavior through rewards. Essentially, it is shaping or molding a certain behavior pattern. Behavior-shaping was first studied and defined by B.F. Skinner, the psychologist who developed behavior analysis, who classified it as a form …

Brain Science of Boredom

By Delaney Ruston, M.D. (Reprinted with permission) When I give workshops to students, whether they are 10 or 18, they get wide-eyed when I tell them, “Our brains are designed for challenge,” and then go on to explain how this relates to boredom, video games, and social media.  Boredom is not a mild ho-hum type …

Red Carpet Event

The Red Carpet Event was the culmination of Southwest Montana’s Red Carpet Video Contest at the Anaconda High School. Student contestants created short prevention-themed videos which were then judged by a panel of local dignitaries. At the Red Carpet Event the winning videos were screened at the local theatre and over $1000 in cash and …

Health Rocks Camp

2022 Health Rocks Camp served 21 youth from Toole County. EB Curriculum Class Action was used, trying two Civil Cases surrounding teen alcohol offenses. Five Jr. Counselors from our area received 40 hours of community service credits. Campers enjoyed learning from the curriculum, MSU Opioid Outreach Department, (Jennfier & Allison), on the dangers to the …

Bike /Drive Rodeo

Butte Cares partnered with Silver Bow Kiwanis and the Bike Lab to host an event where local youth and families could connect to the community in a fun way. This event took place at the Butte Civic Center where youth from all ages were able to learn about bike safety and go through a bike course. They were …

Two Ten Minute Plays

The Open Theatre Project and the Copperhead Alliance (LGBTQ student organization) produced two ten minute Pride themed plays at the Washoe theatre during the Anaconda Pride Festival on June 12th.  The high school students performed the short comedies for a large group of festival goers.   One of the lighthearted plays explored the difficulty of …

Youth Speak Up Video

Brittany Masters Butte CTC Jr. High (6th-8th) and High School (9th-12th) students across Silver Bow County  were asked 4 questions:  -WHAT ARE SOME CHALLENGES YOU SEE IN YOUR SCHOOL? (drinking, tobacco, fighting, drug use, bullying, mental health issues, homelessness, etc.) -WHAT ARE SOME SOLUTIONS TO SOME OF THOSE CHALLENGES ? (different activities, harsher punishments, extra …