Public Health Programs

The Central Montana Health District (CMHD) provides a wide variety of public health-related programs and services throughout the region.

Communicable Disease Surveillance and Prevention

The Central Montana Health District (CMHD) Public Health and Environmental Health programs perform communicable disease activities. CMHD communicable disease prevention services work to protect the community from the spread of communicable diseases, including: investigates individual cases, as well as outbreaks, in a private and confidential manner, monitors trends in particular diseases, contains or controls the spread of these diseases, and provides statistics to Montana DPHHS.

Communicable diseases are those that are spread by touch, direct contact or even through the air. It is necessary for CMHD to track these illnesses to prevent the transmission of disease. Some of the diseases investigated are Chickenpox, Influenza, Chlamydia, Hepatitis, Pertussis, Norovirus, as well as Giardia, Salmonella, and Campylobacter.

Reportable Diseases are those that healthcare providers are required to report; CMHD is obligated by law to perform follow-up on all reportable diseases and conditions. The CMHD conducts monthly Epidemiology Team meetings with the local Unified Health Team to review communicable disease concerns in the six county area.

CMHD is also available as an educational resource for parasite infestations such as: head lice, bed bugs and scabies. A printable brochure is available here for the programs available with the Central Montana Health District.

Central Montana Health District is obligated by law to perform follow-up on all reportable diseases and conditions.

State of Montana List of Reportable Diseases
Administrative Rules of MT- Communicable Disease Reporting and Control
HIPAA Privacy Rule and Disease Reporting Obligations
Montana Communicable Disease Case Report Form
Animal Bite Report Form
STD Case Report Form

Community Health Assessment

Central Montana Health District and Central Montana Community Health Center partnered to prepare the Central Montana Health Assessment. Many community-based organizations participated to contribute valuable information and input throughout the process. Community members were an integral part of data collecting by taking the time to complete our community health needs assessment survey.

In Summer 2016, surveys were sent to random residents in each county within the Central Montana Health District's jurisdiction. Following are the results of the anonymous surveys stating the needs and concerns of the local communities.

2016 Community Health Assessment

Communicable Disease Information

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Fact Sheets on all Reportable Diseases
CDC List of All Diseases
Montana Communicable Disease Epidemiology Program
FAQ's about Reportable Disease Reporting in Montana
State of Montana Administrative Rules for Reporting

For more information on communicable diseases, reporting or investigation, call us at:

CMHD Public Health Office
Address: 505 W. Main Street, Suite 213, Lewistown, MT 59457
Phone: 406.535.3983, Fax: 406.535.3984

CMHD Environmental Health Office
Address: 505 W. Main Street, Suite 213, Lewistown, MT 59457
Phone: 406.535.7466, Fax: 406.535.3984

Immunization and Maternal Child Health

CMHD Public Health Programs provide their communities with protection from diseases through immunization services. Vaccines help prevent diseases that used to be the top killer of children in this country. Maintaining high rates of childhood immunizations protects not only vaccinated children, but also those too young or too ill to have completed their full series of shots. A reduction in immunization rates inevitably results in an increase in disease. Therefore, immunizations are crucial to the health and safety of the community at large.

CMHD Public Health conducts school and daycare immunization record reviews to ensure compliance with the State of Montana immunization laws and offers traveling and school based clinics for children and adults. CMHD Public Health participates in the Vaccine for Children program offering federally funded vaccines for children aged 18 and under for routine childhood vaccines.

NO CHILD IS DENIED VACCINES DUE TO INABILITY TO PAY! Our Public Health office is also available as a resource for suggested/required immunizations for out of country travel.

The CMHD Public Health programs offer health/safety education and are a health resource for community members, senior centers, employers, daycare providers and public schools. Capillary blood lead and hematocrit testing is offered to the HeadStart programs in the Health District communities.

Notice of Privacy Practices applies to the Central Montana Health District (CMHD) and all satellite vaccination/immunization sites.

Health Resources:

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

Immunization Laws

Montana has enacted laws that require children to have certain immunizations before entering school or day care.

School Requirements

In order to be enrolled in kindergarten, children must have at least four (4) doses of DTaP and three (3) doses of Polio (one dose of each must have been after their 4th birthday) and two (2) doses of MMR (one dose must be on or after their 1st birthday). A Tetanus booster is required for 7th grade entry.

Day Care Requirements

Immunization requirements for day care attendance are based on the child's age and generally follow the recommended childhood schedule for DTaP, Polio, Hib & MMR. By 18 months of age, a child must have received a minimum of 3 doses of DTaP, 2 doses of Polio, 1 dose of Hib & 1 dose of MMR. Also, a Varicella (chicken pox) vaccine is required by age 19 months. In addition, Head Start requires enrolled children to have completed their 3 dose series of Hepatitis B.

Thanks to state laws, the availability of low-cost vaccines and the cooperation of parents, Montana ranks among the best in the nation for childhood immunization rates. In most years, 90% of Montana's three year-olds had completed their primary series of vaccinations (4-DTaP's, 3 Polio, 3 Hib's, 1 MMR & 3 Hep B's!)

(Please note, the following files are in PDF format. Click Here to Download the FREE Adobe PDF Reader.)

Download the CDC Immunization Schedule for Children Age 0-18

Download the CDC Immunization Schedule for Adults

Vaccine Information Sheets (VIS)

Consent forms

Save time at the immunization clinic by printing and filling out the following forms prior to the clinic.

Child Consent form (0-18 years)

Adult Consent form(19+)

Two-Step TB Screening Tool/Consent Form

One-Step TB Screening Tool/Consent Form

Annual TB Questionnaire

For more information regarding immunizations, maternal/child health or clinics, contact us at:

CMHD Public Health Office
Address: 505 W. Main St., Suite 213, Lewistown, MT 59457
Phone: 406.535.3983, Fax: 406.535.3984
Clinic Scheduled as Needed.

Public Health Emergency Preparedness

CMHD Public Health is responsible for coordinating and supporting the overall public health emergency preparedness activities including research, training and education, simulated exercises, public information and response.

Our goal with emergency preparedness is to provide and support effective planning both with community partners and within the Health District Public Health Programs. The planning process includes both management of public health emergencies and education within the community to make people aware of what to do before an emergency arises. During an actual public health emergency, we will play a vital role in maintaining the health of our community. We aim to keep “well people well” and prevent the spread of disease in the event of a major health event through timely and effective public information and if warranted, making sure people have access to needed medication.

CMHD Public Health cannot prepare the community alone. Therefore we have built strong relationships with community organizations within our six county area. By working together, the organizations that will be involved in a public health emergency will all use the same incident command structure, know how to communicate with each other and effectively keep the community safe and healthy.

The Ready Campaign of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, educating and empowering Americans to prepare for emergencies including natural disasters and potential terrorist attacks.

For more information on Emergency Preparedness, contact us at:

CMHD Public Health Office
Address: 505 W. Main Street, Suite 213, Lewistown, MT 59457
Phone: 406.535.3983, Fax: 406.535.3984

Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program (MTUPP)

MTUPP Mission Statement

The mission of the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program (MTUPP) is to address the public health crisis caused by the use of all forms of commercial tobacco products. MTUPP will work to eliminate tobacco use, especially among young people, through statewide programs and policies.

Program Goal Areas include:
Preventing Youth Initiation
Promoting Quitting Montana Tobacco Quit Line
Eliminating Secondhand Smoke Exposure (Report a Clean Indoor Air Act Violation here: CARS)
Eliminating Disparities Among Targeted Populations

Other Services

Adult Protective Team Member
Child Protective Team Member
Central Montana Health District Board of Health Participant
Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Participant
Human Services Coalition Participant
Community Health Fair Participant

Public Health Programs

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