This website is a project of the Center for Health and Safety Culture at Montana State University to promote the healthy mental, emotional, and behavioral development of children by actively growing their social and emotional skills like self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
On the website, parents and those in a parenting role learn about strategies to thoughtfully address challenges with their children while at the same time growing social and emotional skills, increasing wellbeing, and reducing risky behaviors.
The website includes tools that are organized developmentally by the age of the child. At the core of each of the tools is the 5-step intentional parenting process that is grounded in learning theory, previous work on intentional communication, and informed by leading scholars knowledgeable about social and emotional skills.
Parents and those in a parenting role can select an age-specific tool to address their parenting challenge. By reading or listening to an audio version of the tool, parents learn about and utilize the process to address their parenting challenge. With use of the 5-step parenting process, parents become more comfortable and confident applying the process to other issues. With repeated engagement in the 5-step parenting process, social and emotional skills are improved in both parents and children. Over time, improved social and emotional skills in children increase wellbeing and reduce risky behaviors (such as underage drinking).
P.O. Box 170548
Bozeman, MT 59717-0548
Phone: (406) 994-7873
Youth and Family Services
2040 84th Avenue SE
Mercer Island, WA 98040
Phone: (206) 275-7611
Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Division
P.O. Box 202905
100 North Park, Suite 300
Helena, MT 59620-2905
Phone: (406) 444-3964
Early Childhood and Family Support Division
1625 11th Street, USF&G Building
Helena, MT 59620
Phone: (866) 239-0458
Children’s Trust Fund
P.O. Box 4210
Helena, MT 59601
Phone: (406) 444-3002
Julia is a Sponsored Research Specialist for the Center for Health and Safety Culture. She studied English at University in Florida.
Jennifer Miller has worked with educators and families for twenty-five years to help them become more effective with children through social and emotional learning (SEL). She is founder of the organization Confident Parents, Confident Kids and she authored and illustrated the book “Confident Parents, Confident Kids: Raising Emotional Intelligence In Ourselves and Our Kids”.
Katie Dively is a public health expert dedicated to fostering healthier communities and organizations. Katie leverages her Master’s degree in Health Promotion and Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) certification to guide communities and organizations towards positive change.
Anjali Nandi is an organizational leadership consultant in the human service field. Dr. Nandi has been the Program Director of two state-licensed out-patient drug and alcohol treatment agencies in Colorado and for over fifteen years has provided individual and group therapy to clients with depression, anxiety, addictions and trauma.
Dr. Kari Finley is a Research Scholar and the Co-Director of the Center for Health and Safety Culture. Dr. Finley holds a Ph.D. in Human Services from Walden University and a master’s degree in Social Work (M.S.W.) from Colorado State University.
Jay Otto, a former researcher and Co-Director of the Center for Health and Safety Culture at Montana State University, brings a unique blend of engineering expertise and a keen interest in human behavior to his work. With degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Jay has spent years exploring how mindsets and systems shape our actions, and how we can foster healthier, safer communities.
From roadways to substance misuse and violence prevention, Jay’s research has delved into a wide range of societal challenges. His passion for understanding the intricacies of human behavior has led him to develop innovative strategies for improving safety culture within organizations and communities.
When he’s not immersed in his research, you can find Jay in the rural countryside of Vermont, slowly honing his woodworking skills. This hands-on approach to creativity reflects his dedication to crafting solutions that are both practical and effective.
Kelly Green is the Business Manager and a Research Scientist for the Center for Health and Safety Culture. Kelly holds a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) and a B.S. in Business Management from Montana State University.
Samantha Pinzl is a Research Scientist at the Center for Health and Safety Culture and a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). Samantha earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Public Health from the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse.
Dr. Kaylin Greene received her Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies and Demography from the Pennsylvania State University (2013) and her BA from Whitman College (2006). She completed her postdoctoral training at Montana State University (MSU) and is currently an Associate Professor of Sociology in the department of Sociology and Anthropology at MSU.
Preston Randolph is the owner of Cactus Productions, an Emmy award-winning documentary production company out of Wyoming. Randolph’s passion for using film to generate awareness for social issues has been showcased through many of his short documentaries, PSA’s and interactive national media campaigns. Randolph has generated a visual style that collaborates with his passion to reveal stories of the human element.
Dr. Bridget Hanson is a Senior Research Scholar at the Center for Health and Safety Culture. Dr. Hanson holds a PhD in Experimental Psychology, with an emphasis in social psychology, from the University of North Dakota.
Dr. Shannon Wanless is an Associate Professor as well as the Director of the Office of Child Development at the University of Pittsburgh, a large university-community partnership center in the School of Education, that is focused on ensuring that all children thrive. Shannon focuses on young children’s development and the adults that help them thrive.
Trevor is a seasoned WordPress Developer and the owner of The Holewinski Group, a digital agency with an impressive two-decade legacy. Trevor consistently delivers captivating and user-friendly websites that transcend client expectations.
Stacey Utterback is a Graphic Design/Marketing Specialist at the Center for Health and Safety Culture. Stacey earned a degree in Graphic Design with a minor in business.
Annmarie McMahill is a Senior Research Scholar for the Center for Health and Safety Culture. In her role at the Center, Annmarie leads efforts to foster innovation to address complex social challenges around health and safety. She is the Principal Investigator behind Tools for Your Child’s Success. She holds a M.S. in Prevention Science from the University of Oklahoma and has over 25 years of experience working in the public sector.