As Montana prepares for the 70th Legislative Session in January 2027, what decisions will shape the future of families across our state? And how can parents, caregivers, and community members help make sure the needs of Montana families are part of the conversation?

On this episode of the LIFTS Podcast, host Gwyneth Hyndman talks with Mary Collins, Policy Director for HMHB to talk about the upcoming legislative session, HMHB's policy priorities, and the importance of advocating for the health and well-being of mothers, babies, and families.

Mary shares what has changed since the 2025 legislative session, including the tighter state budget and the challenges facing Montana's healthcare and Medicaid systems. She discusses the importance of protecting recent policy wins, including progress toward Medicaid reimbursement for doula services and funding for home visiting programs, while continuing to push for policies that strengthen families.

The conversation also explores HMHB's priorities for the upcoming session, including expanding Good Samaritan protections for people seeking prenatal and postpartum care while navigating substance use, strengthening voluntary home visiting services, supporting community health workers, and continuing to advocate for bigger-picture investments in paid family leave, childcare, and a state child tax credit.

But advocacy isn't just for policymakers or organizations. Mary offers practical ways everyday Montanans can get involved, from contacting their legislators to sharing personal stories about what families need to thrive.

At the heart of this conversation is a reminder that even when progress feels slow, it's important to keep imagining what a better Montana could look like. As Mary puts it, we shouldn't lose sight of what we genuinely want our world to look like for families.

Because building a healthier future for Montana families starts with making sure their voices are heard.

In This Episode

• Mary's journey from being a new mom during the 2025 legislative session to serving as HMHB's Policy Director.
• What to expect during the 70th Montana Legislative Session and how a tighter state budget may affect families.
• The potential impact of proposed flat tax changes on Montana's healthcare and family support systems.
• Progress on Senate Bill 319 and the effort to establish Medicaid reimbursement for doula services.
• HMHB's efforts to expand Good Samaritan protections for people seeking prenatal and postpartum care while navigating substance use.
• The importance of voluntary home visiting programs and community health workers.
• Why paid family leave, affordable childcare, and a state child tax credit remain important long-term priorities.
• How Montana families can contact legislators, share their stories, and get involved in advocacy.

Bio

Mary grew up on a farm in Northern California and has called Montana home since 2011. She earned both her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and Master of Social Work from the University of Montana. Her passion for systems-level change led her to serve in several leadership roles at the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), where she focused on strengthening the state’s behavioral health system. Driven by a desire to serve others—and informed by her own experience as the mother of a preemie—Mary is deeply motivated to create a more just, supportive world for Montana’s babies and families.

Enjoying the podcast? We’d love your feedback and ideas for future episodes! Take our LIFTS Podcast Listener Survey at hmhb-mt.org/survey.

Connect with Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies

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For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, check out the LIFTS online resource guide at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

On this episode of the LIFTS Podcast, we talk with Dr. Michael Smith, a naturopathic doctor at Natura Health and Wellness Clinic in Missoula, Montana, about paternal perinatal mental health and why fathers need support, too. Drawing on his experience as a dad, his work in naturopathic medicine, and his growing interest in this emerging area of research, Dr. Smith shares why the transition to parenthood can be a vulnerable time for fathers and how mental health challenges may show up differently for them.

Dr. Smith explains how stress, sleep deprivation, changing relationships, financial pressures, and the physical and emotional demands of welcoming a baby can affect a father's well-being. Anxiety, withdrawal, and changes in behavior may be signs that a dad is struggling, even when he doesn't recognize his experience as a mental health concern or feel comfortable asking for help.

We also explore the gaps in research and resources for fathers, the importance of making space for their stories, and how families, workplaces, and communities can help dads feel less alone. Dr. Smith hopes to learn from fathers across Montana — from rural communities to cities and Tribal communities — to better understand their experiences and help connect them with meaningful support.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What paternal perinatal mental health is and why it deserves more attention.
• How becoming a dad — and witnessing his wife's postpartum mental health challenges — shaped his understanding of the transition to parenthood.
• Why fathers may experience anxiety, depression, isolation, or changes in behavior after a baby arrives.
• How cultural expectations around masculinity can make it harder for dads to acknowledge their struggles or seek help.
• The gaps in research, education, and resources for fathers experiencing perinatal mental health challenges.
• How families, communities, workplaces, and healthcare providers can create more supportive environments for new dads.

Guest Bio

Dr. Michael Smith is a naturopathic doctor at Natura Health and Wellness Clinic in Missoula, Montana. His approach to healthcare focuses on the whole person, bringing together conventional medical tools, nutrition, lifestyle, and other naturopathic approaches to help patients better understand their health.

Originally born in Edmonton, Alberta, and raised in the Salt Lake City area, Dr. Smith's own experiences with healthcare helped shape his interest in medicine. After studying neuroscience and epigenetics in New York City, he went on to earn his naturopathic medical degree from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon.

Dr. Smith has a particular interest in neurological health and the connections between physical health, mental health, and the body's many systems. His experiences as a father, including supporting his wife through postpartum mental health challenges and navigating his own experiences with depression and anxiety, have also influenced his growing interest in paternal perinatal mental health.

After attending perinatal mental health conferences and specialized training focused on fathers, Dr. Smith became passionate about learning more about the experiences of new dads and the support they need during the transition to parenthood. He hopes to help bring greater awareness to paternal mental health and encourage more conversations, research, and community support for fathers across Montana.

To learn more about Dr. Smith and his work, visit his personal website, drmichaelsmithnd.com. To work with Dr. Smith or to contact him, reach out to his clinic, Natura Health and Wellness Clinic via phone at 406-317-1965 or email, info@natura.health.

Links

https://natura.health/

https://postpartum.net/get-help/help-for-dads/

Enjoying the podcast? We’d love your feedback and ideas for future episodes! Take our LIFTS Podcast Listener Survey at hmhb-mt.org/survey.

Connect with Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram

For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, check out the LIFTS online resource guide at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/

In the final episode of our "Growing Our Storytellers" series, host Gwyneth Hyndman speaks with Montana’s First Lady Susan Gianforte for a conversation about the power of books, the importance of early literacy, and the simple ways reading can bring families together.

Ms Gianforte shares why The Little Engine That Could has always held a special place in her heart and why its message — “I think I can” — continues to resonate with her. She talks about growing up as the daughter of German immigrants, spending time with her grandmother in Germany, and the stories and traditions that connected her to her family’s heritage, including the beloved German tale The Bremen Town Musicians.

She also reflects on raising her four children and the role books played in their family life. From weekly trips to the library and reading together while she nursed her babies, to discovering books through her children’s school reading lists, she shares how reading became a meaningful part of family connection.

The conversation also explores her work bringing Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to children across Montana. She discusses how the statewide program has grown, the excitement families have when a new book arrives in the mailbox, and why providing free books to young children is about much more than learning to read. It’s also about bonding, imagination, emotional development and giving families an opportunity to share stories together.

In This Episode:

• The connection between reading and early childhood development
• How books can build emotional awareness and strengthen family bonds
• Susan’s work bringing Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library statewide in Montana
• Stories from Montana families receiving their free books
• Why every Montana child under five should have access to a free book every month

Learn More & Sign Up

Families can learn more about the Montana Imagination Library and sign up children under age five to receive a free book every month at montanaimaginationlibrary.org.

Guest Bio

Susan Gianforte is the First Lady of Montana and a passionate advocate for early childhood literacy and the importance of reading together as a family. As the daughter of German immigrants, Susan grew up with a deep appreciation for stories, books and the connections they create across generations.

Enjoying the podcast? We’d love your feedback and ideas for future episodes! Take our LIFTS Podcast Listener Survey at hmhb-mt.org/survey.

Connect with Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram

For statewide resources to support Montana families in the 0-3 years of parenting, check out the LIFTS online resource guide at
https://hmhb-lifts.org/