SHD reunion sept 05 - Shodair Children's Hospital

OCTOBER 2005 

Building 

on 

Success 

Changes take 

place inside 

and outside 

at Shodair

Shodair Children’s Hospital 

Welcome 

From the Administrator 

This month, Shodair Children’s Hospital lost a 

long-time friend and supporter when James H. Foley 

passed away. Jim was a dedicated member of the 

board of trustees and a tireless supporter of the work 

we do here at Shodair. 

A member of the board for 19 years—18 of them 

as chairman—Jim was a shining example of the 

impact a board member can make in leading an 

organization and meeting new challenges with 

compassion and integrity. His commitment to the 

welfare of others, warmth, and good humor will be 

missed. 

Jim’s efforts are apparent in many aspects of the 

hospital’s operations today. The current facility on 

Colonial Drive was built (in 1998) while he was 

chairman of the board. During his chairmanship, 

Shodair’s inpatient psychiatric program grew from a 

six bed acute care facility to one that presently has 

12 acute care beds and another 56 for residential 

treatment—numbers that will grow to 20 and 68, 

respectively, when our expansion is complete next 

year. The patient numbers behind that physical 

growth are equally impressive: In its first year of 

operation, Shodair’s psychiatric program provided 

581 days of care to young Montana patients. This 

past year, the program provided a total of 19,851 

days of critically needed psychiatric care for 

children and adolescents from around the state. 

Jack Casey 


Administrator 

appreciation appear on the facing page. In 

addition, the new 20-bed acute care unit 

currently under construction will be dedicated 

in memory of Jim. Throughout my 19 years as 

administrator of Shodair Hospital, I relied on Jim a 

great deal. Whenever I have had to call on him 

for some special reason or project, he never—not 

once—ever refused to help. His leadership as 

chairman made the difficult job of administration 

a lot easier, and his advice and counsel were 

valued by both board members and staff. Shodair 

would not be where it is today without Jim Foley. 

He will be missed as a board member and, most 

of all, as a friend. 

John P. Casey 

Administrator 

Those who had the pleasure of working with him 

have long respected Jim’s commitment and service. 

Last year, at its annual meeting the board of trustees 

recognized his efforts by conferring the title of 

“chairman emeritus” upon him. Their words of

James H. Foley 

1920–2005 

On September 9, 2005 Shodair Children’s 

Hospital lost a dear friend and board member 

with the passing of Jim Foley. Jim served on the 

Montana Children’s Home and Hospital Board 

of Trustees for the last 19 years and was 

chairman for 18 of those years. He stepped 

down as chairman last year, but continued 

to serve on the board. 

Last September, at Shodair’s annual meeting, 

the board of trustees conferred upon Jim the 

title of “Chairman Emeritus” by passing 

the following resolution: 

RESOLUTION of 

APPRECIATION 

Whereas our good friend, loyal and dedicated fellow trustee for the last eighteen years, James H. Foley, 

has faithfully served as President of Montana Children’s Home and Hospital after giving loyal and 

devoted service in that all important office, 

and 

Whereas his unbound enthusiasm and sense of humor, his kindness and his consideration of the thoughts 

and opinions of all who have labored with him in this “Montana’s Greatest Charity” has given us pleasant 

and profitable success in our endeavors, 

and 

Whereas this institution has grown and prospered during those years in a manner pleasing to all 

of his co-Trustees, 

and 

Whereas during those 18 years he gave freely of his time and love and devotion to the children and 

families of Montana, his service being unequaled, 

and 

Whereas the undersigned fellow Trustees take this means of expressing to him our deep and heartfelt 

appreciation for his friendship and unselfish leadership, 

Therefore be it resolved that this resolution of appreciation be awarded to him and that the same be 

attached to the minutes of the Board of Trustees as a permanent record of our high regard and esteem. 

With this action, we express the hope of each of us that he remain as Chairman Emeritus of the Board 

of Trustees and a part of the Shodair family for many years to come. With this action we also wish for 

every good thing pertaining to his good health and happiness for the remaining years of his life. His 

dedication will serve as a beacon light to guide all that follow in his footsteps. 

Gratefully submitted, The Board of Trustees, 

SHODAIR HOSPITAL, MONTANA CHILDREN’S HOME AND HOSPITAL DATED SEPTEMBER 15, 2005.

REUNION Contents OCTOBER 2005 

Inside Cover 

From the Administrator 

2 In Memory of Jim Foley 

3 Construction Begins on Acute Care Unit 

4 Soccer Classic Spotlights Athletes 

5 Colorado Golfers Tee Up for Shodair 

6 Genetics: The Gene-Drug Connection 

CPS 

7 Genetics Outreach Clinics Schedule 

8 Staff Learn Collaborative 

Problem Solving at Shodair 

10 CPS in the Classroom 

12 Thanks to Our Generous Donors 

14 Children’s Miracle Network Donors 

15 2005 Telethon a Rousing Success 

16 Welcome Dr. Katherine Rappaport 

On the COVER: 

Jack Casey, Shodair Administrator, 

and Dave Bossell, Shodair 

Maintenance Superintendent, 

review plans and progress on 

construction of Shodair’s new 

acute care unit. 

17 From the Foundation Director 

Published by: Marketing and Community Relations Department, Shodair Children’s Hospital, ©2005 

Editor: Renee Hofeldt, Director, Marketing and Community Relations 

Contributing Photographers: Helena Photography, Renee Hofeldt, and Roger Parchen 

Design & Production: Art & Image Creative Resources Printing by: Thomas Printing 

For further information: Marketing and Community Relations Department PHONE: 406/444-7548 FAX: 406/444-1005 E-MAIL: lreed@shodair.org 

2 Reunion

Construction Underway 

for New Acute Care Unit 

Expansion will boost services 

to Montana children 

Officials, staff, and members of the community 

gathered at Shodair Children’s Hospital on July 12 

for the ceremonial ground-breaking on the hospital’s 

new 20,000 square foot addition. The expansion 

includes a new 20-bed acute care unit, a therapeutic 

swimming pool, additional storage, and office space. 

At press time, crews were excavating the new 

building’s foundation, and anticipating pouring 

footings within a few days. Much of the work to 

date has focused on site preparation, utilities, and 

the new road east of the facility. Because the existing 

access road to the employee parking lot and acute 

care entrance will blocked during construction, a 

temporary road was constructed for employees 

and others to access the 

acute care unit, parking lot, 

and southeast entrance 

in the interim. 

The expansion comes in 

response to needs indicated 

by health care providers 

around the state. The need 

for mental health care for youth in Montana is 

critical. Over 25,000 children and adolescents in the 

state have ongoing needs for psychiatric and mental 

health care. At the same time, those services are 

limited. In recent months, Shodair has been forced 

to turn away youth in need of the critical services it 

provides, because there are no beds available for 

additional patients. 

The term “acute care” in a psychiatric hospital 

setting such as Shodair, refers to the treatment offered 

to children who are in imminent danger of hurting 

themselves or others. They may come to Shodair 

from other hospital emergency rooms or law 

enforcement agencies. The expansion will include 

20 beds for acute care patients, and will allow the 

hospital to serve additional children and families 

who might otherwise have few options for 

treatment. Shodair provides care regardless of 

ability to pay, providing more than $3 million 

dollars in uncompensated care last year alone. 

The new acute care unit will help Shodair provide 

these and other much-needed services. The 

hospital is a key provider of mental health services 

in Montana, providing early intervention and 

diagnosis, and working with family, guardians, and 

other agencies to promote patients’ well-being. It 

is the only facility in the state that offers acute care 

in tandem with residential treatment. Being able 

to offer this continuum of care—where a child can 

move from an intensive, 

acute treatment program to 

a residential one—makes 

Shodair unique and a 

critical asset in the 

recovery of at-risk 

children and youth. 

The expansion is estimated 

to cost $2.6 million dollars, and will translate into 

additional hiring to meet increased staffing needs. 

Nurses, another psychiatrist, a mental health 

therapist, teacher and teacher’s aide, recreation 

aide, and support staff will be added, along with 

personnel for the medical records and admissions 

offices. When the expansion is complete, Shodair 

will employ five full-time physicians specializing 

in child and adolescent psychiatry. 

The project is being designed by Schlenker & 

McKittrick Architects (SMA) of Helena. Schlenker 

& McKittrick was also responsible for the design 

of Shodair’s current facilities, located on 

Colonial Drive. 

October 2005 

3

Shodair Soccer Classic Thrills Fans Again; 

Spotlights State’s Top Student Athletes 

A summertime favorite, the Shodair Soccer Classic 

once again thrilled soccer fans at Carroll College’s 

Nelson Stadium on July 16. In its sixth season, the 

highly-competitive event began with the kick-off for 

the women’s game at 5:00 p.m., followed by the 

men’s game at 7:00 p.m. The stands were filled with 

enthusiastic fans who came out in force on the 

windy, warm afternoon. 

Teams Lewis and Clark—named for the Lewis and 

Clark bicentennial—competed before an enthusiastic 

crowd on Saturday. The women’s teams battled to 

final score of 3 to 1 in favor of team Clark. A lastminute 

goal by team Clark in the men’s game ended 

the match in a 2-2 tie. A gusty 25-30 mile-per-hour 

wind was a factor in both games, and teams worked 

hard to take advantage of it whenever they could. 

The annual Classic features top student athletes from 

high schools all across the state. Through a rigorous 

screening process, roughly 60 outstanding young 

men and women are selected to participate each 

year. In addition to having been selected as All-State 

and All-Conference high school players in Class AA 

or A, they must have demonstrated academic 

achievement, leadership, and citizenship. 

A talented coaching staff from around the state was 

on hand to guide the teams. Many have winning 

records in state tournaments, and their skills helped 

assure top-level competition. Coaches for the men’s 

teams included: Pat Cates, Billings Central High 

School, Billings; Carl Straub, Capital High, Helena; 

and Rob Zimmerman, Charles M. Russell High 

School (CMR), Great Falls. Women’s team coaches 

included: Erika Hinton, Bozeman High School, 

Bozeman; Val Nauman, Park County High, 

Livingston; Jon Sellers, Hamilton High, Hamilton; 

and Rick Thompson, Capital High, Helena. 

Players and coaches arrived at Carroll College on 

July 13th to begin practices and a variety of other 

activities leading up to the games. They toured 

Shodair and met physicians, medical genetics and 

nursing staff, and other personnel, and got a firsthand 

look at the important work they help support 

by participating in the Classic. On Friday before 

the game, the recently-graduated high school 

players hosted aspiring soccer all-stars in a free 

clinic for children age 5 to 12. That evening, 

they were honored at a banquet that included 

coaches, parents, and friends. 

The Classic is a labor of love for a group of 

hard-working volunteers and hospital employees. 

A small army contributed their time, effort, and 

enthusiasm to plan, coordinate, and execute a 

busy four-day event that included feeding, 

housing, and entertaining coaches and players 

from around the state. It’s no small feat, and the 

Shodair staff was again grateful for the added 

expertise and assistance. “We just couldn’t pull 

this off without the help of our volunteers and 

sponsors,” said Ellen Livers, Director of 

Management Services at Shodair and head of 

the planning committee. “We appreciate their 

commitment of time and resources to make this 

a great event and support the important work 

at Shodair.” 

The Soccer Classic is a benefit for Shodair 

Children’s Hospital and the services it provides 

for Montana’s youth—in particular, specialized 

psychiatric services for seriously emotionally 

disturbed children and adolescents. These are 

critical services in short supply around the state, 

and Shodair is a vital resource for their recovery. 

Support generated from events like the Soccer 

Classic and the Children’s Miracle Network 

Telethon help to assure that these services remain 

available for those in need. 

Game program and team rosters are still available. 

Contact Linda Reed at 406-444-754 or lreed@shodair.org. 

4 Reunion

Golfers 

Tee Up 

for 

Shodair 

The 2005 Big Sky Open in Thornton, Colorado brought 144 golf enthusiasts and 

Shodair supporters together at the Thorncreek Golf Club in August. The event 

raised $6,700 to help children and adolescents in Shodair’s psychiatric 

treatment program. 

The tournament began in 1998 as an opportunity to support worthy non-profit 

organizations. Shodair was named as the beneficiary in 1999, and has held the 

coveted spot ever since. The popular annual competition draws golfers from 

around the region, with close to 50 would-be participants on a waiting list. 

The committee responsible for the event is composed of alumni from the 

University of Montana and Montana State University. Recalling the fiery gridiron 

competition between the two institutions, creative alums decided to organize a 

challenge on the golf course. The Big Sky Open tournament features alumni and 

supporters from both schools, and has brought sponsors and golfers with Montana 

ties to the tee-off in Colorado every year since. 

Committee co-chair John Niemi says the group has always had two rules of play: 

First, have fun. Second, refer to rule number one. “It’s for a good cause,” he said. 

“We’re all here to have fun, remember our Montana connections, and support 

efforts that benefit Montana children and families.” 

Sponsors 

of this year’s 

Big Sky Open 

included: 

A-A Printing - Dan Astle, Kalispell 

Allied Floor Service - Marcus Boyd, Lodge Grass 

American Furniture Warehouse - Jake Jabs, Lodge Grass 

Brooklyn’s Bar - Dave Keefe, Denver 

Builder’s Appliance Center - Ken Jensen, Circle 

Butte Rats - Butte 

Downs Financial - Shawn Downs, Helena 

GAF - Ted Crossman, Butte 

Hallador Petroleum - Victor Stabio, Broadus 

Keating Investments - Reed Madison and 

Steve Ossello, Butte, Chris Wrolstad, Spokane 

Maptek - Barry Henderson, Billings 

Phi Delta Theta, Montana Alpha - Missoula 

Please Support Organ Donors - Patty Boyd, Chinook 

Reber/Russel - Bryant Reber, Helena 

Sopris West - Stu Horsefall, England 

Stacy’s Hallmark - Don Brickley, Billings 

The Lighting Connection - Rick Hartman, Big Fork 

Washington Park Grille - Greg Sauber, Libby 

West Valley Construction - Kelly Davis, Butte 

Whiting Petroleum Company - Dave Seery, Mission 

Special 

Thanks 

to these 2005 

Soccer Classic 

Sponsors 

PLATINUM 

KTVH/KBGF 

GOLD 

Mountain West 

Office Solutions 

SILVER 

George’s Foods 

JCCS 

Mountain West Bank 

Pacific Power & Light— 

Montana 

Joe and Cheri Shevlin 

Wally and Fran Waddell 

BRONZE 

Blue Cross/Blue Shield 

of Montana 

BNSF Railway 

Catholic Diocese 

of Helena 

Jim Hunt Law Firm 

Laidlaw Transportation 

Morrison Maierle 

Paul’s Office Solutions 

Dr. John and 

Heather Tupper 

Renon Ford, Mountain 

West Office Solutions, 

receives a plaque from 

Linda Coulston, 

foundation director, 

in appreciation of 

support for the 2005 

Soccer Classic. 


5

The Gene-Drug Connection: Your Genetic Make-up 

May Influence the Action of Prescription Drugs 

—Cindy Hudson, Genetic Counselor, MA. MS, CGC 

Have you ever wondered why some people can 

take a particular prescription drug—for instance, a 

painkiller like Codeine—and have a good response, 

while some don’t tolerate the drug and may have 

a bad reaction, and still others experience little or 

no pain reduction at all? The answer may lie in 

their genes. 

The liver is the organ in the body that breaks down 

drugs we take. In a process called metabolism the 

drug is first broken down into a form that is more 

easily utilized. The drug is then further altered so its 

components are easily excreted from the body. 

Proteins in the liver called enzymes are the 

facilitators of this process. There are many different 

enzymes, and each enzyme helps metabolize a 

group or family of drugs. Not all drugs are 

metabolized by the same enzyme. 

Like all proteins made in your body, the 

instructions to make enzymes are coded in your 

genes. Small changes in these instructions can 

change the way the enzymes function, and 

may therefore alter the way your body 

reacts to certain drugs. Changes in the 

genetic code for these enzymes can be 

inherited from your parents. Some drugs 

also can speed up or slow down a 

particular enzyme, so taking more than 

one medication at a time can also affect 

how an enzyme functions. 

There are four types of enzyme functions 

determined by genes and thus, four categories of 

individual metabolic responses: 

Extensive Metabolizers are considered “the norm,” 

or the average in terms of the speed at which a drug 

is metabolized. Think of a conveyer belt carrying 

plastic into a recycling center to be broken down 

and used to make polar fleece fabric: The speed of 

the conveyer belt is such that the amount of plastic 

coming in is equal to the amount of fabric being 

produced. These people metabolize medications 

at an average rate, and generally have appropriate 

responses to the drugs they take. 

Intermediate Metabolizers have slower enzyme 

function. Thinking again of the conveyor belt 

analogy, the plastic is being turned into fabric, but 

the conveyer belt runs more slowly, producing less 

fabric and allowing some plastic to build up outside 

the factory. Intermediate metabolizers may need a 

lower dose of a medication in order to have the 

appropriate response to a drug. 

Poor Metabolizers have little or no enzyme function. 

In this scenario, the conveyer belt is broken down 

and there is a huge pile up of plastic outside the 

factory, while little or no fleece is being produced. 

Further complicating things, the build-up of plastic 

is becoming toxic to the environment. Poor 

metabolizers have inherited genes that produce an 

enzyme which does not function. If they take a drug 

that would normally be broken down by that 

enzyme, the process will not take place and their 

bodies will not be able to utilize the drug. 

In fact, the drug can build up to toxic 

levels—something that can cause serious 

problems for some people. 

Ultra-Extensive Metabolizers have fast 

enzyme function. Using the conveyor belt 

analogy again, instead of one conveyer 

belt carrying plastic into the recycling 

center, there are two, and the raw plastic 

is processed into fleece more quickly than it can be 

delivered. These individuals may need a larger dose 

of a drug in order for it to have the same effect in 

their body as it does for extensive metabolizers. 

A dangerous situation can arise when a person 

who is a poor metabolizer (for a particular enzyme) 

takes a drug their body is subsequently unable to 

metabolize. The drug may build up to toxic levels 

in their system. This situation has been known to 

cause death in some patients. 

6 Reunion

One enzyme, called CYP 2D6, metabolizes one quarter of 

prescription drugs and some over-the-counter drugs as well. 

Some examples of these drugs include Prozac, Zoloft, Claritin, 

Allegra, Tagament, and Tylenol. About 10% of the general 

population is in the poor metabolizer category for this enzyme. 

If a poor metabolizer is taking a drug that is metabolized by CYP 

2D6, and also taking a drug that inhibits or slows down the 

enzyme further, serious drug interactions can result. This is 

another reason to be sure your physician knows what medications 

you are taking and if you are experiencing any side effects. 

There is genetic testing available to determine an individual’s 

enzyme status. The test can be especially helpful if a concern 

arises, or if there is a family history of drug intolerance. The federal 

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved a new 

method of genetic testing that may make identifying your enzyme 

function quick and relatively inexpensive. In the future, knowing 

your enzyme status may be a routine part of your medical care 

before a prescription is written. Genetics may be integrated into 

preventative healthcare as we continue to identify how our 

individual genetic variations may positively and negatively 

affect our health. 

Medical Genetics Outreach Clinics Scheduled 

Clinic Dates and Locations* 

Bozeman 

November 22, 2005 

Butte 

September 27, 2005 

Great Falls 

September 14, 2005 

October 11, 12, 2005 


December 14, 2005 

Helena 

October 25, 2005 




Kalispell 


Missoula 



December 6, 2005 

*Dates and locations are 

subject to change. 

Genetic physicians and counselors from Shodair’s Medical 

Genetics Department will be on the road providing access to 

medical genetics services and expertise in communities around 

the state throughout the remainder of the year. 

Genetic evaluation and counseling provides individuals and 

families with information about actual or potential inherited 

diseases and conditions—those that may already have been 

diagnosed, or those that patients may be predisposed to develop. 

Common reasons for evaluation or counseling can include a 

variety of conditions, including: birth defects, behavioral 

abnormalities, familial hearing loss or blindness, abnormal growth 

patterns, chromosomal abnormalities, congenital, or prenatal 

exposure to drugs, alcohol, or medications. 

Shodair also provides risk assessments and counseling for families 

who may have a risk of inherited cancers. Breast and colon cancer 

are the most common cancers that may be inherited. A risk 

assessment can help identify a person’s potential for developing 

either disease—allowing them to make informed decisions about 

lifestyle or treatment options. 

Anyone wishing to schedule an appointment should contact 

the Medical Genetics Department at Shodair by 

calling 1-800-447-6614. 

7

CPS 

While the construction outside of Shodair may be 

Staff Learn“What’s Up” 

Children Learn to Problem-Solve 

more obvious to the outside world, some changes 

in philosophy and treatment approach are yielding 

positive results within the hospital as well. 

Personnel in the psychiatric units are in the process 

of implementing the Collaborative Problem Solving 

(CPS) model as a simple, yet highly-effective way to 

deal with patients for whom traditional approaches 

have not proven successful. 

CPS was developed by psychologist 

Ross Greene, Ph.D., author of bestseller 

The Explosive Child. Shodair’s 

medical director, Dr. James Killpack, 

heard Dr. Greene speak at a 

conference earlier, and was impressed by 

the results being obtained using CPS. He felt 

the approach could really work at Shodair. 

The CPS approach was designed specifically for 

children who tend to be inflexible and explosive, 

although it can also work well with other children. 

The CPS model views inflexible and explosive 

children’s difficulties as akin to learning disabilities, 

and emphasizes teaching these children better skills 

for handling difficult situations. Research studies 

have yielded impressive results (including reduced 

use of seclusion and restraint, and fewer injuries to 

staff and patients), and CPS is consistent with 

Shodair’s commitment to individualized treatment, 

respect, and teamwork. 

CPS is quite different than some long-used 

behavioral approaches that rely on rewards and 

consequences. Behavior plans like these work well 

for some children. They are good at motivating 

children to behave better—assuming they know 

how to do so. However, they don’t teach problem 

solving skills, and are sometimes implemented in a 

one-size-fits-all manner, rather than being tailored 

to a child’s individual strengths and weaknesses. 

Also, if the behavior plan doesn’t work, sometimes 

the parent may be viewed as not trying hard 

enough, or the child may be labeled “difficult.” 

—Laura Fuller, Ph.D. 

Here’s an example: If a child knew how to clean his 

room but was simply not motivated enough to do 

so, finding the right rewards or consequences might 

get him to be tidier. However, if the goal was for 

the child to become an NBA star by the time he was 

20, it’s unlikely that rewards or punishment would 

bring about that result—and it wouldn’t mean the 

child was trying to be oppositional. (Although he 

might start to look that way if the NBA agenda was 

pushed on him for years.) 

The CPS method emphasizes being realistic in our 

expectations and teaching the skills needed to 

produce success. This is consistent with our goals at 

Shodair, which include utilizing an individualized 

approach, teaching useful skills, and staying away 

from assigning blame. CPS involves having the 

adult first make a conscious decision about whether 

or not a behavior or issue is worth inducing a 

behavioral meltdown on the part of the child. The 

adult can then decide to enforce his/her will, let go 

of a particular issue or problem-solve about it. 

The goal is to increase the amount of problem 

solving the child does by teaching thinking 

skills that are lacking. 

Of course, as we get to know the child better, it 

becomes easier to know when meltdowns are likely 

to occur, and problem solving can be done ahead of 

time, instead of in the midst of a crisis. A key step to 

problem solving using this method is simply to ask 

the child, “What’s up?” which opens the door to 

identifying ways to make things go more smoothly. 

During the last year, staff members of the children’s 

residential treatment unit at Shodair have been 

learning about CPS and putting that knowledge into 

action. The clinical leadership of the hospital has 

agreed that CPS is a good approach, and now the 

two adolescent residential treatment units and the 

acute care unit are also implementing CPS, with 

in-house training and supervision. 

Artwork by a 

Shodair student 

8 Reunion

Additionally, more than a dozen staff members were 

fortunate enough to hear Dr. Greene speak in person 

at the Montana Behavioral Initiative conference in 

Bozeman in June. 

The hospital’s board of trustees has also been 

supportive of implementing CPS. After learning more 

about the CPS approach, 

they voted to allocate funds 

to hire CPS’s developer, 

Dr. Greene, to consult with 

the hospital as it puts the 

program into place. Dr. 

Greene has had great 

success teaching CPS in 

institutional and outpatient 

settings, and staff members 

are looking forward to 

having him begin his 

supervision with a site visit 

to Shodair in January. 

Implementing CPS 

represents a major paradigm 

shift, and the hospital 

clinical staff is excited to 

hear the unit staff describe 

examples of positive results 

from using the method. 

Their comments suggest this 

approach decreases power 

struggles, and that asking 

the patients, “What’s up?” is 

producing positive outcomes. Patients who used 

to melt down in certain situations are now 

saying things like, “Can we try to work this out?” 

It can sometimes be difficult for staff to “back off” 

on certain issues and to compromise, rather than 

Patients share affection with a therapy dog 

insisting that the child do what they’re asked 

immediately. However, when staff members realize 

they’re getting more participation and compliance 

from kids who previously experienced meltdown 

several times a day, they recognize the progress that 

is being made. Examples of this progress include 

one boy who previously averaged four visits to the 

quiet room each day. 

He now attends school 

regularly and is close to 

being ready for discharge. 

Another child with speech 

and language problems is 

experiencing meltdown 

episodes much less often 

because he can now 

problem-solve ways to 

communicate with staff 

when he needs help. 

Shodair has always 

demonstrated a strong 

commitment to providing 

excellent care. As part of 

that commitment, the 

hospital has tried a number 

of treatment approaches 

in the past and, as the 

makeup of our patient 

population changes, 

continues to utilize new 

strategies. We are seeing 

that CPS can be used effectively by all staff, and are 

proud of what we’re accomplishing. CPS is making 

an excellent program even better! So the next time 

you take a look at the wonderful changes outside 

the building, remember that on the inside, good 

things are happening too! 

Ross W. Greene, Ph.D., is Director of the Collaborative Problem Solving Institute in 

the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital. He specializes in 

the treatment of explosive, inflexible, easily frustrated children and adolescents and 

their families and is the author of The Explosive Child and co-author of Treating 

Explosive Kids: The Collaborative Problem Solving Approach. He is also Associate 

Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. 

About Dr. Greene 


9

CPS 

The collaborative problem solving model 

Collaborative Problem Solving in the 

Classroom: Teaching the Pathways to Success 

developed by Dr. Ross Greene and now being 

implemented at Shodair, proposes that oppositional, 

non-compliant children and adolescents are often 

poorly understood, and that standard approaches to 

treatment may not satisfactorily address their needs 

(and can actually worsen their difficulties). The 

result can be that many such children have 

adversarial interactions with 

parents, siblings, peers, and 

teachers. Certainly, their 

experiences in the classroom 

can be impacted by how 

teachers respond to meet 

their needs. 

The CPS model assumes 

that these children and 

adolescents, often labeled 

difficult or explosive, lack 

crucial skills that are essential 

to handling frustration and 

mastering situations requiring 

flexibility and adaptability. In the 

classroom, the lack of these skills can result in 

disruptive outbursts or meltdowns, and lost 

opportunities for learning. 

For teachers, the first step to putting collaborative 

problem solving to use in the classroom is to 

identify which thinking or problem solving skills a 

student may lack. In collaborative problem solving, 

these thinking skills are “pathways” to success. 

Children who lack them may not have options to 

help problem-solve in challenging situations. 

For example, a child may lack what are called 

“executive skills.” A lack of executive skills can 

lead to difficulty handling transitions, staying calm 

enough to think clearly when upset, or having the 

ability to shift from one mindset to another when 

the environment changes. 

—Marilyn Weber and Jennifer Zimmerman 

A Shodair student and teacher 

play math bingo 

Still another child may lack skills in the language 

processing area. This child may be unable to label 

or categorize their emotions and act appropriately. 

Because of their problems processing language— 

which includes receiving messages from others and 

responding—they may struggle to find words to 

express themselves, or to understand what they are 

being asked to do. Most people, when presented 

with problems, refer to things that 

have worked for them in the past 

when determining solutions. 

Children who lack appropriate 

language processing skills are 

often unable to think of solutions 

that have previously worked 

for them. 

Another area of thinking skills that 

may be lacking is that of cognitive 

flexibility—the ability to shift 

one’s mindset according to the 

demands of a given situation. 

In this case, the child may have a tendency 

to think in very literal, black-and-white terms. 

The more “gray” life gets for these children, the 

more difficult it becomes for them. They tend 

to focus on details rather than the big picture, and 

may have difficulty appreciating others’ viewpoints. 

Still other children may lack skills in the area of 

emotion regulation, another pathway is the CPS 

model. They might appear grouchy and irritable, 

fatigued, or seem to have low energy levels—or they 

may seem anxious, nervous, or obsessive. 

Social skills are considered the fifth pathway in the 

CPS model. Children who lack skills in this area 

often display cognitive distortions—distorted 

thinking or belief systems. They may say or think 

things such as, “I’m stupid,” or “It’s not fair. People 

are out to get me!” Unfortunately, a child who says 

or thinks these things usually has some experience 

that makes the feeling a reality for them. Usually 

10 Reunion

someone has said similar things to them before. 

Further complicating matters, they may also have a 

limited set of social responses or a poor sense of 

how their behavior affects others. 

The first step in the process of teaching these 

critical thinking skills and helping these children 

succeed in the classroom, is to identify possible 

triggers for explosive behaviors. A trigger may result 

in a meltdown for a student who lacks the skills to 

deal with a distressing situation. In the classroom 

setting, typical triggers include homework, 

unstructured activities and transitioning between 

activities, difficult peer interactions, and sensory 

hypersensitivities*. To be successful, triggers must 

be identified before a student and teacher can 

effectively collaborate to problem-solve and learn 

ways to deal with circumstances that may lead 

to meltdowns. 

The doors of communication must also be 

open between both teachers and students in the 

classroom. Students must be invited to identify the 

real problem before thinking about what will help 

them. One way educators can facilitate this is to 

make a classroom community meeting part of the 

daily schedule. Daily meetings where students are 

encouraged to express their feelings of concern 

and happiness can promote smoother transitions 

between activities. And, by offering them an 

opportunity to share their feelings, students may be 

encouraged to express worries or concerns that 

may be affecting their classroom performance. 

This activity also opens a window of opportunity 

for teachers to express empathy and encourage a 

student to think of possible ways to deal with a 

situation in a mutually satisfactory way. For younger 

children, the community meeting can be presented 

as a quiet time, or story time first thing in the 

morning. Reading stories and communicating as a 

group are other ways of effectively teaching some 

of these skills to younger children. 

comfortable and productive for teachers and 

other students. 

Examples of how valuable these activities can be are 

growing more numerous each day. For instance, a 

student was late to class one day, and missed the 

community time. When he realized he’d missed out 

on that opportunity to share his joys and concerns, 

he anxiously asked his teacher, “I know I missed 

community, but can I still tell you about my joys and 

concerns?” He then waited until the next available 

time to share his thoughts. 

In another community meeting, a student voiced 

concern about what he perceived as a peer’s 

negative behavior. The teacher repeated the first 

student’s concern with empathy, and then invited 

everyone to help problem-solve. The class 

developed a list of ways they could avoid 

contributing to negative behavior on the part of the 

second student, and invited that student to help 

problem-solve for positive behaviors. The class was 

unified in feeling they could encourage their peer 

to have better behavior. 

Shodair’s education staff is excited for the 

opportunities this approach offers. With the insights 

and options gained through utilizing CPS, they’re 

confident more of the hospital’s young patients 

will be enjoying successful school experiences in 

the future. 

*Sensory hypersensitivity is the condition of being extra 

sensitive to sensory stimulation (sight, sound, smell, touch, etc.). 

For example, a child with this condition might be driven to 

distraction by an itchy tag on his shirt. Or, to a girl whose sense 

of sound is amplified, regular speech may seem like yelling. 

Hope, an African tree frog, rests on the 

hand of a Shodair student 

At Shodair, using these group activities has already 

helped several children with behavioral challenges 

get more out of their school time—in addition to 

making the classroom environment more 


11

Thank You to 

Our Supporters 

Please Note! We make every effort to make sure the donor lists are accurate. 

Should something be wrong with your listing, please let us know so that we can 

list the corrections in the next issue of Reunion. Thank you. 

Bequest, Estate 

& Trust Gifts 

Charles L. Brown Trust 

Margaret M. Bubash Estate 

Wilbur Erickson Trust 

James B. & Virginia Ewing Trust 

Willard E. Harris Trust 

Fern Hartman Trust 

Alden P. Howell Trust 

Marguerite R. Hunt Trust 

Alvina Kramlich Bequest 

Elizabeth McCord Estate 

Harold F. Nordahl Estate 

Edward Schmidlkofer Estate 

Virginia Toler Bequest 

12 

Memorial Gifts 

April through August 2005 

Enid R. Agamenoni 

- Thomas H. Agamenoni 

June L. Alexander 

- Mr. & Mrs. Jack L. Simons 

Margaret Althoff 

- Mr. & Mrs. Edward Kramer 

George Antonovich 

- Eva A. Fortune 

Rose Aughney 

- Mr. & Mrs. Stan Milesnick 

Ken Bailey 

- Mr. & Mrs. William E. Campbell 

Mercedes Baker 

- Mr. & Mrs. Ben Miller 

Pearl Thoreson Bangeman 

- Click & Arloene Christianson 

Harold Barner 

- Mr. & Mrs. Ray G. Harrison 

Paul Beausoleil 

- Mr. & Mrs. Ray Puccinelli, Jr. 

Edward Bentley 

- Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth L. Fink 

- Kenneth & Joanne LaPalm 

- Phyllis Petritz 

John Berryman 


Daryl Betz 

- Mr. & Mrs. Glen Stratton 

Helen Bird 

- Catherine A. Alger 

Wyman E. Blakney 

- Rex J. & Lois Flansburg 

Clifford Borgen 

- Georgianna Borgen 

Leonard M. Bosanatz 

- Mary Bosanatz 

David Bowen 

- Mr. & Mrs. Marshall Muchmore 

Norma M. Boylan 

- Pat Ray 

Martha Brothers 

- William B. & Lois Horn 

Mack Bruno 

- Mr. & Mrs. Larry Funston 

Mary Bugni 

- Lorraine Hulverson 

Marie Carey 

- Marguerite R. McIntosh 

Jack Carlson 

- Mr. & Mrs. Edgar Fisher 

Shirley Faye Carlson 

- George & Colleen Hutchens 

Sam Carpenter 

- Mary G. Eliason 

Samuel C. Carpenter 

- Dr. & Mrs. John D. Kennedy 

Clay Carson 

- Mr. & Mrs. Eugene Mendel 

Evelyn Codeny 

- Betty Lou Fritz 

Shirley Cooper 

- Mrs. Kenneth C. Bell 

John Cote 

- Mr. & Mrs. Peter W. Sullivan 

Dale H. Davis 


Raymond Davis 

- Luella Avens 

Claude S. Demarest 

- Mr. & Mrs. Roy D. Wickum 

Rose Dewing 


Donald Diemer 

- Mr. & Mrs. Val Gutcheck 

Pat Dorrington 

- Kay Ebert 

Elizabeth Dougherty 

- Mr. & Mrs. Ibrahim Ayyoub 

Ronald Eccleston 


Donna Edmisten 

- Betty A. Rice 

George Evans 

- Mary Anne Sladich 

Ted Farrow 

- Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Helstrom 

- Dale & Heidi Hjelt 

Anne Feulner 

- Richard & Sylvia Dulaney 

Patrick M. Fogarty 

- Mr. & Mrs. Harry Faroni 

Jack Forney 

- Babe Alger 

Albert “Bert” Fortune 


Mrs. Harold “Helen” Funk 

- Mrs. Roy Mikkelsen 

Robert “Buck” George 

- Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Gray 

Veronica Goetz 

- Mr. & Mrs. John W. McDonald, Jr. 

Mary Granier 

- Margaret Heberly 

Uncle Joe Gruny 

- Joyce Styler Siems 

Robert C. Gutcheck 


Patty Haig 


Gladys Hazelton 

- Mr. & Mrs. Kelly Stephenson 

Eugene Heil 

- Arthur R. & Eileen Tucker 

Robert “Bob” Henderson 


Maude Hoell 

- Mrs. Don Marx 

L. Dexter Holtberg 

- Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Eliason 

Neil J. Howarth 

- Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Goldenstein 

Albert E. Hughes 

- Arlene Hughes 

John Iwen 

- Glenn L. Mason 

Robert “Jake” Jacobs 

- Mr. & Mrs. Gary Gallaher 

Kristy Jo Johns 

- Jerald Eldredge 

Irene Johnson 

- Arnold J. Odegaard 

Reunion 

In-Honor Gifts 

April through August 2005 

Jack Casey 

- Anonymous 

Shodair Hospital Staff 

- Bob & Edie Witham Redpath 

Irene O. Weissberg 

- Dr. & Mrs. Albert O. Weissberg 

Leo Weissberg 

- Dr. & Mrs. Albert O. Weissberg 

In-Kind Gifts 

Romi, Marni,& Berni Barta 

Natalie Chamberlain 

James Couts 

Margaret Emanuelson 

Alice M. Gilchrist 

Good Samaritan Thrift Store 

Marla Jo Gorecki 

Helena College of Technology 

Helena Quilters Guild 

Howard’s Pizza 

Shari Hunter 

Harold Kober 

KTVH Channel 12 

Raymond Lazuk 

Robert J. Moes 

Montana Broom & Brush 

Jill Myhre 

Maggie Petaja 

Samantha Rohwer 

Safeway Store of Helena 

Josh & Lindsay Sykes 

Don & Glenda VanDaele 

Carly Vandyke 

Rosemarie Vetter 

VFW Post 5590 

Travis Wilson 

Dorthea Lucille Jorgenson 

- Rosie King 

- Dorla & Morland Neiman 

Madeline Kane 


Cody Kanirie 


Ronald E. “Swede” Kenison 


Jim Kennedy 


Peg Kenny 


Joanne King, R.N. 

- Bruce King 

William Kobelt 

- Gladys Kobelt 

Carmen Kurilich 


- Lorraine Hulverson 

Mary Lou Larango 

- Mr. & Mrs. John Lopez 

Helmie Larson 


James R. Leary 

- Shirley Prophet 

Gerrit K. Leppink 

- Thelma Potter 

Janet Likarish 


Murray Lind 


Mike Little 


Joe Longpre 

- Shirley B. Bertelsen 

Joseph A. Maierle 

- Morrison-Maierle, Inc. 

Carmen Marozzo 

- Shirley B. Bertelsen 

- Jack & Cheri Brown 

- Bud & Joyce Cottet 

- Cheryl David 

- Joe & Sheila Keller 

- Brad & Mary Lafevers 

- Barbara & James May 

- Philip J. Mischkot 

- Rose Nye 

Victor B. May 

- Barbara & Ken Jolley 

Howard Mayo 


Agnes McDonald 

- Norman & Coreene Bohrnsen 

Joseph McGuire 

- Mr. & Mrs. Alvin Goldenstein 

Margaret McLean 


Mary Ann McLeod 

- Steve & Terry McGree 

- Rose Marie Phyfield 

John McNay 

- Lois Cadwell 

James Melbye 

- Dorothy J. Slapnik

Hank Melcher 

- Mr. & Mrs. Kelly Stephenson 

Rachell Merritt 

- Selma Sederstrom 

Lucille Miltenburger 

- Luella Avens 

Austin H. Moon 

- Bob & Gayle Moon 

Delbert Morrison 

- Mr. & Mrs. Charles Delaney 

Francis “Tweed” Morrison 


John H. Morrison, Sr. 

- Morrison-Maierle, Inc. 

Lyle Myhre 

- Mr. & Mrs. Gordon Pischel 

Thelma Nelson 

- Mr. & Mrs. Jack Donisthorpe 

Ed Noling 

- Jessie Treweek 

Grant Lee Parsons 


Margaret Paul 


Robert Paynter 



Ray Pesanti 


Joe Piazzola 

- Leroy H. Peterson 

Raymond “Ray” Piche 

- Cal & Harriet Mentzer 

- Mrs. Henry Brotzman 

Norbert Poepping 

- Paul Kleffner 

Albert “Slitz” Poynter 


Lawrence Pressler 


Clark Pyfer 

- Mr. and Mrs. Russell J. Ritter 

Brit Alan Ramsey 

- Mr. & Mrs. Jack L. Simons 

Nancy A. Reap 


Wanda Rice 


John Rice, Jr. 


Verna & John Rice, Sr. 


Joe Richards 

- Marguerite R. McIntosh 

Joseph Richards 

- Lori M. Anglin 

Darrell Lee Ridder 

- Mr. & Mrs. John J. Panich 

Dorothy Riis 


Beatrice Evelyn “Bea” Robertson 

- Mr. & Mrs. Roy D. Wickum 

Brent Roeber 


Dorothy Ruane 


George R. Ruckman 

- LaMarr & Cora Baldwin 

George Ruffatto 


Loraine “Lolly” Russell 


Myrna L. Russell 

- Harold & Marjorie Keilman 

Gladys Sands 

- Pat Banka 

- Gary & Diana Harris 

Marjorie Saunders 

- Eva Fortune 

Merle Schend 

- Edith Turner 

Emma Adelaide Scheytt 

- Shirley & Jim Clark 

- Ken & Laura Leuthold 

- John Leuthold 

- Red & Shirley Menahan 

Monique Renee Schiffer 

- Gordon & Juanita Hirschi 

Larry Schmautz 

- Catherine Hall 


- Mr. & Mrs. Glen Stratton 

Ann Schmuth 

- Violet R. Kramer 

Loren Tueller Schoss 

- Leora Brinig 

Carol R. Sheridan 

- Ron & Dixie Dye 

John Shreehan 


Ed Shurr 

- Jerry & Ethel Diettert 

Margaret Silberman 

- Anderson ZurMuehlen 

& Company 

Otto Simon 

- Mr. & Mrs. John J. Panich 

- Leora Brinig 

Melvin E. Singleton 

- Mildred O. Singleton 

Jason Starchman 


Melvin A. Stokke 


Don Stonehocker 

- Penny R. Stonehocker 

Kohler Stout 


John Paul Stowell 

- Betty Poor 

Virginia Stromberg 


Heldegardt Stuhlert 


Dr. George Takach 


Jeanette Tescher 


Mrs. Toriez 


Jack Torney 

- Babe Alger 

- Norma S. Dwyer 


- Lucey E. Wasvig 

James R. Tunnicliff 


Bert Turner 

- Harry & Blanche Syverson 

Lois Tuss 


- Mr. & Mrs. Marshall Muchmore 

Fred Vanisko 

- Lois Cadwell 

Ruby Vogt 

- Click & Arloene Christianson 

Margaret Vulk 

- Maureen Sheldon 

Lloyd Walund 


- Paul & Garnet E. Stephenson 

Astrid Linnea Westerlund 


Sandra Bushnell Wilhoit 


Leon H. Willson 

- Marion C. Willson 

Edith Wolverton 

- Evelyn G. McKenna 

Michelle Wonnocot 

- Rose Nye 

Stuart Wright 

- Helen Davis 

Special Projects & 

Foundation Grants 

Burlington Northern 

Santa Fe Railway 

Anonymous Private Foundation 

Unrestricted Gifts 

Albertsons, Inc. 

American Legion Auxiliary 

Mary & David L. Anderson 

Leona Brennan 

Browning Kaleczyc Berry & Hoven 

Rita R. Carrow 

“Casual For Kids,” 

c/o The Montana Standard 

Mr. & Mrs. Burton T. Colwell 

Combined Federal Campaign 

Roy & Mary Lou Countryman 

Zelma Jeanne Hartley 

Marion T. & Lora S. Hedegaard 

Highrock Christian Church 

Arthur R. Hunthausen 

Norma & E. Lee Jones 

Ted R. Kline 

Alma A. Lee 


Jean & Art Morris 

Fletcher & Karen Mulvaney 

Helen Myers 

Leslie D. Nelson 

Roger L. Rawls 

Mr. & Mrs. E. Maynard Smith 

Marylee Staedler 

Mr. & Mrs. Bernie A. Swift 

Gerry Thompson 

Laura Land Zuelke 

There are 

many ways 

you can 

help the 

kids at 

Shodair 

Bequest, Estate 

& Trust Gifts 

• 

In-Honor Gifts 

• 

In-Kind Gifts 

• 

Memorial Gifts 

• 

Special 

Projects 

& Foundation 

Grants 

• 

Restricted Gifts 

• 

Unrestricted 

Gifts 

• 

Corporate 

Sponsorship 

For more 

information about 

how you can help 

the kids, please 

contact the Shodair 

Foundation office 

at 406-444-7548. 


13

Thank You to Our CMN Supporters 

Children’s Miracle 

Network National 

Corporate Sponsors 

Wal-Mart $52,909 

Log-a-Load $17,562 

Carmike Cinemas $11,531 

Dairy Queen $6,768 

ACE Hardware $2,447 

Combined Federal 

Campaign $1,142 

Great Clips $1,528 

Laidlaw Transportation $520 

Credit Unions for Kids $484 


Network State & Local 

Corporate Sponsors 

American Legion Post 2 $100 

American Legion 

of Montana $1,096 

American Legion 

Auxiliary $173 

Sons of the 

American Legion $111 

Costco $84,605 

Jade Garden $1,500 

Great Clips (Helena) $1,309 

Last Chance Kiwanis $550 

MT Society for Clinical 

Laboratory Science $1,258 

Payne Financial $1,000 

Rocky Mountain 

Credit Union $1,500 

Schlenker & McKittrick 

Architects $1,000 

ING/ Sullivan 

Financial Group $500 


Network Donations— 

$100 or more 

8 & 40 Salon #606 

All About Lights 

All-Season Heating & 

Air Conditioning 

Lloyd & Donna Allen 

American Legion of Great Falls #3 

American Legion of Harlowton #15 

American Legion of Helena 

Mr. & Mrs. Ralph T. Anderson 

Associated Dermatology 

Bear Paw Credit Union 

Donna Beutler 

Carole O. Bolme 

Arnette R. Borden 

Terri Bossard 

Dave & Linda Bossell 

Bowser’s Casino 

Jack Buckley 

Milton L. Bullis 

Carol Cady 

Leonard & Gladys Cantrell 

Capital Hill Mall 

Anita J. Carpenter 

Carter Trucking, Inc. 

Mr. & Mrs. John P. Casey 

Michele & Levi Cheff 

Kimberly Cooney 

Lane & Linda Coulston 

Shirley Covert 

Dairy Queen North of Great Falls 

Dairy Queen of Great Falls 

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas A. DeYoung 

Chuck Douglas 

Lynne Eaton 

Donald & Alvina Eblen 

Cecilia Eusterman 

Leigh Fahlquist 

Alfred L. Finch 

Flowers By Hansen 

Joe Frankovich 

Mr. & Mrs. Earl M. Genzberger, Jr. 

Mr. & Mrs. William Gowen 

Granite Peak Transportation 

Sherri Gregory 

Headwaters Salons, LLC 

Michael E. Heisler 

Helena Plumbing 

Roger & Joyce Hibbs 

Dorel A. Hunt 

IOOF Lodge #48 

Mr. & Mrs. Karl Ingebrigtson 

IOOF Covenant Lodge #6 


Howard’s Pizza 

Margaret Johnson 

Sarah L. Johnson 

Christy Kahler 

Stephen C. & Jan K. Kalgaard 

Kiwanis of Columbia Falls 

Kiwanis of Malta 

Rick Kuchynka 

Evelin M. LaBuda 

David Lemm 

Liberty County Combined 

Fund Drive 

Joe & Amy Lierow 

Lucky Dog Ventures 

McFarland Logging 

Dr. & Mrs. Joseph G. McKinley 

Barbara & Gene Meek 

Newton Logging 

Leonard E. Nopen 

Ray Patterson 

Pennington Construction 

Many thanks to Cherry Creek Media, KBLL-FM in Helena, and 

KZMY-FM in Bozeman for their generous support during Radiothon. 

Robert & Cheryl Pesta 

Al Picchioni 

Cheri Pijanowski 

Placer Motors 

Plane Oak Construction, Inc. 

Bill & Bessie Pluid 

Joe Randall 

Mark, Pam & John Refling 

Mary Jane Rice 

Robert A. & Laurie Rogers 

Dr. Jim Rowlings 

Mr. & Mrs. Michael W. Seery 

Select Realty 

Father Daniel B. Shea 

Earl & Judy Sheldon 

Dan & Debbie Snyder 

Clifton & Alberta Sowle 

Joyce Spicher 

Bob Spoonheim 

Virginia & Ward Thompson 

Springhill Ranch 

Anne Stark 

Talbot 

The Milky Whey, Inc. 

Bruce A. Thomas 

TMW International, Inc. 

Triangle N Farms, Inc. 

Mr. & Mrs. Harold A. Tutvedt 

Valley Bank of Kalispell 

Charles Van Gorden 

Diane Van Gorden 

Van’s Thriftway 

Mike & Jessica Wagner 

Monty Wallis 

Dolores Weathers 

Mr. & Mrs. Henry Wertheimer, Jr. 

William Whitsitt 

James W. & Carol Williams 

Thank You! 

For Supporting Montana’s Youth 

Please remember Shodair in your upcoming 

Holiday giving plans. Your generous donations 

truly make a difference! 

14 Reunion

CMN Telethon 

2005 

Telethon a 

Rousing 

Success: 

Supports 

Critical 

Services to 

Children, 

Families 

ABOVE RIGHT 

Jim Foley accepts a generous 

contribution from a corporate 

sponsor 

BELOW 

Montana’s Champion 

Todd Daniels and some family 

members with telethon hosts 

The annual Children’s Miracle Network Celebration (CMN) broadcast 

aired Saturday, June 4th. With phone banks manned by volunteers from 

businesses and organizations in Helena and around the state, Shodair 

Children’s Hospital began its annual fundraising event to benefit Montana 

children. The event was broadcast live from the hospital in Helena on 

CBS affiliates around the state. 

Shodair’s telethon was part of the international CMN Celebration 

broadcast that aired June 3-5. Celebration is the annual fundraising 

event for Children’s Miracle Network hospitals across the nation and 

Canada. The 21-hour television special, live from Walt Disney World, 

is broadcast over a network of some 200 television stations in the 

United States, Canada, and Mexico. 

Proceeds from the Shodair telethon stay in the state to support vital 

health care services for children and families in Montana. Shodair is 

one of 170 premier children’s hospitals around the nation that are 

affiliated with the Children’s Miracle Network. Shodair is a non-profit, 

non-denominational facility that helps children of all races, ages, 

religions, and financial backgrounds, providing specialized psychiatric care 

and medical genetics services. It is Montana’s only CMN-affiliated hospital. 


During the day-long broadcast, viewers all over Montana heard inspiring 

stories of dedication and courage from families and children who triumphed 

over significant challenges to their health and well-being. Eleven year-old 

Todd Daniels from Trout Creek was on hand to thank donors and volunteers. 

Todd is a former patient at Shodair and was Montana’s representative in the 

2005 CMN/Foresters Champions Across America program. During an earlier visit to 

Continued on page 16 15

WELCOME DR. KATHERINE RAPPAPORT 

Fifth Psychiatrist Joins Shodair Staff 

In August, Shodair welcomed another 

psychiatrist to its ranks. Dr. Katherine 

Rappaport joined the staff of Child 

and Adolescent Psychiatry 

Department, bringing the number of 

full-time board certified psychiatrists 

on staff to five. 

Dr. Rappaport comes to Shodair 

from the Children’s Hospital Medical 

Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, where 

she was an Associate Professor of 

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and 

a medical director of the Adolescent 

Medical Service. She is board 

certified in adult, child, and adolescent 

psychiatry, with additional 

qualifications and experience in 

addiction psychiatry. 

Rappaport will be in charge of one of 

the adolescent residential treatment 

units. Her first day on the job was 

August 15th. 

In addition to her familiarity with 

two psychiatrists already on staff at 

Shodair—Dr. Keith Foster and Dr. 

Celeste Sinton—Rappaport said 

several factors influenced her 

decision to come to Shodair. Among 

them, the quality of care, and 

Medical Director, Dr. James Killpack. 

“The tone he sets and work that’s 

done here impressed me,” she said. 

Rappaport feels her experience in 

acute and outpatient care, gained 

at a major university hospital and 

referral center, as well as her 

expertise in chemical dependency 

will be valuable at Shodair. While 

the hospital doesn’t have a chemical 

dependency treatment unit, many 

patients and their families are 

affected by substance use disorders. 

She’s also looking forward to the 

smaller, concentrated treatment 

environment at Shodair. “I’m looking 

forward to being able to really spend 

Dr. Katherine Rappaport 

time with kids and their families— 

the kind of time that contributes to 

positive outcomes,” she said. 

Rappaport received her bachelor’s 

degree from Washington University 

in St. Louis, Missouri. She earned 

her M.D. from the University of 

Cincinnati Medical College, in 

Cincinnati, Ohio, and completed her 

residency and fellowship training 

program in child psychiatry there as 

well. She received the Children’s 

Hospital Martin Luther King 

Humanitarian Award in 2002, and 

was a Cincinnati Health Hero 

nominee in 2003. 

CMN Telethon ...continued from page 15 

the state capital, he was honored by legislative 

proclamation and standing ovations in both the house 

and the senate chambers, and visited with Governor 

Brian Schweitzer. 

As of September, the total pledged at this year’s telethon 

stood at $231,567. That amount is likely to increase as 

pledges continue coming in. 

The telethon is made possible by the efforts of hospital 

staff and volunteers who graciously contribute their time 

to make the event possible. Local businesses donate 

food to feed to the small army, whose members work 

from morning until midnight. 

Many donors and Children’s 

Miracle Network corporate 

sponsors came from locations 

around the state to present their contributions personally 

and staff phone banks throughout the day and evening. 

Television hosts also represented markets across the state 

and included broadcast personalities from Helena, 

Missoula, Bozeman, Billings, Great Falls, and Glendive. 

While producing the telethon is a lot of work, everyone 

enjoys the event and the opportunity to work together 

for an important cause. “It’s great to be involved in 

something that benefits young people and families in 

Montana,” said Linda Reed, a Shodair employee who 

spent her Saturday recording pledges and keeping 

volunteers fed. “The need for these services is so great, 

and I’m glad we have this chance to tell people about it, 

and to offer them an opportunity to 

help,” added Linda Bossell, who 

also recorded pledges and ran 

errands to help to keep the event 

running smoothly. 

16 Reunion

SHODAIR FOUNDATION 

From the Foundation Director 

Big changes are taking place 

at Shodair! We’re growing to 

help meet the needs of children 

and families—and other health 

care providers in our state, by 

providing much-needed acute 

psychiatric care and important 

new medical genetic services. 

It’s an exciting time and a 

challenging undertaking. 

Expansion of our facility, staff, 

and services has involved 

careful planning, commitment, 

and a significant investment 

of resources. 

Drafting or updating a will 

involves a similar process. It can 

be a challenging effort; one that 

requires thoughtful planning and 

consideration of resources, and 

is often a task most of us would 

rather put off for another day. 

It is, however, one of the most 

important things you can do for 

yourself, your family, and any 

causes you support. For these 

reasons, I’d like to gently 

prompt you to obtain or 

update your will. 

In my role here at Shodair, I’ve 

seen first-hand the problems that 

arise when someone fails to 

complete this important task. 

Without a will, family members 

are often left to make tough 

decisions during an already 

difficult time, and the deceased 

may not have their wishes 

fulfilled. 

Shodair has been blessed by 

loyal donors and friends from all 

over the state for over 109 years, 

and we are truly grateful for 

their contributions. Without our 

generous donors, we’d be hardpressed 

to meet the needs of 

patients from around the state. 

Many of these people have 

remembered Shodair Children’s 

Hospital in their wills, and their 

support has helped us improve 

our facilities, add capabilities, 

and reach more of those 

patients and families who 

need our services. 

You can be part of this exciting 

time and help us build a solid 

foundation for continuing 

services and future growth. If 

you’d like to draft or update your 

will, we can offer useful 

information to help you as you 

consider your options and 

prepare for a visit with a trusted 

advisor. Remember: If you’re 

thinking of honoring Shodair 

Children’s Hospital with a 

bequest or donation, your wish 

will not become reality unless it’s 

clearly stated in a valid will! 

If you would like to receive free 

information on Making a Will 

That Works, or learn more about 

estate planning, bequests, and 

Linda Coulston 


Foundation Director 

other planned gifts that can let 

you make a significant donation 

while meeting your current 

financial obligations, please 

drop me a note, or call toll free 

1-800-447-6614 and ask to 

speak to me. 

Best wishes, 

Linda Coulston 

Foundation Director 

Peace of mind is…completing 

a valid will, caring for your 

loved ones, creating a legacy 

through a bequest to Shodair 

Children’s Hospital, and making 

a difference in the life of a child. 

 

* This information is for illustrative 

purposes and is not intended to be tax 

or financial advice. You should always 

consult your own attorney or financial 

advisors when considering a planned 

gift. We thank you for considering 

us in your will or other estate plans. 


17

O c t o b e r 2 0 0 5 

Coming Up... 

Montana’s 2006 

Children’s Miracle Network 

Champion will be announced 

in the next issue of Reunion. 

Board of 

Trustees 

Red Menahan 

President 

Rev. Dan Shea 

1st Vice President 

Virginia Thompson 

2nd Vice President 

Bob Lemm 

Secretary 

Rita Gowen 

Treasurer 

Cynthia Gustafson 

Marilyn McKibben 

Pete McNamee 

Cynthia Melton 

Jerry Mitchke 

Ed Tinsley 

Moe Wosepka 

2755 Colonial Drive 

P.O. Box 5539 

Helena, MT 59604 

Non-Profit Org. 

U.S. Postage 

PAID 

Kalispell, MT 

Permit #27

SHD reunion sept 05 - Shodair Children's Hospital

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