Our Story

Dedicated to promoting the health of Montanans.

Advancing innovation and collaboration among public health organizations and the individuals who deliver programs, services and protections that impact public health.

In 2018, the Montana Healthcare Foundation (MHCF) made a commitment to explore options for increasing collaboration, coordination and the capacity of the public health system to improve health and wellness of all Montanans. This resulted in the Strengthening the Montana Public Health Systems study, which explored how to strengthen the existing non-profit public health organizations (Association of Montana Public Health Officials (AMPHO), Montana Environmental Health Association (MEHA), and Montana Public Health Association (MPHA) and improve coordination among them.  

From the Strengthening the Montana Public Health Systems study came three recommendations:  

  1. Develop an institute to support the public health system and invest in strategies that demonstrate value to rural, frontier, and tribal communities;  

  2. Complete a process to reach a conclusion about realignment of the public health organizations (AMPHO, MEHA, MPHA); and  

  3. Strengthen relationships of the non-profit public health organizations with local elected officials, their associations and key health leadership groups.  

In July 2019, the Public Health Alignment Committee was formed and continued to meet throughout the year to discuss the realignment of Montana’s public health non-profit organizations. This Committee was formed by representatives from AMPHO, MEHA, and MPHA, the Montana Healthcare Foundation, and a facilitator. This Committee’s discussions emphasized the associations’ history of dedicated leadership, and low funding and organizational capacity, and the impressive impact of these associations, despite these capacity challenges. Preserving the strong leadership, relationships, and collaborations of these associations was of paramount importance as the committee moved forward.  

These discussions concluded that Option 2: Hire one full-time executive director to serve three separate organizations, was the best path forward for Montana’s non-profit health organizations. This included the creation of a new umbrella non-profit organization.  

Confluence Public Health Alliance was formed in 2020 after almost a year of meetings and discussions about how to realign, strengthen, and invigorate AMPHO, MEHA, and MPHA's work.  

Confluence Public Health Alliance (Confluence) is an independent, non-profit organization that provides leadership and management, including operational, administrative, and support services to its three corporate members organizations: Association of Montana Public Health Officials (AMPHO), Montana Environmental Health Association (MEHA), and Montana Public Health Association (MPHA).  

Confluence is dedicated to promoting the health of Montanans by providing services that advance innovation and collaboration among public health organizations and the individuals who deliver programs, services and protections that impact public health.  

 To read the full study, please visit Montana Healthcare Foundation’s website: https://mthcf.org/resource/strengthening-montanas-public-health-system/