Health Disparities and Solutions in Montana: An Exploration of the Data

Challenges to families’ and communities’ health are real, and they are not evenly experienced by Montanans. Who you are, where you live, how much you earn, and whether you feel safe and included all shape your access to housing, food, early care, mental health support, and sense of belonging in your community. Across our state, low-income families, Indigenous, Black, and other families of color, families living with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ families consistently face more barriers to health than others.

Centering the people most impacted by health challenges isn’t about prioritizing some people over others. It’s about being honest about where the gaps are, and directing time, attention, and resources to where they can do the most good. When we reduce barriers for those most in need, everyone benefits because communities become healthier, more connected, and more resilient.

We partnered with UM Center for Children, Families, and Workforce Development to develop a set of data briefs focused on five areas where health disparities show up in Montana: youth mental health, social inclusion and belonging, housing, food security, and early care and education.

What These Briefs Are and How to Use Them

Each brief is designed to be a practical tool for Headwaters and our partners. They bring together data, context, and calls to action to support conversations with board members, funders, partners, policymakers, and community collaborators.

Together, the briefs offer shared language and evidence to show that health challenges in Montana are not evenly distributed, and the strongest solutions are shaped by the people most impacted. Across all five, you’ll see a consistent thread: when we focus our efforts where barriers are highest, we build healthier, more resilient communities for everyone.

What These Briefs Show About Health Disparities in Montana

Social Inclusion and Belonging
Belonging plays a powerful role in health, but not everyone experiences it equally in Montana. Discrimination, rural isolation, and barriers to participation limit connection and voice for many, including young people, LGBTQ+ families, Native communities, and rural residents. This brief explores how exclusion impacts communities and points to community-led efforts that strengthen connection, trust, and participation.
→ Read the Social Inclusion & Belonging brief

Food Security
Access to healthy food remains uneven across Montana, with some communities facing greater barriers due to cost, distance, and limited availability. Low-income families, children, and people in rural and Tribal communities experience higher rates of food insecurity. This brief shows how food access shapes health and stability, and highlights community-driven solutions that are improving access and strengthening local food systems.
→ Read the Food Security brief

Housing
Housing costs are rising across Montana, making it harder for many families to find and keep stable homes. Low-income families and Native communities face higher rates of housing instability, homelessness, and displacement. This brief examines how housing affects health and belonging, and highlights approaches that expand access, support stability, and help people stay rooted in their communities.
→ Read the Housing brief

Early Care and Education
Early care and education shape lifelong health, learning, and opportunity, but access is not equal across Montana. Families in rural and Tribal communities and those with lower incomes face the greatest barriers to finding affordable, reliable childcare. This brief highlights how early care systems support families and local economies, and points to community-driven solutions that are expanding access and strengthening early childhood systems statewide.
→ Read the Early Care and Education brief

These issues are deeply connected and rooted in the same reality: health is shaped by the conditions people live in, and those conditions are not the same for everyone. We hope these briefs support you in making the case for focusing on the communities facing the greatest barriers and in building solutions that reflect the realities of people’s lives across Montana.

Explore stories of how our partners are addressing health challenges.