MONTANA HEALTH PROFESSIONALS FOR A HEALTHY CLIMATE
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EPA air Quality Flag Program

Montana Air Quality Education Flag Program

In 2021, MTHPHC began partnering with the Montana Chapter of the Academy of Pediatrics  and the Region VIII Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit to increase implementation of the EPA Air Quality Flag Program into MT schools and organizations.  Exposure to air pollution is linked to increased frequency of asthma attacks, other respiratory conditions, and hospitalizations. Read more at Air Pollution: Current and Future Challenges. 
The EPA School Flag Program helps communicate daily air quality conditions with colored flags that correspond to the EPA’s Air Quality Index. The Flag Program is an easy way to generate public awareness about outdoor air conditions. On days with poor air quality levels, participating organizations can use this information to guide decisions about outdoor activities to reduce exposure to air pollution and keep children safe. Read more at EPA’s Air Quality Flag Program Webpage. 
After a year of outreach, the Flag Program has been adopted by 51 entities across Montana; including 27 schools/school districts, 11 health clinics, 5 non-profits, 1 library, and 1 fire department.  Of locations that have adopted the program 28 of the 51 have received a Purple Air monitor to monitor the Air Quality Index (AQI) in their location for accurate air quality readings, which is very significant since there are only 20 permanent air quality monitoring stations throughout the entire state of Montana. Over 1,000 individuals have received a formal presentation about the flag program and the impact of climate change on human health.
Through this project, we've had valuable conversations in communities across Montana about air pollution and health. It's clear that Montanans care about this effect of our changing climate. With the flag program we are able to enhance awareness of the causes and effects of air pollution on human health in a state that will continue to be heavily impacted by unhealthy air quality.  

Interested in bringing the Flag Program to your community? Contact us! We can provide information, flags and educational materials.

If you know a great school nurse or science teacher or other staff member at any school in Montana that might be interested, please let us know at info@montanahphc.org or 406-763-1006. If you know if a church, non-profit, or business that might be interested, let us know that too!
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Teaching about air quality at Ekalaka High School

Current Participating Locations
  1. Absarokee High School - Absarokee MT
  2. Southwest MT Community Health Clinic - Anaconda MT
  3. Bozeman Health Belgrade Clinic - Belgrade MT
  4. Children's Clinic West End - Billings MT
  5. Montana Science Center - Bozeman MT
  6. Quail Hollow Cooperative Day School - Bozeman MT
  7. Sacajawea Middle School - Bozeman MT
  8. Brockton School District - Brockton MT
  9. Southwest MT Community Health Clinic - Butte MT
  10. Patagonia Outlet - Dillon MT
  11. Southwest MT Community Health Clinic - Dillon MT
  12. ​Dixon School District - Dixon MT
  13. Carter County Museum - Ekalaka MT
  14. Ekalaka Public Schools- Ekalaka MT 
  15. Ophir Elementary School - Gallatin Gateway MT
  16. Mountain View Elementary - Great Falls MT
  17. Hardin Primary School - Hardin MT
  18. MT Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate - Hardin MT
  19. Capital High School Green Club - Helena MT
  20. Prickly Pear Land Trust - Helena MT
  21. Hot Springs High School - Hot Springs MT
  22. Missoula Public Library - Missoula MT
  23. Hellgate High School - Missoula MT
  24. St. Joseph Elementary and Grade School - Missoula MT
  25. Washington Middle School - Missoula MT
  26. Western MT Clinic - Missoula MT
  27. Red Lodge Green Team - Red Loge MT
  28. Ronan High School - Ronan MT
  29. Stanford Public Schools - Stanford MT
  30. St. Ignatius High School - St. Ignatius MT
  31. St. Labre Indian School - St. Labre MT
  32. Wibaux Public School - Wibaux MT
  33. Fort Smith ELementary School - Fort Smith, MT
  34.  Montana Learning Center - Helena, MT
  35. Fort Peck Office of Environmental Protection - Poplar, MT
  36. Blackfeet Environmental Office - Browning, MT
  37. Columbia Falls Boys and Girls Club - Columbia Falls, MT
  38.  Polson Boys and Girls Club - Polson, MT
  39.  Richland Health Department - Sidney, MT
  40. Big Fork FIre Department- Bigfork, MT
  41. Missoula Public Library - Missoula, MT
  42. Crow Agency Public School - Crow Agency MT
  43. Polson Middle School - Polson, MT
  44. Mission Valley Christian Academy - Polson, MT
  45. Ronan Middle School - Ronan, MT
  46. Two Eagle River School - Pablo , MT
  47. Hamilton Middle School - Hamilton, MT
  48. Seeley Swan Medical Center - Seeley Lake, MT
  49. Logan Health Children's - Kalispell, MT 
  50.  Lowell School Health Center- Missoula, MT
  51. Partnership Health Center- Missoula, MT
  52. ​Missoula International School - Missoula, MT

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Quail Hollow Daycare, Bozeman MT


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Mountain View Elementary School, Great Falls


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Fort Belknap Environmental Office flying the flag

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Red Lodge Fire Department

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Montana Science Center, Bozeman


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Tabling at the Emerson Center (Bozeman) for Earth Day!!


Tabling at Patagonia, Dillon MT

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Note: numerous sites "overlay" each other!
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  • Home
  • News
    • News
    • Past Newsletters
  • Resources
    • C2H2
    • Montana Climate Organizations
    • National Climate & Health Organizations
    • Foundational Reading
    • Videos
  • Get Involved
    • Take Action
    • 2023 Climate and Health in the 406 Conference
    • Rotunda Day
    • Students
    • Climate Stories
    • Air Quality Flags
  • About Us
    • About Us & Contact
    • Board Members and Leaders
    • Our Team
    • Montana Medical Society Allies
    • Our alliances with National Organizations
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Annual Reports