Family and Consumer Sciences

Solid Finances is series of free financial education webinars. The webinars are designed to empower you to take control of your finances by improving your knowledge of personal finance topics. 

 

Today in Montana, there are over 6,600 kinship caregivers providing care to children without parental support. This group was formed to provide support and education for the kinship caregivers right here in Cascade County. The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Project was established in 2002 and has taken many forms across the state, most recently changing its name to the Montana Kinship Navigator Program (MTKNP). For more information at the state level visit the Montana Kinship Navigator Program website or email [email protected].

For more information about the MTKNP please contact the MSU Extension Cascade County office at 406-454-6980. 

Powerful Tools for Caregivers program provides information and education for friends andrelatives acting as caregivers for an adult with chronic medical conditions.

Join us for two hours each Wednesday for six weeks and gain tools, knowledge and support to help you take better care of yourself and continue to be an effective caregiver.

This weekly series of classes is taught by certified class leaders Felicia O’Brien and Mary Jacobsen.

Powerful Tools for Caregivers Support and Education Group

Date: Meets 3^rd Monday of each month

Time: 12pm – 1pm

Location: Sletten Cancer Institute in Guy Tobacco Room,
1117 29th St South in Great Falls, MT 59405

Details:
A support and education group for caregivers that are caring for a loved one with a chronic illness or condition. This group is intended for the caregiver only, topics covered include self-care, food & nutrition, difficult decisions, nutrition, respite, activity, and more. For more information, contact Felicia O'Brien, MSU Extension Cascade County FCS Agent, at [email protected] or 406-454-6980.

 

Unable to attend class but still interested in food preservation? Check out the Food Preservation 101 series where MSU Extension food preservers share the science and preservation best practices on the following topics:

• Fermentation 101
• Water bath canning 101
• Atmospheric steam canning 101
• Pressure canning 101
• Freezing and drying 101
• Sausage making 101

 

Additional Resources: Food preservation MontGuides can be found on the Montana State University Publications website

Join us for this interactive and hands-on workshop learning how to prepare family meals in minutes using electric pressure cookers.

Topics to be covered include:

• Pressure cooker shopping tips
• No fear pressure cooking
• Food preparation pointers
• Food demonstrations
• Recipe booklets
  
• Food safety

ServSafe Food Manager Class (8 hours class)

The food manager course is an in-depth look at food safety and cover the following topics: safe food, forms of contamination, the flow of food, food safety management systems, safe facilities, and cleaning and sanitizing.

Additional Resources:

• For questions regarding regulation and requirements please contact the local sanitarians. In Cascade County please contact the environmental Health Office at 406-454-6950.
• For more details on the ServSafe Food Manager class visit the ServSafe website
• Download a PDF of the ServSafe Class Dates Flyer

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ServSafe Food Handler Class (4 hour class)

Food handler course is a brief overview of the following topics: personal hygiene, controlling time and temperature, preventing cross contamination, and cleaning and sanitizing.

Date/Time:

ServSafe classes and exams are currently unavailable.

Location: MSU Extension, 3300 3rd St NE #9

Cost: Free

Please note, this coursedoes not fulfill the CFPM requirement.

 

 

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Food Pantry Food Handler (2 hour class)

Food pantry food handler course is specific to food pantries. This course covers receiving and distributing donations, food storage, controlling time and temperature, personal hygiene, and cleaning and sanitizing. This class does is not affiliated with ServSafe, it is intended to offer basic food safety training specifically for food pantries and like establishments.

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ServSafe Food Manger Exam Proctoring

ServSafe classes and exams are currently unavailable.

Dining with Diabetes is a cooking school and nutrition education program designed for people with diabetes and their family members or caregivers.

In a series of four classes, cooking demonstrations will help you learn healthy techniques to use in your own kitchen. The program includes sampling healthy foods and discussion with a dietitian or certified diabetes educator, plus a follow-up reunion class held at a later date.

Who Can Attend?

Anyone with concerns about diabetes or anyone interested in controlling blood sugar is encouraged to participate and to bring a family member, friend, caregiver, or other support person.

Class Details:

Class will be a hybrid class of online OR in-person classes held at the Cascade County MSU Extension office 3300 3rd St. NE #9, Great Falls, please indicate your choice when registering.

We will do meal preparations, the lesson, and conclude with a shared meal (virtually). Meeting links and information will be sent via email the day of each class. You can access webex through your mobile device, tablet, or computer.

Recommended Kitchen/Cooking Utensils

• Mixing bowls
• Measuring cups/spoons
• Cookie sheet
• 9x13 pan
• Tin foil
• Sharp knife
• Vegetable peeler (we will be peeling 1-2 apples)
• Colander
• Medium saucepan
• Wisk