Regional Client Care Manager Rosemary Callahan has spent the past three years helping strengthen Red Cross client care programs across the region.  

Having built a strong foundation of service and leadership, she is now extending that impact through a broader community leadership role. She joined the Missoula County Access and Functional Needs, or AFN, subcommittee in January 2025 and has been an active member ever since. 

“I came to know a lot of the people on that subcommittee and really respect them for the work that they do at the most local levels in our community,” she said. “I then continued to build my passion for addressing access and functional needs in emergency planning over the course of 2025 and into 2026. That part of my career just really expanded a lot.” 

The Missoula County Access and Functional Needs Subcommittee brings together public, private, Tribal, nonprofit and lived-experience partners to make emergency planning, response and recovery more inclusive. The group promotes preparedness, shares resources and advances accessible communication to better support people who may need additional assistance before, during or after a disaster. 

Former subcommittee chair and Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Julia Gore approached Rose about succeeding her as chair. Rose led her first meeting in July. 

“So it's all happened very fast in the last four months, but it really has been the culmination of several years of working in this community,” she said. 

Missoula County members are excited to see their existing vision and spirit of collaboration move forward with a transition from traditionally government-led framework to one guided by a local nonprofit. 

 “Especially as we move towards a community mobilization approach in which we become a force multiplier to catalyze the energy of the community that is already present and make it even more powerful by putting the strength of the Red Cross behind it.” 

She sees this appointment as a continuation of Red Cross’ longstanding commitment to action and impact. 

“My focus is to bring together expertise and identify any opportunities for improving the work that we're already doing, as well as sharing best practices with each other and ultimately ensuring that every single piece of emergency planning considers the needs of all of the residents of Missoula County.” 

Over 40 members representing various agencies and organizations, along with local residents take part in subcommittee meetings.