Adult Resource Alliance of Yellowstone County 2025

The Merger for a Mission Project

The Adult Resource Alliance is a nonprofit organization that has served seniors in Yellowstone County since 1975. Their mission is to provide effective services and lead collaborative efforts to ensure seniors remain independent with the highest possible quality of life. This grant will support planning for a merger between Adult Resource Alliance and Big Sky Senior Services (which also serves seniors in Yellowstone County), with the goal of providing more comprehensive and efficient services to address the needs of seniors in the community. The boards of both organizations have agreed to partner to complete this merger. The merger project requires a thorough due diligence process, legal compliance work, human resources integration, and operational strategy development to build a foundation for successful implementation. Grant funds will be used for consulting services and staff time to plan for a successful merger.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

12 month

2025

Aware, Inc. 2025

Strategic Communications Development and Support

AWARE (a statewide mental health, substance use, and developmental disabilities provider) is in the process of acquiring and merging with Western Montana Mental Health Center (a mental health and substance use provider). This grant will support public-facing and internal communications throughout the planning and implementation of this transition. Clear, accurate, and effective communications about the reasons for this merger and any changes in services and providers that may occur will be essential to retaining staff and maintaining and building trust with the communities served by these large mental health providers. Grant funds will be used to secure the services of an experienced, respected, Montana-based communications firm.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

24 month

2025

Benefis Health System Foundation 2025

Psych on Peds: Program Development

The Benefis Health System Foundation provides resources to support and enhance care for patients and families throughout north central Montana and beyond. Through this grant, Benefis will develop and pilot Psych on Peds, a new service at Benefis Health System that will provide case management and psychotherapy services to children with acute psychiatric needs who are admitted to the inpatient medical unit (including children in psychiatric boarding). The goal of this program is to increase continuity of care across medical and psychiatric service systems, thereby shortening hospitalization stays. Grant funds will be used for staff time on the project, clinical training and consultation, and incentives to support stakeholder engagement in needs assessment and quality improvement tasks. The primary partner is Shodair Children's Hospital in Helena.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

12 month

2025

Big Horn County 2025

Big Horn County Housing Workgroup

This grant will help Big Horn County establish a county-wide housing work group to address needs identified in the county's recently completed housing needs assessment. Big Horn County recently hired a full-time economic development and housing manager to lead this work. Partners include Big Horn County, the City of Hardin, Apsáalooke Nation Housing Authority, and Northern Cheyenne Housing Authority. Funds from MTHF will support the travel costs of workgroup members for participation in community engagement events, outreach, and a community housing summit. Big Horn County staff also participates in MTHF's Rural Housing cohort, which provides a forum for communities addressing housing needs to share challenges and solutions.

Grant Amount

$10,000

Term

12 month

2025

Billings OBGYN Associates 2025

Improving Perinatal Mental Health in Southeastern Montana

Billings OB/GYN Associates (BOBGYN) will implement The Meadowlark Initiative in Billings and surrounding communities in Southeastern Montana. BOBGYN delivers an average of 150 babies per month at St. Vincent Regional Hospital, which constitutes roughly 75% of the Billings market. The project will improve perinatal outcomes by adopting the Meadowlark model of care, including routine screening and prompt treatment for mental health and substance use issues. BOBGYN has hired a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who is already seeing patients. BOBGYN will use grant funds to hire a care coordinator to work with Meadowlark patients and intends to build a larger behavioral health team during the grant term. St. Vincent Regional Hospital is the main partner in this project.

Grant Amount

$150,000

Term

24 month

2025

Blackfeet Community College Department of Nursing 2025

National Accreditation for a Tribal College Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program

The Blackfeet Community College provides higher education opportunities for the Blackfeet Nation. Blackfeet Community College has created a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program and is now preparing to seek national accreditation with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Accreditation will involve a site visit by peers and an in-depth evaluation of the curriculum and training to ensure the program meets national standards for content and quality. The Montana Board of Nursing conducted a site visit in March 2025 and provisionally approved the program through 2025. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education's process will specify any additional requirements and recommendations that must be met and implemented for national accreditation. Grant funds will be used to hire a nursing education accreditation consultant and implement any specific requirements identified through the national accreditation process.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

12 month

2025

Butte Native Wellness Center 2025

Integrated Behavioral Health Expansion at Butte Native Wellness Center

Butte Native Wellness Center (BNWC) is the Urban Indian Organization providing primary care, behavioral health, nutrition, and cultural services in Butte-Silver Bow, Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Madison, Beaverhead, and Powell counties since 2022. This grant will support BNWC in implementing culturally responsive team-based primary care that integrates behavioral health services. BNWC will expand its behavioral health team by hiring a second licensed addiction counselor (LAC), an IBH clinician, and an IBH care manager. Through this project, BNWC will offer brief, same-day, and short-term behavioral health interventions, longer-term therapy, and care coordination that bridges medical, behavioral, and cultural care. Grant funds will support a portion of salaries and fringe benefits for three new positions. The multidisciplinary team will bring a strong foundation of collaboration, cultural expertise, and clinical experience to ensure the timely and effective implementation of IBH services. Project partners include Montana universities, Billings Area IHS, local psychiatric providers, Southwest Montana Community Health Center, the local pre-release program, Montana Chemical Dependency Treatment Center, Butte Rescue Mission, Butte-Silver Bow City-County, and the Montana Consortium of Urban Indian Health (MCUIH).

Grant Amount

$150,000

Term

24 month

2025

Central Montana Food Hub 2025

Central Montana Food Hub Facility Planning Grant

The Central Montana Food Hub (CMFH) is a producer-led marketplace and distribution network that supports small and medium-scale farmers, ranchers, and producers by marketing, aggregating, and delivering locally produced meats, eggs, honey, grains, produce, and value-added goods across communities in Central Montana, and also connects to other food hubs across the state. This project will support planning for a food aggregation and distribution facility in Harlowton, MT, including architectural, engineering, and business planning. CMFH has secured the project site and received a funding award from the Montana Department of Agriculture's Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program (RFSI) to build the facility. The project sets out four key objectives: establishing infrastructure for post-harvest processing, providing tailored warehouse and kitchen space, building a reliable distribution network, and improving the efficiency of the supply chain. High Plains Architects will develop the plans. Partners include Snowy Mountain Development, Mission West Community Development, Hopa Mountain, Abundant Montana, and Western Montana Growers Cooperative. MTHF funds will pay for architecture and engineering costs associated with the building's design, and support Snowy Mountain Development to finalize the financial proforma.

Grant Amount

$40,000

Term

12 month

2025

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation 2025

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Homelessness Strategic Planning

This grant will support the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) Homelessness Task Force Coalition to develop a strategic plan to address homelessness in the communities of the Flathead Reservation. CSKT will hire a facilitator to convene the Task Force and partners and work through a structured strategic planning process. Funds from MTHF will support supplies and consulting/facilitation services. Partners include Salish Kootenai College, the Montana Continuum of Care Coalition, the Tribal Defenders Office, and the CSKT Homelessness Task Force (which includes elected leaders and multiple tribal departments who work to address homelessness).

Grant Amount

$100,000

Term

12 month

2025

Culbertson Public Schools 2025

Behavioral Health Services in Culbertson Schools

Culbertson School District is a Class C K-12 school with an enrollment of 275 students and 50 staff. The goal of the project is for the district and Roosevelt Medical Center to formalize their partnership to bring school-based behavioral health services on-site at the school and provide behavioral health training to staff. They will do this by creating a safe and private space in the school for a therapist and providing behavioral health professional development activities for school staff. Grant funds will be used for the therapist's office and behavioral health training for staff. Roosevelt Medical Center is a confirmed partner for the project.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

24 month

2025

Elliston School 2025

Upgrade Kitchen Equipment at the Elliston School

Elliston, population 350, is a rural community about 20 miles west of Helena. The Elliston school food service program serves breakfast and lunch to 30 students, two thirds of whom receive free or reduced price lunch. This grant will allow the school to replace obsolete, non-commercial equipment with a commercial stove and hood and upgrade food storage capacity. The cook prepares recipes from scratch, which saves a considerable amount of funding and allows for the incorporation of healthy, local foods. Replacement of the cooking equipment and increased cold storage will allow for increased bulk buying, creating cost savings and increased sustainability for the program. The program will also partner with the Montana Project to End Childhood Hunger food service directors' cohort to increase capacity.

Grant Amount

$9,800

Term

12 month

2025

Family Promise of Great Falls 2025

Homeless to Housed Hub

Family Promise of Great Falls (FPGF) is a non-profit housing and services provider in Cascade County that provides emergency housing, permanent housing, and services to stabilize housing and prevent homelessness. They lead the Homeless to Housing Hub (HHH), a collaborative effort among Great Falls-based housing and service providers including YWCA, Alliance for Youth, St. Vincent de Paul, Housed Great Falls, Great Falls Public Schools, The Little Shell Tribe, Neighborworks Great Falls, Opportunities, Inc., Alluvion, and Many Rivers Whole Health. This consortium has submitted a proposal to the Diocese of Great Falls to lease the vacant Poor Clare Monastery. The property is home to several buildings and property for potential future development and represents an excellent opportunity for the community to meet housing needs both immediately and long-term. Grant funds will be used to hire a land-use consultant to assess the buildings and overall property and work with City officials, partners, and stakeholders to create a plan for immediate building uses, mid-term renovation needs, and long-term planning for new permanent housing. FPGF will also contract with a consultant to formulate a capital stack and fund development plan for the project.

Grant Amount

$30,000

Term

24 month

2025

Fort Peck Tribal Health Department 2025

Fort Peck Tribal Health Title V Planning Project

Fort Peck Tribal Health serves the American Indian population of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. With this grant, Fort Peck Tribes intends to complete the planning process to execute a Title V compact with the Indian Health Service (IHS) to assume responsibility for providing health services. Fort Peck will attend a tribal self-governance training, complete an initial Title V plan, engage the community, and carry out a survey to align the plan with community needs and priorities, and apply to the IHS for entry into the Tribal Self-Governance program. The Tribes have considered using a phased approach that starts with adding new Title I 638 contracts for certain services and delays final plans for compacting pending successful implementation of those contracts. Grant funds will be used by consultants to carry out the community survey and develop policies, as well as training and travel to attend self-governance training and site visits.

Grant Amount

$112,537

Term

12 month

2025

Geraldine Public School 2025

Strengthening Rural Nutrition Through Reliable Food Storage

The Geraldine Public School food service program serves breakfast and lunch to 67 students and has a strong scratch-cooking program. MTHF funds will be used to replace their refrigerator and freezer system and cover installation costs. The current food storage system is over 50 years old and experiencing multiple failures, resulting in food loss, higher costs, and compromised safety. Replacement will ensure safe storage, prevent food loss, and sustain their scratch-cooking meal program. Partners include the school staff and the Montana Project to End Childhood Hunger.

Grant Amount

$10,000

Term

12 month

2025

Good Housing Partnership 2025

Eastern Montana and Whitefish Scattered Sites Preservation

This PRI to Good Housing Partnership (GHP) will provide $740,000 in predevelopment financing to assist in acquiring, renovating, and preserving affordability for 273 housing units in six existing housing developments in Glasgow, Sidney, and Whitefish. The PRI will fund the assessments required for each property to access Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), which are reimbursed at the closing of the LIHTC partnership. Rents are targeted to be affordable to people earning less than 60% of Area Median Income. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) subsidies are available to ensure that households do not pay more than 30% of their income toward rent, regardless of their income. The planned renovations will substantially improve accessibility, safety, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency for tenants while preserving long-term affordability. The $740,000 PRI will be repaid with 2% interest at the closing of the LIHTC deal, which will happen within 24 months of the date of this PRI. The PRI will leverage $48.6 million in bond financing and LIHTCs that make up the majority financing package for this multi-site project. Remaining sources for the $67.5 million project include deferred developer fees and a seller note.

Grant Amount

$740,000

Term

24 month

2025

Granite County Medical Center 2025

Providing Access to Total Health

Granite County Medical Center (GCMC) is a 25-bed critical access hospital that serves the rural communities of Philipsburg and Drummond with a total population of 3300 residents. This project aims to implement integrated behavioral health in GCMC’s two rural health clinics. GCMC will contract with Roots & Resilience, a nonprofit community mental health agency, for an on-site clinician one day/week and access to on-call providers as needed. The work plan includes training providers and staff on integrated care and universal screening, updating the electronic health record (EHR) with data collection templates, and updating billing processes with appropriate behavioral health codes. Grant funds will support a portion of project staff salaries, a contract for Roots & Resilience, a contract for data collection and EHR optimization, and equipment/supplies. Project partners are Roots & Resilience for clinical services, Health Equity Solutions for EHR optimization and billing technical assistance, and the Healthy Granite County Network for referrals to community resources.

Grant Amount

$124,976

Term

36 months

2025

Great Plains Veterans Services Center 2025

Building Sustainable Veterans Support Services

Great Plains Veterans Services Center (GPVSC) is a nonprofit founded by veterans in 2015 to address the pressing needs of American Indian Veterans in Montana’s most isolated communities. GPVSC serves Rocky Boy, Blackfeet, and Fort Belknap reservations and both Native and non-Native veterans in Hill, Chouteau, Glacier, and Blaine counties. The goal of this project is to create a comprehensive sustainability plan that strengthens GPVSC’s Veteran Support Services, enhancing mental health care and partnerships for lasting community impact. GPVSC will hire a consultant to complete strategic planning, feasibility analysis, and sustainability planning. Funds will be used for consultant salary, travel, and meetings. The primary partner is the Great Falls Vet Center.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

12 month

2025

Harvest Food Pantry, Inc. 2025

Food Pantry Client-Choice Model Implementation

Harvest Food Pantry is a volunteer-led organization working to address hunger and improve the health and well-being of people in Cut Bank and the neighboring community of Seville. Through this grant, Harvest Food Pantry will implement a self-service shopping model for customers, allowing them to select foods that meet their family's tastes and needs. Self-shopping improves customer experience by enhancing dignity and choice, allowing more intentional selections to create nutritious meals, and increasing the likelihood that people in need will use this critical community service. Funds from MTHF will be used to purchase a glass-door freezer, stanchions, rope dividers, a printer, and a laminator to implement the food pantry's self-shopping model.

Grant Amount

$6,917

Term

12 month

2025

Helena College 2025

Occupational Therapy Assistant Program

Helena College is a two-year institution within the Montana University System offering 28 degrees and certificates with nearly 1,500 students enrolled. This grant will enable Helena College to establish an Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) training program. The OTA program will help meet a growing demand for qualified occupational therapy professionals, equipping graduates with the skills to work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, school districts, pediatric clinics, and other health care settings. To develop this program, Helena College will upgrade classrooms with the necessary technologies to teach occupational therapy skills and add an academic fieldwork coordinator and full-time faculty member. Grant funds will support staff salaries, equipment, and supplies. Confirmed partners, including Intermountain, the Helena School District, Rocky Mountain College and University of Montana, Helena OT Specialists, and Rosebud Healthcare Center, will offer students valuable learning environments and mentorship.

Grant Amount

$100,000

Term

24 month

2025

Helena Indian Alliance 2025

School Based Services Expansion Project

Helena Indian Alliance (HIA) is an Urban Indian Health Center and a federally qualified health center look-alike. Through this grant, Helena Indian Alliance will expand its successful school-based service program to two elementary schools in the Helena School District, Smith and Jefferson. HIA will provide behavioral health and case management services in those schools and anticipates offering services two days per week at each school. Grant funds will support the salary of the behavioral health provider during the startup period. The primary partner for the project is the Helena School District.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

12 month

2025

Hopa Mountain 2025

Increasing Access to Local Food for Rural Montanans

This grant will support Hopa Mountain to build and maintain a Local Food Marketplace (LFM) web portal and expand access to food hubs and producers around the state. The LFM is a customer-facing website that shows aggregated local food available through food hubs and small producers for purchase by institutional buyers, commercial sellers, and individuals. LFM will also assist food hubs in creating and managing their online stores. LFM is one component of the Local Food for Local Families collaborative (LFLF). Partners include Mission West Community Development Partners, Western Montana Growers Cooperative, Livingston Food Resource Center, Great Northern Development Corporation, Farm Connect Montana, the Montana Food Bank Network, and food hubs and producers. Funds from MTHF will support staff time, software, training, and website development for LFM to develop the Buy Local Montana website.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

24 month

2025

Kalispell School District #5 2025

Enhancing Student and Staff Wellness

Kalispell Public Schools (KPS) is a Title I district that serves over 6,000 K-12 students in the Kalispell area. This project aims to strengthen the partnership with Greater Valley Health Center (GVHC) to enhance students' and staff's access to medical and behavioral health services and create a culture of wellness across the district. KPS will do this by employing a Wellness & Mental Health Support Specialist (WMHSS), who will serve as the project manager for a district-wide initiative aimed at increasing awareness and uptake of the GVHC school-based health centers, and by establishing a KPS School Wellness Advisory Council. The WMHSS will manage the overall program, including coordination, communication, and program evaluation, to better integrate GVHC's services into the district's existing support systems for students and staff. Grant funds will be used towards the salary of the WMHSS, supplies, and communications.

Grant Amount

$75,000

Term

24 month

2025

Liberty County Hospital DBA Logan Health - Chester 2025

Behavioral Health Service line- Chester Montana

Logan Health Chester is a 25-bed critical access hospital serving the rural communities of Liberty, Hill, and Toole Counties on the Hi-Line in northcentral MT. This project will add integrated behavioral health (IBH) to the rural health clinic’s primary care practice. Logan Health Chester will hire a full-time behavioral health provider to offer a hybrid model of brief interventions and traditional therapy. The IBH program will be supervised by Logan Health’s Hi-Line behavioral health manager, who oversees behavioral health staff for hospitals in Conrad, Cut Bank, and Shelby, facilitates education and connections with local schools and community providers, and oversees marketing and outreach for IBH. Grant funds will support the salary of the new behavioral health provider and a portion of the Hi-Line behavioral health manager’s salary, as well as supplies and equipment. The other Hi-Line critical access hospitals in the Logan Health system are project partners. Logan Health Cut Bank will offer all previous materials, policies and procedures, and budgetary tools to help Logan Health Chester mirror its successful IBH service line. Partners include the Chester school district and community social service agencies.

Grant Amount

$125,000

Term

24 month

2025

Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana 2025

LST ISDEAA Planning Project

The Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians is centered in the Great Falls area, with tribal members throughout Montana and across the United States. This grant will support the Tribe to complete the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA) planning phase and prepare negotiation documents to assume responsibility and funding for providing healthcare services from the Indian Health Service (IHS). This will be done by recruiting and hiring a dedicated project manager, traveling to an existing self-governance site or program, developing recommendations for Tribal Council consideration, developing a draft compact and funding agreement, and carrying out negotiations with the Indian Health Service (IHS). Funds will be used for staff and consultant time and travel associated with the project. Confirmed partners for this project include the Little Shell Tribe negotiation team, Negotiations and ISDEAA Planning Team Lead Terra Branson-Thomas, Finance Director Kevin McCaughey, and Little Shell Attorney General Josh Clause.

Grant Amount

$200,000

Term

12 month

2025

Livingston Healthcare 2025

Enhancing Access and Collaboration: Expanding the Ranger Clinic for Comprehensive Youth Health Services in Park County

Livingston HealthCare (LHC) is a fully accredited, integrated, not-for-profit healthcare organization that primarily serves the residents and visitors of Park and Sweet Grass Counties. The goal of this project is to expand access to the current school-based health center at Livingston High School, explore strategic partnerships, and elevate youth voice. They will do this by expanding hours of the current school-based health center at Park High and adding an additional site at Sleeping Giant Middle School. Both are school-wide Title I schools. They will also dedicate staff time to a school-based program manager position and a care coordinator role. The school-based program manager position will focus on coordinating efforts with the school district and other partners. The care coordinator will provide support to both the medical and behavioral health teams in the schools. Grant funds will be used towards staff salaries including the program manager, care coordinator, psychologist and nurse practitioner. Livingston School District is a confirmed partner in this project.

Grant Amount

$199,230

Term

36 months

2025

Livingston Public Schools 2025

Expanding School-Based Healthcare

Livingston School District is a PK-12 school district serving 1,200 students in Park County. The goal of the project is to increase utilization of the school-based health center that they have on campus, in which Livingston Health offers primary care and behavioral health services. They will do this by hiring a staff member to serve as a liaison with Livingston Health. This staff member will analyze utilization data and use this information to develop appropriate branding, outreach, and systems to facilitate utilication of the services. Grant funds will be used for project staff salaries, travel and supplies. Confirmed partners for this project are Livingston Health and Livewell 49.

Grant Amount

$75,000

Term

24 month

2025

Logan Health - Whitefish 2025

LHW Meadowlark Initiative Phase 1

Logan Health Whitefish is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital that provides services to community members in Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Canyon communities, and towns along the Burlington Northern line to Eureka. Through this grant, Logan Health Whitefish will implement the Meadowlark model of care in a newly acquired OB/Gyn clinic in Whitefish, making Meadowlark care standard practice in this clinic, as it is at Logan Health Medical Center. Grant funds will support a full-time care coordinator. Partners include the Early Childhood Coalition of Flathead Valley, Flathead Valley Perinatal Mental Health Coalition, the Department of Child and Family Services, Zero to Five Collaborative of Lincoln County, Blackfeet Meadowlark Initiative Team, the Nurturing Center, Concert Health, and Flathead City/County Health Department.

Grant Amount

$149,928

Term

24 month

2025

Mahchiwminahnahtik Chippewa and Cree Language Revitalization 2025

Chippewa Cree Language Revitalization for Community Health & Well-Being

Mahchiwminahnahtik Chippewa and Cree Language Revitalization (MCCLR) is a community nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing and preserving the Chippewa and Cree languages for future generations. The goal of this project is to integrate the Cree language into community health initiatives, using language as a tool for healing, cultural preservation, and resilience-building. This project will assess the feasibility of language-based interventions in mental health, substance use recovery, and community wellness by partnering with Medicaid-eligible health care providers like the Rocky Boy Health Center and other tribal health organizations. Partners include Rocky Boy Health Center, Chippewa Cree Tribal Elders Advocacy Group, Stone Child College, and the Montana Office of Public Instruction. Grant funds will be used to support strategic planning, research, and partnership development, as well as hiring a part-time coordinator to assist in organizing efforts, community outreach, and program development.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

12 month

2025

MIGHTY FEW COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 2025

Wyola Fresh Food Education Program

Mighty Few Community Development is a new non-profit organization formed to respond to community needs on the Crow Reservation. They are dedicated to enhancing community infrastructure, promoting health and wellness for the youth and the elderly, and fostering active community involvement. The grant will support the Wyola Fresh Food Education program, which will expand education on cooking and eating fresh foods; teach community garden management; improve access to and affordability of fresh produce, herbs, and traditional plant medicines; and establish a food pantry with the addition of fresh foods grown from a community garden. Grant funds will cover staff time, consultants, gardening supplies, food, refreshments for workshops and classes, and program promotion to support participant recruitment. Partners include Cedar Rose Creations, Helping Hands Food Bank, Montana Food Bank Network, and Hopa Mountain.

Grant Amount

$20,000

Term

12 month

2025

Montana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics 2025

Integrated Behavioral Health in Primary Care

The Montana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (MTAAP) is the state professional association for Montana pediatricians. The MTAAP IBH Initiative in Primary Care project will support three-to-five independent pediatric primary care clinics to implement the integrated behavioral health (IBH) model. MTAAP will contract an IBH program manager to assist clinics with planning implementation and identifying and overcoming implementation challenges; provide tailored assistance to design a tailored IBH model of care for each clinic; and train and support clinic managers on IBH business models and quality improvement. MTAAP will also create a peer-led working group to support ongoing IBH education and training for pediatricians, practice managers, and staff. Finally, MTAAP will provide continuing medical education (CME) sessions at the annual Pediatric Roundup conference each fall and scholarships for mental health trainings for clinical staff at the REACH Institute. Grant funds will support a contracted part-time IBH program manager, a portion of MTAAP staff salaries, physician leadership stipends, CMEs for the IBH sessions at Pediatric Roundup, and scholarships for REACH Institute training.

Grant Amount

$150,000

Term

24 month

2025

Montana Consortium for Urban Indian Health 2025

Strengthening Urban Indian Health

The Montana Consortium for Urban Indian Health (MCUIH) supports Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) by providing advocacy, education, and technical assistance to strengthen health care services for American Indians and Alaska Natives in Montana urban areas. The goals for this project include expanding the workforce pipeline for UIOs, enhancing data systems, providing policy education, and fostering collaboration within the UIO network. This will be accomplished through site visits and training for members, creating a data governance board to facilitate UIO control and use of health data, and participating in the National Consortium for Urban Indian Health’s (NCUIH) Annual Conference, which allows UIO executive directors to meet with national UIO partners and congressional delegates in Washington, D.C. Grant funds will be used to support participation in NCUIH’s Annual Conference, support a strategic planning visit to the California Consortium for Urban Indian Health (CCUIH), and to support MCUIH staff to coordinate efforts. Confirmed partners include Montana’s UIOs – All Nations Health Center in Missoula, Billings Urban Indian Health & Wellness Center, Butte Native Wellness Center, Helena Indian Alliance, and Indian Family Health Center in Great Falls; NCUIH, CCUIH, Montana HOSA, and JG Research and Evaluation.

Grant Amount

$150,000

Term

24 month

2025

Montana Cooperative Development Center 2025

Bridging the Gap: Connecting Farmers, Grocers, and Communities Through Cooperative Solutions

Montana Cooperative Development Center (MCDC) helps communities plan and start cooperatives to address key community needs, such as grocery stores and child care centers. Cooperatives are member-owned businesses that operate for the benefit of members. This grant will support MCDC to identify grocery stores located in rural communities (focusing on Central and Eastern MT) and considering closure or sale within the next five years, assess their suitability for a cooperative conversion, and provide technical support to communities interested in pursuing the cooperative approach. The stores will also benefit from better access to locally-produced foods through MCDC's work with food hubs. MCDC will partner with Montana State University (MSU) to recruit an intern who will conduct research, outreach, and educational efforts. MCDC staff and the food and agriculture development director at the Great Falls Development Authority will supervise this work. Other project partners include Abundant Montana, which will provide support with mapping grocery stores and producers, and Western Sustainability Exchange, which will assist with network access. MTHF funds will support MCDC staff, the MSU intern, travel, and meeting supplies.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

18 month

2025

Montana Free Press 2025

Health care reporting for Montanans

Montana Free Press will provide in-depth, ongoing coverage of health and health policy issues. These stories will be published for free on the Montana Free Press website and in collaboration with over 100 partnering news outlets across the state. Reporting will ensure that public health experts, policymakers, leaders, and Montana residents alike are aware of the policy debates and decisions made by their elected representatives and have access to the information they need to make informed decisions for their health and the health of their communities. Funding will support reporting and editorial staff positions. Partners include print and online news sites and radio stations across the state that re-publish Montana Free Press reporting.

Grant Amount

$149,996

Term

24 month

2025

Montana School Counselor Association 2025

Assessing Critical Needs for Crisis Preparedness and Mental Health Resources

The Montana School Counselor Association (MSCA) promotes professionalism and ethical practices while empowering and advocating for all school counselors. The goal of the project is to study the current roles school counselors play in addressing student behavioral health and crisis response and to use this information to guide the development of training and resources for school counselors and schools across the state. MSCA will work with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) to review current state-wide data and develop a survey, administer the survey, conduct a needs assessment, analyze the data from the survey, share the results, and develop action plans. Grant funds will be used towards MSCA staff salaries, consultants with AIR, and travel. Confirmed partners include the Montana Small School Alliance, AIR, and School Administrators of Montana. They have a strong network that includes several other partners.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

12 month

2025

Montana School Services Foundation 2025

Bridged Health Alliance Program Investment

Bridged Health Alliance (BHA) is the newly established health and wellness benefits trust resulting from Montana House Bill 332 (2023), which allocated $40 million to create health benefits packages for staff and beneficiaries of Montana public school systems. Bridged Health Alliance is supported by the Montana School Services Foundation as a fiscal sponsor. To validate the trust and make the $40 million available for health benefits, BHA must complete basic organizational development tasks to become a freestanding organization and secure participation of at least 150 districts covering 12,000 employees by June 30, 2026. Through this grant, BHA will engage contractors for legal, actuarial, branding, and marketing services to support these efforts. Confirmed partners for this project include the Montana School Boards Association, the School Administrators of Montana, the Montana Association of School Business Officials, the Montana Rural Education Association, the Montana Quality Education Coalition, the Montana School Services Foundation (MSSF), the Montana Federation of Public Employees, and the Montana Association of School Superintendents.

Grant Amount

$75,000

Term

12 month

2025

Native American Development Corporation 2025

Enhancing Urban Access to Healthcare for American Indians

Native American Development Corporation (NADC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing economic, social, and health stability for Native American communities. NADC houses the Billings Urban Indian Health and Wellness Center (BUIHWC), an urban Indian organization that serves the region's urban Indian community. The project will focus on enrolling patients in health insurance coverage. By doing so, BUIHWC will help ensure continuous coverage for Native Americans, expand access to health care services for its service population, and contribute to its health services' financial sustainability. This will be done by identifying patients without adequate coverage, both through individual data in BUIWC’s electronic health record and through broader outreach to the community. Health care benefit coordinators will assist patients to identify and apply for appropriate coverage. BUIHWC will also design a culturally-tailored outreach campaign to raise awareness about health insurance options among their service population.

Grant Amount

$150,000

Term

24 month

2025

New Kids on the Block Daycare 2025

New Kids on the Block- (NKotB) Expansion Grant

New Kids on the Block (NKotB) is a non-profit daycare providing families in Sheridan and the surrounding area with safe, affordable, high-quality childcare. This grant will help NKOtB launch an infant program that will accommodate eight infants, increasing childcare slots in the community by 65%. Funds from MTHF will be used to purchase age-appropriate furniture, toys, and supplies for the expansion and to train new staff.

Grant Amount

$10,000

Term

12 month

2025

Peoples Partners For Community Development 2025

The Peoples Partner for Community Development Food Sovereignty Expansion

People's Partners for Community Development (PPCD) is a Native-led 501(C)3 nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI) serving the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. PPCD provides financial services to reservation residents and runs a mobile meat processing facility and grocery store. This project aims to expand access to affordable food and business opportunities for local food producers, and enhance food safety, product quality, and energy efficiency by installing new freezers and coolers in its butcher shop. Updated freezers at Warrior Grocery will ensure better temperature control and consistency, which are essential for preserving meat quality and safety. With the enhanced storage capacity, the butcher shop can stock a wider variety of meats, including specialty cuts, locally sourced products, and seasonal items. This offers more choices for the community and supports local farmers and producers. Grant funds will be used to plan and procure cold storage equipment. PPCD works with a wide range of partners to advance its goals, including Chief Dull Knife College, Consumer Credit Counseling of Montana, the Workforce Investment Act Program, Oweesta, St. Labre Indian School, Northern Cheyenne Schools, Family Services, the Northern Cheyenne Food Pantry, Northern Cheyenne Economic Development Corporation, Warrior Grocery, and the Northern Cheyenne Livestock Association.

Grant Amount

$130,000

Term

12 month

2025

Providence St. Joseph Medical Center 2025

Journey of Hope Continuation

Providence St. Joseph Medical Center serves the Polson area and delivers on average 220 babies annually. This project will continue developing the center's participation in The Meadowlark Initiative. The center will refine clinical processes, workflows, policy, and funding options to sustain the Meadowlark care model beyond the grant term. Partners include the Lake County Health Department, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Health and Social Services, the Families First Learning Lab, YWCA, Flathead Maternal Mental Health Coalition, and St. Luke's Community Hospital. Grant funds will provide partial salary support for key Meadowlark positions and support for training and travelling to meetings.

Grant Amount

$100,000

Term

24 month

2025

PureView Health Center 2025

PureView School Based Health Four Georgians Elementary School

PureView Health Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center serving Lewis and Clark County and Lincoln. PureView provides behavioral health services in three schools in the Helena School District. With this grant, PureView will expand services to an additional school, Four Georgians Elementary School (4 G's). Helena School District identified this school as a priority for services, and has agreed to contribute funds and support to support the project. Grant funds will be used towards the salaries of the clinicians and project supplies.

Grant Amount

$25,000

Term

12 month

2025

PureView Health Center 2025

Collaborative Care Management & Chronic Care Management Implementation

PureView Health Center is a federally qualified health center that serves Helena and neighboring communities. With this grant, PureView will expand its integrated behavioral health program to include chronic care management (CCM), transitional care management, and collaborative care management (CoCM) services. PureView has provided integrated services for over 10 years, but patients’ needs exceed the available resources. CCM/CoCM offers the team a population-level approach to managing behavioral health and chronic medical conditions. Grant funds will support the upfront investment in staffing, infrastructure, and workflow integration. Primary project partners include Big Sky Psychiatry, Helena Indian Alliance, and St. Peter's Health.

Grant Amount

$100,000

Term

12 month

2025

Red Shield 8 Nations, Inc. 2025

RS8N Facility Project Management and Pre-development

Red Shield 8 Nations (RS8N) is a newly formed nonprofit created by seven Montana tribes and the Montana Consortium of Urban Indian Health Centers (MCUIH) to build a new, tribally led regional healing center. This two-year grant will support RS8N to conduct pre-development, capital financing, and site improvement activities at the Great Falls site. Tasks to be completed include the property survey, completion of the property transfer from the Little Shell Tribe to RS8N, hiring a construction project manager to oversee the planning, pre-development, and eventual construction of the site improvements and facility, and hiring a consultant to manage the capital financing. Grant funds will be used for the property survey, owner’s representative contract costs, architecture and engineering, regulatory fees, and a capital financing consultant. These professionals will work on behalf of RS8N to ensure that the facility development and fundraising efforts are seamlessly coordinated, resulting in the timely completion of the facility.

Grant Amount

$110,000

Term

24 month

2025

Red Shield 8 Nations, Inc. 2025

RS8N Start-Up Operations

Red Shield 8 Nations (RS8N) is a newly formed nonprofit created by seven tribes and the Montana Consortium of Urban Indian Health Centers (MCUIH) for the purpose of building a tribally-led regional healing center. This grant will support RS8N’s initial steps of organizational development, which include hiring an interim executive director; developing and implementing policies and procedures; building basic operations infrastructure including branding, website, and accounting and office systems; planning and initiating a capital campaign; securing funding committed by the Little Shell Tribe; and establishing and maintaining effective communications with member tribes.

Grant Amount

$190,000

Term

24 month

2025

Richey Public Schools 2025

Scratch Cooking Equipment Upgrades for the Kitchen

Richey is a community of about 200 people in Dawson County, located about 45 minutes from Glendive and Sidney. Richey public schools serve meals to about 100 students and staff. Funds from MTHF will be used to replace the food service department's oven and sink and make space for the addition of a proofing cabinet. These replacements and additions will allow for full implementation of the school's scratch cooking program, including homemade bread. The school will collaborate with the Montana Project to End Childhood Hunger's food service directors' cohort, which supports rural scratch cooking in schools across rural Montana. This initiative provides healthy, locally grown foods for students and staff, resulting in cost savings and improved nutrition.

Grant Amount

$10,000

Term

12 month

2025

Rocky Boy Health Center 2025

Professional Leadership Project

Rocky Boy Health Center (RBHC) is a non-profit, tribally led facility serving the Chippewa Cree community on the Rocky Boy Reservation in northcentral Montana. Through its Professional Leadership Project, RBHC will integrate an award-winning integrated behavioral health model -- the Alaska Southcentral Foundation's Nuka System of Care -- while building a system of care that integrates the Chippewa Cree Tribe’s principles and traditions. RBHC aims to improve patient care and staff efficiency, enhance workplace culture, increase professionalism, define roles, and advance operational procedures that support quality of care and quality improvement efforts. Grant funds will support consultation with experts for structured training, coaching, and mentorship to the medical director and healthcare staff. Leadership and administrative staff will visit the Southcentral Foundation in year one and the Seattle Indian Health Board in year two to gain knowledge and insight into the Nuka and other integrated care models. Primary project partners on this project include SouthCentral Foundation and Mountain-Pacific Quality Health.

Grant Amount

$200,000

Term

24 month

2025

Roosevelt Medical Center 2025

Culbertson School Based Behavioral Health

Roosevelt Medical Center (RMC) is a 25-bed critical access hospital located in Culbertson and serving neighboring communities including Bainville and Froid. RMC offers hospital, outpatient, emergency, ambulance, and ancillary services. The project aims to address the emotional, social, and psychological needs of students in the Culbertson School District and, in turn, improve academic success and overall well-being. Through this project, RMC will work with the district to implement school-based services, including individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, and strategies to promote positive behaviors. RMC will provide a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) on-sight once or twice a week to implement this project. Providing these services in the school setting will make them more accessible and minimize school absenteeism. Grant funds will be used to offset the school's behavioral health provider's start-up cost and the supplies needed to start the services. The confirmed partner for this project is Culbertson School District.

Grant Amount

$150,000

Term

24 month

2025

The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation 2025

KFF Health News Montana News Partnership

This project will support the continuation of the Kaiser Health News (KHN) bureau in Montana. The bureau increases Montana-centered health journalism and provides high-quality, relevant coverage of critical health care, public health, and health policy issues free of charge to news outlets throughout the state. The continuation of this partnership will fund a Montana-based health journalist who will continue producing impactful stories on the important issues affecting Montanans, which will be widely distributed through media partners across the state, region, and nation, as well as through social media. The project aims to increase the quantity and quality of health journalism for and about Montana residents, helping them understand the political, economic, and social factors that impact their health and well-being.

Grant Amount

$200,000

Term

24 month

2025

The Montana Partnership to End Childhood Hunger Inc. 2025

Increasing Fresh Quality Food in School Meal Programs

The Montana Project to End Childhood Hunger (MT-PECH) creates collaborations and partnerships across Montana's food system to maximize community-based resources to increase access to nutrient-rich, locally grown food. In recognition of schools' critical role in meeting community nutrition needs, MT-PECH has engaged four cohorts of rural food service directors (FSDs) representing 58 schools to implement scratch cooking and local food sourcing in Montana schools. Over the past year, MT-PECH helped cohort members identify equipment needs for the successful implementation of scratch cooking in their facilities. Through this grant, MT-PECH will support cohort schools in sourcing and purchasing equipment. Additionally, MT-PECH will develop a K-12 contract with a distributor supplying Montana-sourced foods to schools and, in partnership with Abundant Montana, create regional producer lists for schools and other institutional buyers. Partners include Abundant Montana, cohort schools, and producers across the state. Funds from MTHF will be used to support identified purchases, MT-PECH staff time, and travel to cohort schools.

Grant Amount

$75,000

Term

12 month

2025

Yarrow, LLC 2025

Addressing Human Trafficking Response in the Healthcare Setting

Yarrow is a Montana-based consulting organization whose mission is to empower public health systems with evidence-based, culturally appropriate, and contemporary practices to meet the needs of their vibrant communities. The goal of this project is to conduct an assessment of how larger Montana hospitals address human trafficking and, based on the assessment, develop a training curriculum to improve hospital awareness of and effective responses to human trafficking. Grant funds will be used for staffing, travel, and assessment design. This work will be accomplished through a strategic partnership between Yarrow and independent consultant Shannon Brown, RN. Partners to be engaged will be healthcare staff from larger Montana healthcare facilities (located in Billings, Great Falls, Bozeman, Helena, Missoula, and Kalispell) that voluntarily commit to joining this project.

Grant Amount

$25,994

Term

12 month

2025

Action Inc. 2024

Butte Permanent Supportive Housing Planning and Development

Action, Inc. is the Community Action Program serving Butte-Silver Bow County, providing a wide range of anti-poverty programs, including housing, energy, and case management. This $40,000, one-year proposal will support Action, Inc. in implementing the community's first purpose-built permanent supportive housing (PSH). PSH serves people with complex medical conditions who are chronically homeless. The model links housing with on-site services such as tenancy support, employment assistance, and medical and behavioral health care to improve health outcomes and reduce the need for high-cost emergency services. Action, Inc. has developed a robust Coordinated Entry System (CES) with 15 community partners actively participating. The group will identify frequent users prioritized for the new units using CES and case conferencing. In response to community input and available property from the County, Butte's PSH will be built in a series of five fourplexes (four units in progress with an estimated 2025 completion and 20 total units planned). The units will be owned and subsidized by the Butte Housing Authority, with property management and tenancy support provided by Action, Inc., and healthcare services provided by the Federally Qualified Health Center Southwest Montana Community Health Center. Funds from MTHF will be used to support project staff responsible for onboarding the first four units and architectural services for the remaining fourplexes.

Grant Amount

$40,000

Term

12 month

2024