Northern Cheyenne Tribal Board of Health 2021

Northern Cheyenne School Wellness Project

Through this project, the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Board of Health will provide essential mental health and primary care services through a mobile unit and three school-based settings on the Northern Cheyenne Nation. The schools include Northern Cheyenne Head Start, Lame Deer Public Schools, and the Northern Cheyenne Tribal School. The first year of the grant will focus on planning: creating policies and procedures, preparation for on-site care, increasing trauma-informed engagement, measuring school climate, and implementing alternatives to out-of-school discipline policies. The remaining years of the grant will allow for piloting and implementing new health services. Funding will support a project coordinator, community liaison, a mobile clinic, and medical supplies at all three on-site clinic locations. Partners include the three school sites, the Montana State University College of Nursing, and the Montana Office of Public Instruction.

Grant Amount

$274,998

Term

36 months

2021

Northwest Community Health Center 2021

Libby Rural Housing Planning Grant

The Northwest Community Health Center (NWCHC), a federally qualified health center serving Lincoln County with sites in Libby and Troy, used this grant to assess Lincoln County's homeless and housing vulnerable populations and develop an action plan for how the community can better address their needs. NWCHC built partnerships with community service providers and local officials and contracted with the Corporation for Supportive Housing to assist with the assessment, project management, and convening of partners. NWCHC facilitated a community learning collaborative to review the community housing landscape, identify state resources, and discuss the role of health centers. It also developed a Housing Case Conferencing group that meets biweekly and includes NWCHC leadership and care coordination staff, the hospital social worker, CAP Northwest, and a representative from the county drug court. Using the Housing Management Information System (HMIS), the group can now connect individuals experiencing housing instability with the needed resources. NWCHC identified an internal care manager to lead the project who has been trained to complete housing assessments that identify vulnerabilities and prioritize those with the greatest housing needs.

Grant Amount

$25,000

Term

12 month

2021

Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education 2021

Montana American Indian Post-Baccalaureate Program

The Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education, the University of Washington School of Medicine, and the Montana WWAMI Clinic Dean's Office used this planning grant to develop the Montana American Indian Post-Baccalaureate Program. The program will provide enrichment, support, and resources for Montana American Indians planning to enroll in medical school to increase their likelihood of attending. The project successfully laid the foundation for the program's launch, including creating materials that describe the program, outlining the curriculum, making lists of potential faculty and mentors, developing a meeting schedule, and identifying key tribal community members to contact for advice and support. Grant funds were used to provide salary support for the project director to oversee the development of tribal and academic relationships, faculty recruitment, and curriculum creation. Funding was also used for travel to in-person meetings and creating brochures and solicitation materials. The project has sent several grant applications to foundations and individual donors and is confident it will receive the funds needed to launch the program.

Grant Amount

$25,000

Term

12 month

2021

One Health 2021

Sacred Families Blaine County

One Health - Chinook/Harlem is a federally qualified health center that serves the communities of Blaine County. Through this grant, One Health will join The Meadowlark Initiative and provide routine screening and treatment for substance use disorders as part of prenatal and postpartum care. The Sacred Families Team at One Health will partner with health care providers in the region to provide screening, outpatient care, referrals for specialty care when needed. They will also coordinate community services for pregnant patients with mental health and substance use disorders at One Health and clinics that offer prenatal care in the region. The team will develop a coalition of county health and social service providers to design a community-wide structured approach to screen and provide care coordination to address the social needs of women and families. A care coordinator hired through this grant will travel across the county to connect expecting families seen in other practices for prenatal care with a peer support specialist and behavioral health provider, creating a bridge to a new and expanded, coordinated community of care. Funding will support the peer support specialist and care coordinator positions to successfully implement the project work plan, data reporting, and offer evidence-based patient services. Partners include Blaine County Public Health, WIC, and SPROUTS.

Grant Amount

$135,200

Term

24 month

2021

One Health 2021

Sacred Families Fergus County

The Sacred Families Team at One Health Lewistown used this grant to partner with health care providers in the region to reach pregnant women and families experiencing substance use disorders or mental health issues. The goal was to provide comprehensive, compassionate care to families; improve maternal and family outcomes; reduce newborn drug exposure, neonatal abstinence syndrome, and perinatal complications; and keep families together and out of the foster care system. Funds were used to hire a care coordinator, who was later transitioned to a peer support recovery doula to provide care coordination and peer services. The project successfully implemented care pathways and screening protocols. It also completed a Centering Pregnancy pilot, which involves bringing eight to 10 women together to receive prenatal care from a team of providers and support staff. The team's proposal for this innovative model currently has Medicaid pending approval and could ultimately help provide long-term sustainability for the project. One Health is also exploring billing for lactation counseling and education, which could open the door to delivering other critical behavioral health services. Challenges included getting all stakeholders together for weekly huddles and the need for more staff training in perinatal mental health and substance use to facilitate screening, brief interventions, and referral to treatment. The team is working on plans to resolve both of these issues.

Grant Amount

$135,200

Term

24 month

2021

One Health 2021

Sacred Families Rosebud County

The Sacred Families team at One Health Ashland partnered with health care providers in the region to reach pregnant women and families experiencing substance use disorders or mental health issues. The goals of this project were to provide comprehensive, compassionate care to families; improve maternal and family outcomes; reduce newborn drug exposure, neonatal abstinence syndrome, and perinatal complications; and keep families together and out of the foster care system. As the team worked to build the program, they discovered significant challenges that forced them to change their approach. Challenges in this area included a lack of transportation for patients to get to the clinic; problems finding affordable, well-located office spaces; difficulties recruiting community health workers and nurses due to the low pay offered; and a small pool of qualified applicants. In light of these challenges, One Health Bighorn stepped in to provide outreach services to the Ashland community to ensure that women and families have continued access to Meadowlark care.

Grant Amount

$150,000

Term

24 month

2021

Open Aid Alliance 2021

Uncovery Treatment Center Expansion Project

The Open Aid Alliance (OAA), a state-approved substance use disorder treatment organization serving the greater Missoula community, used this grant to expand and revamp its service delivery model. OAA hired a clinical director, who helped make significant progress over the first year of the project, but that position is currently vacant. Due to a significant increase in the number of unhoused people accessing services, OAA decided to offer open-access chemical dependency evaluations four days a week without requiring appointments. This model better serves participants and has eliminated most no-show appointments. Because ongoing clinical engagement was challenging, OAA adopted a continuous welcome-back cycle so that people can come in and out of care more fluidly. It has also focused on outreach-based services that can be delivered in congregate settings. This grant helped OAA launch the beginning phases of a nurse-led MOUD (medications for opioid use disorder) program, and it is in the process of applying for mental health center status with the state, which will help it expand beyond offering substance use treatment only. OAA increased revenues through its new services, has secured a grant from Missoula County, and is confident that services and activities will be sustained in the future.

Grant Amount

$20,000

Term

12 month

2021

Opportunities Inc 2021

Cut Bank Rural Housing Planning Grant

Opportunities, Inc. is located in Great Falls and serves six counties in North Central Montana by building innovative community-based programs. This project will engage local service and housing partners to plan for permanent supportive housing development in Cut Bank. Permanent supportive housing provides affordable housing and supportive services to homeless individuals and who frequently interact with health and other social services. Opportunities, Inc., with support from the Corporation for Supportive Housing, will facilitate meetings with a diverse group of community stakeholders to develop a strategic plan to increase Cut Bank's low-income housing stock. Funding will support a facilitator who will engage partners and formalize the ideas that will contribute to the strategic plan. One of the primary goals of this project is to bring together key stakeholders to participate in the strategic planning process. Glacier County is a committed partner, and the Cut Bank community is committed to addressing its housing issue and reached out to Opportunities, Inc. to lead the project.

Grant Amount

$25,000

Term

12 month

2021

Park County 2021

Park County Peer Support Specialist Program for Mobile Crisis Response in Park County

The Park County Behavioral Health and Crisis Response Coalition is a collaborative group of community leaders committed to improving county residents' access to crisis-related behavioral health services. The coalition selected the Park County Sherriff's Office to lead this project. The sheriff’s office is currently implementing a mobile crisis support team that goes into the community to help individuals with mental illness or substance use disorders. This project will integrate peer support specialists into the mobile crisis team, providing more effective outreach, engagement, and support for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises. This project will develop policies and procedures, training manuals, and overall infrastructure to support the onboarding of peers into the mobile crisis team. Funding will support hiring two peer support specialists and support clinical supervision, training, supplies, and travel. The project's primary partnership is with the Park County Behavioral Health and Crisis Response Coalition members, including local public health, law enforcement, the City of Livingston, Livingston Healthcare, Community Health Partners, the Human Resource Development Center, Mental Health Advisory Council, L'esprit Behavioral Health Center, and Park County.

Grant Amount

$74,790

Term

24 month

2021

Partnership Health Center 2021

Advancing Peer Support

Partnership Health Center (PHC) is a federally qualified health center serving the greater Missoula community. PHC provides a mobile support team that goes into the community to help individuals with mental illness or substance use disorders. This project will integrate peer support specialists into the mobile crisis team, providing a broader range of support for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises. PHC will convene partners participating in the Strategic Alliance for Improved Behavioral Health to make sure all the peer support efforts of the group are coordinated and will hire three new peer support specialists to work with the mobile crisis team. Funding will support convening and bringing on new staff. The project's primary partnership is with the strategic alliance; members include local public health, the City of Missoula, the University of Montana, All Nations Health Center, Western Montana Mental Health Center, Providence, Community Medical Center, and Missoula County.

Grant Amount

$75,000

Term

24 month

2021

Partnership Health Center 2021

Building a Comprehensive School-Based Behavioral Health System at Lowell Elementary School

Partnership Health Center is a federally qualified health center located in Missoula with two satellite clinics in Seeley Lake and Superior. Through this grant, Partnership Health Center will provide behavioral health services in Lowell Elementary School, bringing a comprehensive support system for students during classroom time and out-of-school programming. Behavioral health services will focus on prevention and wellness, fostering academic success and healthy social-emotional development. A behavioral health professional at the school will provide individual and group psychotherapy, crisis intervention, and training for school staff, support staff, and student caregivers. Funding will support the behavioral health professional's salary. Primary partners include Lowell Elementary, Missoula County Public Schools, and Missoula Parks and Recreation (the on-site, out-of-school program provider).

Grant Amount

$75,000

Term

24 month

2021

Peoples Partners For Community Development 2021

Northern Cheyenne Food Initiatives

People's Partner for Community Development (PPCD) is a Native-led nonprofit serving the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. It helps create a robust reservation economy while maintaining strong connections to the land, traditional values, and cultural history. This project will plan for the development of a small, state-inspected meat processing facility and mobile harvest unit to create a local healthy grass-fed beef food chain reasonably priced for the Northern Cheyenne community. PPCD will hire a consultant to develop a strategic business plan for securing this local food chain. Funding will support the consultant and the initial costs to hire a full-time meat processor. Project partners are HOPA Mountain, the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council, local school districts, and local grocers.

Grant Amount

$100,000

Term

24 month

2021

Providence Montana Health Foundation 2021

Providence Montana IBH Continuation and Specialty Clinic Expansion

Providence Montana Medical Group (Providence) is a network of 46 clinics in Missoula, offering the entire spectrum of primary and specialty medical and behavioral health care. This project will allow Providence to expand its capacity to provide the full continuum of behavioral health care and care coordination across its outpatient platform. This project builds on two successful prior grants that supported behavioral health integration into Providence's primary care clinics. With this consolidation project, Providence will begin screening patients for substance use disorders and social determinants of health needs, expand integrated care into its specialty clinics, and enhance its ability to provide care coordination. Funding will support the addition of licensed clinical social workers who will work with health care teams to manage patients' mental health and chronic medical conditions. Project partners include Providence's primary care and specialty clinic practice managers, physicians, providers, and Providence Medical Group leadership.

Grant Amount

$175,000

Term

36 month

2021

Providence Montana Health Foundation 2021

Providence St. Joseph Medical Center IBH Consolidation Grant

Providence St. Joseph Medical Center (SJMC) is a critical access hospital serving over 30,000 residents on the Flathead Indian Reservation. This project will increase patient access to evidence-based, culturally relevant behavioral health services by building upon and improving SJMC's existing integrated care program across its primary care clinics. The project will provide behavioral health staff with training in cultural competence and evidence-based interventions to build resiliency when working with a patient population that has experienced substantial historical and interpersonal trauma. Funding will support additional behavioral health personnel in primary care and provide education, training, and supervision for existing staff. Project partners include the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, tribal health leaders, and other local health and community organizations.

Grant Amount

$150,000

Term

36 month

2021

Providence Montana Health Foundation 2021

Providence St. Joseph Medical Center’s Journey of Hope

Providence St. Joseph Medical Center (SJMC) is a critical access hospital with a rural health clinic and an assisted living center located in Polson within the Flathead Indian reservation, serving Lake County residents. SJMC provides prenatal and postpartum care in a coordinated, team-based approach and delivers approximately 175-200 babies per year by two board-certified OB-GYN physicians. SJMC's Journey of Hope project will integrate existing initiatives (Wrapped in Hope, Bridge to Hope, and Medication Assisted Treatment) within The Meadowlark Initiative® model. The overall goal is to address pregnant and postpartum women's substance use disorder and behavioral health needs, providing non-judgmental, quality health care, recovery support, resources, and referrals. Journey of Hope will focus on building and strengthening the bonds between a mother and infant; building trust with providers and the health care system; building healthy support systems to allow for infants to stay in the custody of their biological parents; and referrals to community resources for patients to address the social determinants of health. Grant funds will support behavioral health and care coordination staffing costs to successfully implement the project work plan, data reporting, and offer evidence-based patient services. Project staff will work closely with the wide range of agencies and organizations that serve impacted families, including Tribal Child Protective Services, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services Child and Family Services, Drug Endangered Children Task Force, Drug Court, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Health Services, and Lake County Public Health.

Grant Amount

$150,000

Term

24 month

2021

Red Lodge Area Community Foundation 2021

Carbon County Area Ride & Transit: Addressing Rural Isolation & Mobility Needs

The Red Lodge Area Community Foundation (RLACF), serving Carbon County, is dedicated to building a thriving community through stewardship, collaboration, and innovation. This project will help Carbon County Area Ride and Transit (CART) create a new transit service that reduces transportation barriers and ensures residents have transportation to medical appointments, health facilities, grocery stores, and social events. The Transportation Advisory Committee – a county-wide committee of stakeholders – will implement the project using the feasibility study and operation plans completed during the planning phase. Funding will support staff and consultants, software, and staff training and meeting attendance. Other partners include the County Commissioners, the Montana Department of Transportation, Beartooth Billings Clinic, Community Cares, Riverstone Health, SCL Health, and Red Lodge Drug.

Grant Amount

$99,905

Term

36 month

2021

Rimrock Foundation 2021

Substance Abuse CONNECT Crisis Diversion Project

The Rimrock Foundation used this grant to fund the Substance Abuse CONNECT Crisis Diversion Project, which worked to redesign the crisis system in Yellowstone County. The goal was to unite and align the various crisis services available in Yellowstone County—from peer support to inpatient behavioral health to homeless outreach—and decrease emergency department utilization and criminal justice recidivism. Project partners included leaders from more than 90 organizations, including hospitals, schools, government agencies, and nonprofits. Funds were used to hire an executive director who focused on bringing partners together under a common plan. Rimrock updated a strategic plan for implementing Crisis Now as well as for strengthening the broader behavioral health continuum; initiated the community's first mobile crisis team; and set up task force groups to work on treatment, diversion, and prevention. It secured a Crisis Diversion Grant from the state of Montana, $1.3 million in mental health mill levy funds, and $225,000 annually to support the mobile crisis unit.

Grant Amount

$150,000

Term

24 month

2021

Salish and Kootenai Housing Authority 2021

Flathead Indian Reservation Housing Needs Assessment and Homelessness Study

The Salish and Kootenai Housing Authority (SKHA), which works to provide high-quality affordable housing to the people of the Flathead Reservation, used this grant to facilitate a survey to assess the housing needs in the community, which will then be used to help SKHA plan, finance, and develop housing resources to meet those needs. The project was guided by a newly formed Flathead Housing Coalition (FHC) made up of all the municipalities of the Flathead Reservation. The assessment gathered quantitative and qualitative data using a mixed-method approach involving a household survey, focus groups, community meetings, and interviews with knowledgeable sources. FHC hired a household survey manager; developed branding materials to bring awareness to the project; and contracted with Big Water Consulting to conduct on-site training for the manager and survey field staff. The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) also conducted a reservation-specific homeless survey in parallel with the larger needs assessment, which found significant overcrowding, lack of access to affordable housing, and housing rehabilitation needs. This data will be used as a baseline for planning and improvement efforts. The report has been completed and shared with key stakeholders, and it will now be used to guide the actions of the FHC and help it determine action steps. It will also be used to coordinate state and local efforts to secure funds for increasing affordable and safe housing.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

12 month

2021

Salish and Kootenai Housing Authority 2021

Staff Training and Ongoing Technical Assistance and Support

Morning Star Apartments is the Flathead Reservation’s first permanent supportive housing project. A collaboration between the Salish and Kootenai Housing Authority (SKHA), the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, and the Tribal Defenders Office, the 14-unit Morning Star Apartments provides stable housing and support services to people who were discharged from jail and would have otherwise been homeless. This grant allowed SKHA to contract with BeauxSimone Consulting to provide training and technical assistance to staff members who are managing the apartments. The consultants traveled from Denver to Missoula to conduct the weeklong onsite training on trauma-informed care, conflict resolution, and developing and maintaining a sustainable and supportive housing site. The consultants assessed the apartment building, identified security issues, and helped develop a plan to address them. They also worked with Morning Star staff on problem-solving, addressing tenant behaviors, and purchasing materials and supplies for residents. Through the training, the manager developed an operations manual. The project was a success in helping Morning Star Apartments improve services for its residents.

Grant Amount

$9,950

Term

12 month

2021

Sapphire Community Health, Inc 2021

Ravalli County School Wellness Program

Sapphire Community Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center that provides medical and behavioral health services to the underserved population in Ravalli County. This implementation project will open a school-based health center in two school districts, Hamilton and Victor. Sapphire will provide behavioral health and medical services on designated days of the week at each district. They will provide behavioral health services onsite and medical services in their mobile unit. Funding will support the behavioral health provider/school-based health services coordinator, a nurse, and startup costs and supplies. This project is a close collaboration among Sapphire Community Health, Victor School District, and Hamilton School District.

Grant Amount

$263,273

Term

24 month

2021

Southwest Montana Community Health Center 2021

Kennedy Elementary School-Based Clinic

Southwest Montana Community Health Center (SMCHC) is a federally qualified health center with clinics and pharmacies in Madison, Silver-Bow, Anaconda-Deer Lodge, and Beaverhead counties. This project will develop a school-based health center in Kennedy Elementary School, a school in which nearly 100% of students qualify for free and reduced-price meals and in which many students have low attendance rates. The health center will help improve the students' health, which will support their attendance and education. The health center will provide on-site medical and behavioral health services to students and their families. It will also offer other services like dental screenings, care management, pharmacy, and insurance assistance. Funding will support health center staff and IT services. Kennedy Elementary School (School District No. 1) is the project's primary partner along with other community groups like the local health department and Action Inc.

Grant Amount

$125,000

Term

24 month

2021

St. James Healthcare Foundation 2021

Emergency Medical Response in Jefferson County: Feasibility Study and Planning

St. James Healthcare used this grant to address the need for emergency medical services in Jefferson County. The county is sparsely populated, with fewer than seven people per square mile, and many of its residents are older and have chronic diseases. The grantee explored options for establishing a local volunteer EMS service. The grantee partnered with the Jefferson Valley Ambulance District (JVAD), and grant funds were used to pay a part-time interim ambulance director, who stays in Boulder two days a week to take ambulance calls, educate EMS providers, and work with the Boulder ambulance crew on policies and procedures. The project team drafted plans for the City of Boulder to join the JVAD, but the team was not able to train the entire staff of volunteer EMS providers. Along with tax and financial considerations, this challenge led the City to put this transition on hold. The City of Boulder and the Boulder Ambulance Service are pleased with the progress made thus far. They are committed to continuing this work to improve the county's access to high-quality emergency medical services.

Grant Amount

$25,000

Term

12 month

2021

St. Peter's Health Foundation 2021

Helena Regional Housing is Health Care Initiative Implementation

St. Peter's Health Foundation used this grant to form a collaborative in Helena to provide permanent supportive housing to people experiencing chronic homelessness and complex medical issues requiring frequent hospital care, also known as frequent users of system engagement (FUSE). Members of the collaborative include St. Peter's Health, PureView Health Center, Many Rivers Whole Health PACT, Aware PACT, the Helena Housing Authority, United Way, and local shelter and emergency service providers. Grant funds were used to support a new dedicated community-based services manager and technical assistance from the Corporation for Supportive Housing. A key aspect of this project is the Community Health Worker (CHW) program, which involves two CHWs helping to coordinate care among medical, behavioral health, housing, and social service providers. The collaborative successfully housed 19 system-identified frequent users, reducing emergency department visits, ambulance calls, inpatient admissions, urgent care visits, and criminal justice involvement among FUSE clients. The project's annual Helena Area Housing is Healthcare Summit was held in year one and year two of the grant period, attracting 150 and 200 attendees, respectively, and providing a vital platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration. The project is committed to sustaining these achievements by seeking donor support and additional grant funding, ensuring that housing remains a fundamental component of health care in the region.

Grant Amount

$100,000

Term

24 month

2021

St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation 2021

Clinical Supervision for Integrated Behavioral Health Quality and Sustainability

The Intermountain Healthcare system used this grant to hire a clinical supervisor to support a team of nine behavioral health providers across the state at St. Vincent Hospital in Billings, Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles City, and St. James Hospital in Butte. The goal was to improve the quality of care and fidelity to the integrated behavioral health (IBH) model in primary care clinics, while also increasing engagement and retention for behavioral health specialists working in the clinics. The clinical supervisor provided direct supervision, coaching, and training to the team of behaviorists; developed quality and safety data monitoring systems; and executed strategic and sustainability plans. She attended professional development trainings to improve her work and has passed that knowledge on to those she supervises. As a result of this grant, Intermountain was able to improve retention among its behavioral health staff. Additionally, having a dedicated clinical supervisor experienced in IBH on board has led to at least three team members completing their post-graduate training hours and obtaining licensure. This increase in licensed clinicians opens billing opportunities and contributes to the long-term sustainability of IBH services. The team in Montana is currently assisting Intermountain Health's behavioral health teams in Colorado and Utah to replicate this model.

Grant Amount

$150,000

Term

24 month

2021

United Way of Yellowstone County 2021

Billings Permanent Supportive Housing Implementation

United Way of Yellowstone County used this grant to build on its previous Housing is Health Care Initiative planning grant to develop permanent supportive housing (PSH) units for people in Billings who are homeless and have complex medical and behavioral health conditions. United Way sponsors Yellowstone County’s Homelessness Continuum of Care (CoC), which comprises more than 20 partners, including government offices, housing providers, mental health care providers, hospitals, and more. The CoC completed a work plan that outlines each partner's roles, responsibilities, and commitments; defines the program model based on community needs, feasibility, and sustainability; and identifies a property for the community’s first PSH development. HomeFront, the local housing authority, has agreed to reserve a lot it owns in a prime downtown location. A funding committee was created to seek out various grant opportunities, a budget was developed, and a developer was identified. Montana State University – Billings will provide data development and sharing, an evaluation system to track client outcomes, and a feasibility study. With a grant from United Way, the CoC hired a coordinator to oversee the work plan implementation and support the committees formed to move the project forward, including funding, building, operations, services, communications, and program committees.

Grant Amount

$98,400

Term

24 month

2021

University of Montana Foundation 2021

Development and Implementation of the Montana Prevention Certification Board

The goal of this grant was to establish the Montana Prevention Certification Board (MPCB) through the Montana Public Health Training Center (MPHTC). Through establishing professional certification standards for prevention specialists, the new board is intended to increase the supply of well-trained substance use prevention professionals. The board will accomplish this by strengthening the knowledge and skills base of prevention providers, creating a supportive peer network, establishing career paths, and providing active recruitment and cross-training. During the grant MPCB created an eight-member board and hired a board administrator. MPCB achieved its goal of becoming a member of the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium, a national body that grants reciprocity from state to state, sets standards for credentials, and administers a national prevention specialist examination. MPCB has already credentialed six applicants, and 35 more are in process. It has been marketing its certification through in-person events, a website, and social media. MPCB has received funding from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services to support the development of prevention-related training.

Grant Amount

$100,000

Term

24 month

2021

Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch (YBGR) 2021

Beaverhead County Crisis Response Task Force

The Beaverhead County Crisis Response Coalition used this planning grant to improve access to the county's crisis-related mental and behavioral health services. The project's goals were to identify strengths and weaknesses in the current crisis response protocols and work to build a comprehensive crisis system that improves access to critical community care while reducing inappropriate contacts with law enforcement and the hospital emergency department. The Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, a nonprofit mental health and substance use disorder treatment organization, led the project, working closely with a collaborative group of community leaders from health care, law enforcement, schools, government, and social service. Funding was used to hire a project coordinator who performed data research, administrative duties, stakeholder engagement, and consultant coordination. The consultants were hired to assist with county-wide mapping, strategic planning, and data analysis. The project built and strengthened its coalition membership, completed the sequential intercept mapping (SIM) process that identified prioritized goals, and applied for and received a Crisis Diversion Grant from the state to continue its work and begin the implementation phase. The Crisis Diversion Grant will provide additional funding opportunities from various private and public sources.

Grant Amount

$49,428

Term

12 month

2021

Youth Dynamics 2021

Becoming an ARC-Informed Agency

Youth Dynamics (YDI) provides family-focused behavioral health treatment in 30 locations throughout the state. Nearly 90% of the youth it works with have experienced severe trauma and have problematic behaviors associated with that trauma. YDI used this grant to implement the attachment, regulation, and competency (ARC) framework to provide more effective interventions for youth who have been traumatized and reduce the number of young people sent to out-of-state facilities. Grant funds were used to hire an ARC consultant for several assessments, provide training, and conduct team consultations for the first year of implementation. YDI incorporated the ARC framework model into its services and culture. Its accomplishments include training staff so that ARC principles were reflected in their direct work with clients, updating organizational procedures and processes to use ARC language, integrating ARC principles into youth satisfaction surveys to ensure client feedback addressed the new approaches, and redesigning the individual treatment plan template to use the ARC strength-based trauma-informed care approach. Certain staff members were designated as ARC champions to promote ARC principles among staff and ensure the ARC language used was culturally appropriate for YDI clients. YDI also introduced the ARC framework and key concepts to families and community partners.

Grant Amount

$34,050

Term

24 month

2021

YWCA Great Falls 2021

Great Falls Housing is Healthcare Data Project

YWCA Great Falls used this grant to enhance the Great Fall's Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) database to improve the tracking of housing vouchers and service utilization for those identified as homeless or at high-risk of homelessness, and to identify housing and service gaps in the community. During the project, community partners were able to place 35 people experiencing chronic homelessness – including many people with complex medical conditions – into housing. The project updated Great Falls’ “coordinated entry” homelessness screening tool to capture more detailed information and expanded the network of organizations entering information into the coordinated entry system, which now includes more of the community's available beds. This enhanced information helped Great Falls secure funding from the Montana Continuum of Care to support the development of the Baatz Building, which will be the community's first single-site permanent supportive housing project.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

24 month

2021