We are happy to announce the recipients of our 2024 Call for Proposals grants. These projects represent innovative ideas for improving health and well-being in Montana.
Although we do most of our grantmaking through our strategic initiatives, the annual call for proposals plays a vital role in our programming. Every year, it helps us understand new needs, ideas, and partners around the state. Sometimes, proposals have led us to support new statewide initiatives.
These decisions are always challenging. Our team reviews each application carefully and relies on our selection criteria when deciding which projects to fund.
Projects Funded
Emma’s House – Bitterroot Valley Children’s Advocacy Center, Inc: Acute Intervention Medical Clinic
Grant Amount: $35,840 Project Term: 12 months
Emma’s House is a nationally accredited Children’s Advocacy Center in Ravalli County, serving as a resource for children and adolescents who have experienced abuse. Through this grant, Emma’s House will plan and begin to implement acute medical exams for child and adolescent victims of sexual and physical assault and drug endangerment. The grant will allow Emma’s House to obtain additional equipment, training, and certification to conduct acute exams within 72 hours of incidents of abuse. Grant funds will support a portion of project staff time, contracts for on-call providers, training, and a limited pharmacy license. The project relies on and benefits from partnerships with Bitterroot Health, FirstSTEP Resource Center, Sapphire Community Health, Ravalli County Attorney and Sheriff’s Office, DPHHS Child and Family Services Division, and Bitterroot Drug.
Florence Crittenton Home & Services: Establishing Youth Maternity Home as a Licensed Medicaid Residential Setting
Grant Amount: $50,000 Project Term: 12 months
Florence Crittenton provides trauma-responsive care, family-centered support, and services to parents and children throughout Montana. Through this grant, it will work to improve Medicaid reimbursement for their youth maternity home, which serves young mothers aged 12-21 and their children. Establishing a reliable funding source will allow Florence Crittenton to fund these services and expand the number of clients the program can serve. The grant will support staff time to carry out the analysis required to establish a new Medicaid rate and engage DPHHS and critical partners in serving this population. Primary partners include the DPHHS Child and Family Service Division, the Early Childhood Services Bureau, the Montana Board of Crime Control, and Youth Courts and Juvenile Probation.
Helena Indian Alliance: The Resilience Lab
Grant Amount: $50,000 Project Term: 24 months
Helena Indian Alliance will partner with Helena High School to plan and pilot the “Resiliency Lab,” an innovative solution to the growing mental health crisis among Montana youth. The project will create a trauma-informed eight-week curriculum for staff, weekly educational offerings, and evidence-based therapeutic modalities for students. The project is coordinated with a new school-based health center run by Helena Indian Alliance. The Resiliency Lab program will help the school implement supports that benefit all students, allowing the clinic to focus on students needing a higher level of care. The project aims to improve academic and health outcomes across the student body. Grant funds will be used for staff salaries, supplies, travel, contracts, and communications. The partner for this project is Helena School District, specifically Helena High School.
Missoula County Public Schools: Willard Alternative High School Recovery Program
Grant Amount: $49,325 Project Term: 12 months
Willard School in Missoula County Public School District is an alternative school that serves over 240 at-risk students. The goal of the project is to establish a school-based recovery program for students struggling with substance use disorders. They will do this by embedding addiction counseling within the academic day, allowing students to receive therapeutic support while pursuing their education. Grant funds will be used for staff time on the project, travel for meetings and a conference, and supplies. Partnership Health Center will provide behavioral health services for the recovery program, and the Missoula Youth Court has also agreed to coordinate with the district.
Veterans Navigation Network: Warrior Bridge Native Partnerships Initiative
Grant Amount: $46,436 Project Term: 12 months
Veterans Navigation Network (VNN) is a statewide nonprofit facilitating smooth transitions from military service to civilian life. Through this planning grant, VNN aims to foster health improvement and strong partnerships across eight tribes and five urban Indian organizations in Montana. Specifically, the project will allow VNN to explore with these communities how to help Native veterans navigate and access military benefits in a culturally responsive manner. Partners include the Office of American Indian Health at the Department of Public Health and Human Services and Riverstone Health. Funds will support staff time and travel expenses.
You can learn more about the projects we fund by visiting our Grant Library.