We support a complete continuum of behavioral health services by addressing prevention and treatment system gaps.
Mental Illness & Substance Use Disorder Prevention
We support the Montana Public Health Institute, which works directly with county and tribal health departments to implement prevention programs for mental illnesses and substance use disorders. We also continue to work with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services and local partners to advance community-led prevention efforts.
Behavioral Health Crisis Diversion
We support redesigning behavioral health crisis systems by implementing a national best practice model called Crisis Now, which is designed to prevent suicide, end unnecessary admissions to emergency rooms and jails, and provide people in crisis with needed care and support.
Visit our Behavioral Health Crisis Diversion page to learn more about this statewide work and the available funding opportunity.
Closing Additional Gaps in the Behavioral Health Continuum
We continually identify behavioral health system needs and use grants or contracts to address specific, strategically important gaps in the continuum of care. Areas we are currently working on include:
- Implementing the Program for Assertive Community Treatment in rural Montana to allow people with longstanding, severe, or disabling mental illnesses to live and function safely in their homes and communities rather than being hospitalized.
- Developing partnerships between organizations that serve people with behavioral health diagnoses.
Behavioral Health Policy & Communications
We identify and implement practical policy solutions to support the sustainable development of Montana’s behavioral health systems.
Supporting Behavioral Health Advocacy
We support organizations that support the behavioral health system, including the Behavioral Health Alliance of Montana and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Strengthening the Primary Care System
Our Integrated Behavioral Health Initiative and The Meadowlark Initiative® support a robust primary care system.
Primary care is the foundation of an effective behavioral health system for Montana. Nationally, more than 50% of mental health services are provided in primary care.
We work with social service, justice, public health, and health providers to pilot new and innovative partnerships to foster recovery and improve the behavioral health continuum of care.
Partnerships focus on billing support, business agreements, revenue enhancement, and collaborations to serve communities better.
Read our 2022 Annual Report for more highlights!
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Our Approach
We work to close gaps in the behavioral health continuum of care by supporting regions across the state in implementing the Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT). PACT is a behavioral health service delivery model that facilitates community living, psychosocial rehabilitation, and recovery for people whose illnesses haven’t improved with traditional outpatient services. It allows people with longstanding, severe, or disabling mental illness to live and function safely in their homes and communities rather than being hospitalized and is particularly beneficial for people living in remote and rural communities who may not have easy access to mental health services.
PACT “teams,” made up of a multidisciplinary group of licensed staff and paraprofessionals, go out into the community, meet, and provide care for people wherever they are and whenever there is a need.
Our Support
In partnership with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services and the Behavioral Health Alliance of Montana, we support policy to improve and expand PACT implementation across the state. We provide grants to support the startup of new PACT programs, emphasizing reaching rural areas.
All funding is by invitation only.
Contact
If you have a question about this initiative,
please email our program team.