Montana State University Foundation 2021

Climate Change and Human Health in Montana – The Film

In January 2021, a team of medical providers and climate scientists (along with 20 more contributors from the state, Tribal, academic, and rural community sources) published "Climate Change and Human Health in Montana: A special report of the Montana Climate Assessment" (C2H2). This project will aid the dissemination of C2H2 by creating a short documentary film. This film will help make the report's critical findings broadly available to communities around the state. The content of the film is intended to help with community discussions and adaptation decisions. It will be distributed through local commercial and public television stations, and it will be available for public forms such as county and Tribal meetings, community gatherings, and medical and public health conferences. The film will highlight the report's critical findings through interviews with physicians, climate scientists, and people living on the landscape (e.g., farmers and ranchers, Native Americans, public health officers, town mayors, and others). It will also provide practical recommendations to help communities plan and adapt. Partners in the project include Montana State University, the University of Montana, and all other partners on the C2H2 author team.

Grant Amount

$10,000

Term

12 month

2021

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) is a federally qualified health center serving Lincoln County, with sites in Libby and Troy. With this project, NWCHC will assess Lincoln County’s homeless and housing vulnerable populations and develop an action plan for how the community can better address their needs. NWCHC will contract with the Corporation for Supportive Housing to identify individuals who are housing insecure and frequently using community systems. They will also build partnerships with community service providers that can provide tenancy support and care coordination. Funds will support the technical assistance contractor, project management, and convening. Partners include the City of Libby, Lincoln County Health Department, Cabinet Peaks Medical Center, and Community Action Partners.

Grant Amount

$25,000

Term

12 month

2021

Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education 2021

Montana American Indian Post-Baccalaureate Program

The Montana American Indian Post-Baccalaureate Program will provide enrichment, support, and resources for American Indian students planning to enroll in medical school. This planning project will lay the foundation for the program's launch, including establishing curriculum, developing faculty and mentor commitments and relationships with Tribal colleges and communities, and identifying Native student advisors. Funding will support staff to oversee the development of Tribal and academic institutional relationships, faculty recruitment, and curriculum development. This new program is a partnership between the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education and the Montana WWAMI Medical Education Program. Montana WWAMI will administer the statewide program, which will include American Indian students aspiring to medical school anywhere in Montana.

Grant Amount

$25,000

Term

12 month

2021

One Health 2021

Sacred Families Rosebud County

The Sacred Families Team at One Health Ashland will partner with health care providers in the region to reach pregnant women and families experiencing substance use disorders or mental health issues. It will provide screening, interventions, services and create a referral network under The Meadowlark Initiative®. A county health and social service provider coalition will design a community-wide, structured approach to funnel families identified through regular screenings to a care coordinator. The care coordinator will oversee services in five clinical care sites in Ashland, Lewistown, Chinook, Harlem, and Miles City. The care coordinator will travel among the sites to connect expecting families with a community-based peer support specialist and a behavioral health care provider, creating a bridge to a new, expanded community of care. One Health will continue its partnerships with Indian Health Services, Billings Clinic, St. Vincent's Healthcare, and Riverstone Health Center to create a structured process for providing continuity of care for families as they move between local prenatal care and delivery in Billings. Grant funding will support care coordination management across all five One Health sites. Partners include Indian Health Service Lame Deer Unit, Northern Cheyenne Recovery, Tribal Social Services, Rosebud Best Beginnings, and the Boys and Girls Club.

Grant Amount

$150,000

Term

24 month

2021

One Health 2021

Sacred Families Fergus County

The Sacred Families Team at One Health Lewistown will partner with health care providers in the region to reach pregnant women and families experiencing substance use disorders or mental health issues. It will provide screening, interventions, services and create a referral network under The Meadowlark Initiative. A county health and social service provider coalition will design a community-wide, structured approach to funnel families identified through regular screenings to a care coordinator. The care coordinator will travel across the county to connect expecting families with a community-based peer support specialist and a behavioral health care provider, creating a bridge to a new, expanded community of care. One Health will continue its partnership with Central Montana Medical Center to create a structured process for providing continuity of care for families as they move between clinic-based prenatal care, delivery, and the community. Funds will be used for staffing of the care coordinator and peer support positions. Partners include Central Montana Coalition for Family Health, Central Montana Medical Center, and One Health.

Grant Amount

$135,200

Term

24 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

Open Aid Alliance 2021

Uncovery Treatment Center Expansion Project

The Open Aid Alliance is a state-approved substance use disorder treatment organization serving the greater Missoula community. For this project, the Open Aid Alliance will expand its current substance use disorder program and increase its capacity to provide sustainable services. It will increase its current part-time clinical director to full-time and add a clinician, three case managers, and one certified peer support specialist. The clinical director is currently providing clinical services, and the move to full-time will allow for increased clinical and administrative oversight. Funding will support the clinical director's start-up costs and staff training. The project focuses on internal capacity building and does not have any primary external partners.

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 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

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

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

This project will support Substance Abuse Connect (CONNECT) to redesign the crisis system in Yellowstone County. There are multiple crisis services available in Yellowstone County (peer support, inpatient behavioral health, and homeless outreach, for example), but there is a need for strategic alignment among services. With the help of a local coalition known as CONNECT, Rimrock will lead the project, using grant funds to hire an executive director who will work to align the efforts of the current crisis service providers. Partners that make up CONNECT include leadership from the local hospitals (Billings Clinic, St. Vincent Healthcare, RiverStone Health), School District 2, the Indian Health Service, Yellowstone County, the City of Billings, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Yellowstone County Continuum of Care Coalition, and the Behavioral Health Alliance of Montana.Sub-committees of this group lead work on specific tasks in the strategic framework. The project aims to decrease emergency department utilization and criminal justice recidivism in Yellowstone County by developing a sustainable behavioral health crisis system.

Grant Amount

$150,000

Term

24 month

2021

Salish and Kootenai Housing Authority 2021

Staff Training and Support

The Salish and Kootenai Housing Authority (SKHA) provides high-quality, affordable housing to the people of the Flathead Reservation. In early 2021, SKHA established Morning Star Apartments, the Flathead Reservation's first permanent supportive housing project. With this grant, SKHA will contract with Beau Simone Consulting to provide training and technical assistance for the staff who are managing the 14-unit Morning Star Apartments. Beau Simone Consulting will provide a weeklong onsite training for Morning Star staff on the Housing First model, trauma-informed care, conflict resolution, and developing and maintaining a sustainable, supportive housing site. Funding will support consulting fees and travel costs. This project is a collaboration among the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, the Salish and Kootenai Housing Authority, and the Tribal Defenders Office.

Grant Amount

$9,950

Term

12 month

2021

Salish and Kootenai Housing Authority 2021

Flathead Indian Reservation Housing Needs Assessment and Homelessness Study

The Salish and Kootenai Housing Authority (SKHA) works to provide the highest quality affordable housing to the people of the Flathead Reservation. This project will facilitate a survey of the housing needs in the community and will help SKHA plan, finance, and develop housing resources to meet the community's needs. The assessment will gather quantitative and qualitative data using a mixed-method approach involving a household survey, focus groups, community meetings, and interviews with knowledgeable sources. Funding will be used to hire a consultant who will help develop and implement the survey. Partners include the Polson and Ronan municipalities. Other municipalities in the surrounding area will be invited to participate as well.

Grant Amount

$50,000

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 will partner with the City of Boulder, Jefferson Valley Ambulance District, and other stakeholders in Jefferson County to address the need for improved access to sustainable, effective emergency medical services in the county. The county is sparsely populated, with fewer than seven people per square mile; residents are older and chronic diseases are prevalent. The project will assess the feasibility of creating a county-wide ambulance district to ensure the delivery of high-quality emergency medical services throughout the county, with a particular emphasis on rural and underserved communities. A steering committee of local stakeholders will work with a consultant to gather, review, and analyze local data. The study will take place over 12 months, resulting in a final report with recommendations for stakeholders on whether to pursue the special district and considerations for improving emergency medical response in Jefferson County.

Grant Amount

$25,000

Term

12 month

2021

St. James Healthcare Foundation 2021

Emergency Medical Response in Jefferson County: Feasibility Study and Planning

St. James Healthcare will partner with the City of Boulder, Jefferson Valley Ambulance District, and other stakeholders in Jefferson County to address the need for improved access to sustainable, effective emergency medical services in the county. The county is sparsely populated, with fewer than seven people per square mile; residents are older and chronic diseases are prevalent. The project will assess the feasibility of creating a county-wide ambulance district to ensure the delivery of high-quality emergency medical services throughout the county, with a particular emphasis on rural and underserved communities. A steering committee of local stakeholders will work with a consultant to gather, review, and analyze local data. The study will take place over 12 months, resulting in a final report with recommendations for stakeholders on whether to pursue the special district and considerations for improving emergency medical response in Jefferson County.

Grant Amount

$25,000

Term

12 month

2021

St. Peter's Health Foundation 2021

Helena Regional Housing is Health Care Initiative Implementation

The Helena Regional Housing is Health Care development project will provide access to permanent supportive housing for people in the Helena area who are homeless and have complex medical issues requiring frequent hospital care. To do this, the project will 1) provide high-quality training on permanent supportive housing to improve existing programs and improve housing and service system integration overall; 2) explore onsite health care and other support services at key housing sites; 3) develop community-level data sharing agreements to identify the most vulnerable persons who are homeless or unstably housed; 4) improve referral systems to better serve vulnerable populations (persons with disabilities, elderly, and families and children in child welfare systems; 5) develop additional services where needed to address unmet needs that drive high costs; 6) review housing policies to better serve high need persons in coordination with health care and other services; and 7) explore the development of additional permanent supportive housing resources, vouchers, and new facilities in conjunction with Helena Housing Authority’s redevelopment efforts. Key partners include Helena Housing Authority, Pureview Health Center, Saint Peter's Health, United Way, Center for Mental Health, and AWARE. Grant funds will support a new dedicated Community-Based Services Manager to lead program implementation.

Grant Amount

$100,000

Term

24 month

2021

St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation 2021

MSCA Website Establishment

The Montana Spiritual Care Association (MSCA), an affiliated society of the Montana Hospital Association, supports spiritual care providers in health care and behavioral health settings. This project will support the development of a new website for MSCA to provide information, membership maintenance, resource sharing, and continuing education for its membership. Funding will support the website design and initial maintenance. By making its information more readily available, MCSA plans to increase its membership and better support the spiritual care providers who look to it for support.

Grant Amount

$3,950

Term

12 month

2021

St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation 2021

Clinical Supervision for Integrated Behavioral Health Quality and Sustainability

SCL Health Montana Medical Group (SCL Health) provides primary and specialty care through 14 clinics across Montana. This project will create and staff a clinical supervisor position at SCL Health to provide coaching, quality improvement, and safety support for integrated behavioral health services across the organization's primary care clinics. The clinical supervisor will improve clinical the quality of care and fidelity to the integrated care model in primary care clinics while also increasing engagement and retention for behavioral health specialists working in the clinics. Funding will support the clinical supervisor position and provide report writing capacity for the clinics to develop data monitoring reports and dashboards to improve outcomes. This project will utilize the internal partnerships it has established with each of its participating sites. Each integrated care clinic will utilize its partnerships for care coordination and referral for specialty care to meet each patient's needs.

Grant Amount

$150,000

Term

24 month

2021

United Way of Yellowstone County 2021

Billings Permanent Supportive Housing Implementation

United Way of Yellowstone County will build on their previous Housing is Health Care initiative planning grant to develop permanent supportive housing units for people in Billings who are homeless and have complex medical and behavioral health conditions. A strong partnership among local health, housing, and city/county agencies was built through the MHCF planning grant. The project will create a coordinated system for service delivery and financing and a process for identifying, connecting with, and serving the people in Yellowstone County who have the highest medical need and are experiencing homelessness. This grant will support the creation of systems for service delivery and data matching using the Corporation for Supportive Housing's frequent user system engagement (FUSE) model. Funding will be used for project coordination, technical assistance from the Corporation for Supportive Housing, and developing data systems to track progress and allow for shared data and outcome measures across partner agencies.

Grant Amount

$98,400

Term

24 month

2021

University of Montana Foundation 2021

Development and Implementation of the Montana Prevention Certification Board

The Montana Public Health Training Center (MPHTC) is housed in the School of Public Health and Community Health Sciences at the University of Montana. MPHTC provides training and professional development to public health professionals and health care providers throughout Montana. This grant will help establish a Montana Prevention Certification Board (MPCB) through MPHTC, whose purpose is to set and maintain professional certification standards for prevention specialists. MPCB will be a member of the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium, a national body whose function is to grant reciprocity from state to state, set appropriate standards for credentials, and administer a national prevention specialist examination. MPCB will build capacity to supply a well-trained substance abuse prevention workforce by increasing retention, strengthening the knowledge and skills base, creating a supportive network, establishing career paths, and providing active recruitment and cross-training. Official certification ensures public safety and oversight of the profession, requires professionals to demonstrate competency through experience, education, supervision, and passing a rigorous examination, promotes knowledge and skills to provide evidence-based practices, and keeps updated on prevention science. Funding will support the program manager, hire contracted trainers for training, and support the development of the MPCB.

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 is a collaborative group of community leaders committed to improving county residents' access to crisis-related mental and behavioral health services. The coalition selected the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, a nonprofit mental health and substance use disorder treatment organization, to lead this project. This project will help define the comprehensive behavioral health crisis system strategy for Beaverhead County. The coalition will establish a formal charter for members, map the current and ideal crisis system, develop a strategic plan, and implement strategies. Funding will hire a project coordinator to help formalize the coalition and a mapping and data support consultant. The coalition consists of key leaders from local public health, law enforcement, schools, hospitals, federally qualified health centers, persons with lived experience, emergency medical services, elected officials, and social service organizations.

Grant Amount

$49,428

Term

12 month

2021

Youth Dynamics 2021

Becoming an ARC-Informed Agency

As one of Montana's largest children's mental and behavioral health agencies, Youth Dynamics 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. This project will help Youth Dynamics become an Attachment, Regulation, and Competency (ARC) Informed Agency to provide more effective interventions for youth that have been traumatized and reduce the number of young people sent to out-of-state facilities. Becoming a trauma-informed agency requires three years of staff training in the ARC model. In addition to helping staff understand how to treat youth experiencing trauma, the ARC model will also help parents and direct-care staff understand and learn interventions for treating secondary trauma. As part of this project, Youth Dynamics will explore partnerships with other organizations going through the ARC training process to collaborate on training and strengthen referral relationships. Grant funding will hire an ARC consultant who will provide assessments, conduct training, and offer team consultations.

Grant Amount

$34,050

Term

24 month

2021

YWCA Great Falls 2021

Great Falls Housing is Healthcare Data Project

YWCA Great Falls provides services to meet critical needs, promote self-sufficiency, reduce violence, and achieve equal opportunities for all people. To better identify the housing and service gaps in the community, YWCA will enhance Great Fall’s Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) database to track housing vouchers and service utilization for those identified as homeless or at high risk of homelessness. This new database will allow YWCA to work across agencies and systems to gather data that tracks the housing and health services used by Coordinated Entry and Frequently User Systems Engagement (FUSE) clients. The capacity to collect quality data will help YWCA coordinate care and resources for the homeless population and help ensure they stay housed. Funding will support staffing for project coordination and data access and input. Opportunities, Inc. is the HMIS lead for Great Falls and is the primary partner for this project.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

24 month

2021

Addictive and Mental Disorders Division 2020

Communities that Care Training Expansion

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), Addictive and Mental Disorder Division (AMDD) will hire two Communities that Care (CTC) coaches to help implement the CTC program in six counties (Lake, Flathead, Silver Bow, Toole, Lewis and Cark, and Pondera). CTC is a sustainable, evidence-based program designed to promote healthy youth development, improve health and social outcomes, and reduce problem behaviors. With a previous MHCF grant, AMDD hired a CTC program coordinator and contracted with the University of Washington to provide intensive training and technical support to help ten communities implement the program. This grant will support hiring two additional coaches to help expand the program into six counties. The project's primary partner is the DPHHS Public Health and Safety Division, which leads the state's public health efforts and coordinates services to local and Tribal public health agencies. AMDD's goal is to implement CTC in every county in Montana, and it has committed to continuing to scale the program by using internal resources to sustain these positions after our grant is done, and to support additional coordinators.

Grant Amount

$178,824

Term

24 month

2020

Alluvion Health 2020

Alluvion Health Vaugh Schools

Alluvion Health will implement school-based health services, including medical, dental, and behavioral health, in Vaughn Public School. Vaughn Public School is a K-8 school located 15 miles from Great Falls. Alluvion will use a newly acquired mobile unit to provide dental services and provide medical and behavioral health services within the school. Grant funds will cover startup costs including salaries for the staff providing services. The project’s goal is to offer health services to the students and staff members of Vaughn Public School and the surrounding communities of Sun River, Fort Shaw, and Simms and in turn, to improve students’ ability to learn and succeed in school.

Grant Amount

$100,000

Term

24 month

2020

Association of Montana Public Health Officials 2020

Higher Logic Community Sharing Platform

The Association of Montana Public Health Officials will use the Higher Logic web platform to create a cloud-based application that enables Local and Tribal Health Departments to share resources and discuss and provide each other with technical assistance on specific public health questions. The Higher Logic platform has been used by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), NNPHI, and other public health organizations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for this resource has become more pressing. With limited staff and funding, county and tribal health departments face an overwhelming range of new tasks, such as issuing isolation and quarantine orders, creating spreadsheets for contact tracing and monitoring quarantine, developing fact sheets for a wide range of audiences (such as daycares, first responders, shelters, and law enforcement), drafting letters to businesses not following public health directives, and issuing press releases and public statements that are informative but comply with all privacy laws. This investment will create a critically needed platform for counties and tribes to share templates and offer and receive advice and assistance as questions related to COVID-19 arise, and beyond the pandemic as well.

Grant Amount

$42,500

Term

24 month

2020

Aware Inc. 2020

AWARE PACT Service Expansion-Region 4

AWARE used this grant to expand its existing Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) team in Lewis and Clark County in order to serve people with severe disabling mental illness who require long-term, intensive support that exceeds traditional outpatient services. With technical assistance from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, AWARE was able to help 95% of its clients become involved and engaged with the community and maintain stable housing. AWARE established long-term and formal relationships with several landlords in the Helena community and an MOU with the housing authority, which will help ensure ongoing access to stable housing. Other accomplishments include completing a costing tool, updating the PACT business plan, and adding additional staff to the PACT team. AWARE faced significant challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and workforce shortages, which impacted the number of clients served and the implementation of the program. AWARE is confident that the situation will improve and that the current team will be able to expand its caseload and begin supporting the rural areas.

Grant Amount

$165,000

Term

12 month

2020

Awe Kualawaache Care Center 2020

Infection Control Training

This grant will provide infection control training for the Awe Kualawaache Care Center staff. The Care Center provides long-term care to the Crow Tribe and the surrounding community; its mission is to preserve culture between the elderly and youth. Funding will be used to purchase software to track infections and help the staff member who is leading this work enroll in an infection control certificate program.

Grant Amount

$3,000

Term

12 month

2020

Bitterroot CASA, Inc. 2020

Bitterroot CASA Advocacy Training & Sustaining

Bitterroot Court Appointed Special Advocates (BCASA) will provide well trained and supported advocate volunteers to connect with and speak for the best interests of children under the jurisdiction of 21st District Court. BCASA currently represents 81 children removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect, and the number of children they serve has more than doubled over the past 18 months. BCASA will strengthen its program and partnerships to meet the advocacy and permanency needs of every abused and neglected child in Ravalli County. The funding will provide an increase in the program director hours, increasing the director’s capacity to recruit, train, and manage advocate volunteers. Through the active partnerships with the 21st District Court, Family Social Services, and the National CASA program, they will provide in-service training and support volunteer advocates as they care for children and navigate the complex issues and multiple causes of child maltreatment. Bitterroot CASA will facilitate 12 presentations in 7 communities to recruit at least 20 new advocates. The overall goal of the project is to increase awareness of abuse and neglect to decrease the number of incidences in Ravalli County.

Grant Amount

$55,826

Term

24 month

2020

Blackfeet Tribal Health 2020

Blackfeet Tribal Health 638 of the Community Health Education Program

The Blackfeet Tribal Health Department will work to assume management of its Community Health Education Program from the Indian Health Service (IHS) under Public Law 93-638 (this is often called the “638 process.”) This grant will help the health department complete a feasibility study and plan for assuming the Community Health Education Program; funds will help the Tribe hire a contractor to help with the 638 process. Adding the Community Health Education Program into the health department will help it achieve accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board and coordinate a more robust portfolio of community health-related activities.

Grant Amount

$19,877

Term

12 month

2020

Center for Mental Health 2020

PACT Team Expansion & MACT Implementation

The Center for Mental Health (CMH) will expand its two existing Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) teams in central Montana and implement a new team in the state’s rural north-central region. The central Montana counties receiving expanded services include Lewis and Clark, Jefferson, Broadwater, Meagher, Teton, Cascade, Chouteau, Judith Basin, Fergus, and Petroleum. The north-central counties receiving new services include Glacier, Pondera, Toole, Liberty, Hill, Blaine, and Phillips. PACT is the core service of a tiered delivery system that targets people with severe disabling mental illness who require long-term ongoing support that exceeds traditional outpatient services. The goal of the service is to rehabilitate each client to their highest level of functioning. PACT teams are mobile and deliver services in community locations to meet clients where they are. Grant funds will provide technical assistance from the National Council for Behavioral Health and support the costs of expanding current services and developing and implementing new services. Partners include the hospitals and federally qualified health centers in the 17-county region, as well as AWARE Inc., St. Peter’s Hospital, PureView Health Center, Alluvion Health, and the Great Falls Indian Family Health Clinic. The project aims to stabilize 442 clients with severe disabling mental illness and reduce admission to inpatient psychiatric hospitals.

Grant Amount

$207,000

Term

12 month

2020

Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center 2020

MACT Services in Eastern Montana

Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center (EMCMHC) successfully implemented three Montana Assertive Community Treatment (MACT) programs that target people with severe disabling mental illness who require long-term ongoing support that exceeds traditional outpatient services. With technical assistance from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, EMCMHC was able to transition existing services, clients, and staff to the MACT model of care in the following counties: Carter, Powder River, Fallon, Custer, Treasure, Rosebud, Garfield, McCone, Phillips, Valley, Daniels, Roosevelt, Sheridan, Richland, Dawson, Prairie, and Wibaux. A total of 103 clients are currently being served through the three MACT teams, and outcomes include a significant reduction in emergency department utilization, hospitalizations, and interface with the criminal justice system. EMCMHC confronted a number of challenges, including delays due to COVID-19, difficulty getting clinical staff buy-in, needing to serve a vast rural area, and high staff turnover. Despite these challenges, EMCMHC has implemented two fully operational MACT teams, and the third team is close to full implementation. EMCMHC has established sustainable reimbursement through Montana Medicaid and has leveraged its success to secure a $3.6 million SAMSHA grant to help build out the continuum of care throughout the region.

Grant Amount

$202,515

Term

12 month

2020

Family Medicine Residency of Western Montana 2020

Planning Grant to Develop an Online Certificate Program & CME Opportunities in “Climate and Health”

The University of Montana Family Medicine Residency of Western Montana will develop a “Climate and Health” course for undergraduate students in the Climate Change Studies Program. The project will also offer an online certificate program for students in health profession training programs and develop online training certificates or continuing education opportunities for health care providers already practicing around the state. The project will be implemented in collaboration with existing climate study resources at the University of Montana. Grant funds will be used for project staff salaries, consultants, travel, and supplies. Partnerships include other colleges within the University of Montana, Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate, Western Montana AHEC, the Center for American Indian and Rural Health Equity, and the MSU Extension Program. Prospective partners that will be engaged as part of the planning process are also identified. The project’s overarching goal is to create a “Climate and Health” program that is affordable, high-quality, accessible, inclusive, relevant, and useful to the health of Montanans.

Grant Amount

$24,984

Term

12 month

2020

Flathead City-County Health Department 2020

Developing a Plan to Transform the Behavioral Health System through Mapping

The Flathead City-County Health Department will map the behavioral health system in Flathead County to identify specific treatment needs. As part of this project, a modified sequential intercept mapping (SIM) process will be used with a multidisciplinary team including experts in mental health, substance use disorders, law enforcement, housing, health, social services, and individuals directly impacted by mental health disorders. Grant funds will be used for project staff salaries and consultant fees for the mapping process. Partnerships for this project include Kalispell Regional Healthcare and the Flathead Community Health Center. Additional partners will also be invited to participate in the mapping process, including Sunburst Mental Health, Western Montana Mental Health, and law enforcement. The project’s overall goal is to map the behavioral health system in Flathead County to identify resources within the community, gaps in services, and the development of a community plan for improvement.

Grant Amount

$25,000

Term

12 month

2020

Flathead Community Health Center 2020

School Based Health Centers – Primary Care

Flathead Community Health Center (FCHC) will implement school-based medical services at Linderman Alternative High School and Evergreen Schools in Kalispell. Through a previous grant, FCHC is already providing behavioral health services at both schools and has built strong relationships with each school's administration. This project will expand the services the health center offers to include medical care for students, school staff, and the surrounding community. Both schools have begun remodeling to create space for the health center to provide medical services on the school campuses. Grant funds will support staff salaries, including a school-based health center coordinator and primary care provider.

Grant Amount

$150,000

Term

24 month

2020

Fort Belknap Tribes 2020

Billings Area Community Health Aide Program

With this grant, the Fort Belknap Indian Community plans to extend Tribal self-governance and support the Community Health Aid Program (CHAP). To do this, the Tribe will build on the existing foundation of state and federal CHAP statutes and authorities granted to Tribal sovereign entities. Partners include all the Tribes in Montana, the Governor's Office, the state legislature, the Tribal Caucus, and Tribal colleges and universities. Grant funds will provide technical assistance to each Tribal area delegate and support the Billings Area Certification Board and the Academic Review Committee. Once established, the CHAP program will increase access to medical, dental, and behavioral health providers on the reservations. It will also provide local training to help retain the Tribal community workforce.

Grant Amount

$75,000

Term

12 month

2020

Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation 2020

Kaiser Health News Montana Health News Partnership

This project will supportthe launch of a Kaiser Health News (KHN)bureau in Montana. The bureau will increase Montana-centered health journalism and provide high-quality, relevant coverage of important health care, public health, and health policy issues free-of-charge to print, radio, and television news outlets throughout the state. This grant will enable KHN to hire an experienced,full-time, Montana-based health journalist; provide access to the full range of editorial, production, and research infrastructure of the national KHN newsroom; and allow for contracts with freelance journaliststo extend the reach of the project in rural Montana. KHN's editors will work with these journalists to produce stories for and about Montana residents which will be widely distributed through media partners across the state, region, and nation, as well as through social media. The goal of the project is to increase both the quantity andquality of health journalism for and about Montana residents, helping them understand the policy,industry, and social factors that impact their health and well-being.

Grant Amount

$600,258

Term

24 month

2020

Human Resource Development Council of District IX, Inc. 2020

Partnerships for Permanently Supportive Housing Phase II

With this grant, the Human Resources Development Council of District IX (HRDC) and its partners will join the Housing Is Health Care Initiative. As part of the initiative, they will work to develop permanent supportive housing units for homeless people in Bozeman who have complex medical and behavioral health conditions. The project will create a coordinated system for service delivery and financing. It will develop a process for identifying and connecting with the people who have the highest medical need and are experiencing homelessness. This grant will support the creation of systems for service delivery and annual data matching using the Corporation for Supportive Housing’s FUSE (frequent users system engagement) model. Funding will be used for project coordination, technical assistance from the Corporation for Supportive Housing, and matching funds to pilot the permanent supportive housing models. Project partners include HRDC’s housing programs, the Gallatin County Detention Center, Bozeman Health, Community Health Partners, the City of Bozeman, and mental health providers. The project’s overall goal is to create permanent supportive housing in Bozeman that improves health outcomes for individuals, reduces the cost across community systems, and strengthens partnerships beyond supportive housing.

Grant Amount

$100,000

Term

24 month

2020

Lewis and Clark County Public Health 2020

Designing A More Effective Behavioral Health Service Continuum in Lewis & Clark County

Lewis and Clark County Public Health created this project to redesign the behavioral health crisis system in Lewis and Clark County. The goals were to reduce emergency department admissions, reduce and de-escalate behavioral health-related criminal justice encounters and recidivism, and optimize crisis response with a Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) in order to improve the overall behavioral health and public safety in the county. A Behavioral Health Systems Improvement Leadership Team, which included a newly hired behavioral health program specialist, worked to identify needs and gaps in the current system and recommend improvements. The team developed a strategic plan, completed a comprehensive data analysis, and set priorities for implementation. The project successfully launched the MCRT, which served 172 people and diverted 102 from the emergency department, for an estimated savings to the system of more than $212,000. The project secured an $11,000 county tribal matching grant and technical assistance to guide crisis stabilization and receiving facilities in the county. The program was recognized by the National Association of Counties (NACo) with a 2021 NACo Achievement Award. Having established a formal charter with St. Peter's Health, the county sheriff, county commissioners, Shodair Children's Hospital, and PureView Health Center, the program is well-positioned to continue its work into the future.

Grant Amount

$78,598

Term

12 month

2020

Logan Health 2020

Integrated Behavioral Health for High Risk Pregnant Women Phase II

Kalispell Regional Medical Center (KRMC) will build on its successful 2017-2019 MHCF-funded project to bring integrated behavioral health services into the obstetrics (OB) setting, serving at-risk mothers in Flathead County, the Flathead, Blackfoot Reservation, and surrounding areas. This grant will enable KRMC’s Pathways Behavioral Health program to join the Meadowlark initiative, continue to fine-tune the clinical model, and continue data collection and reporting as a Meadowlark site. The clinical manager for KRMC’s three OB practices will provide project management for this grant. Grant funds will cover a portion of staffing expenses over the next two years to ensure program continuity. The project will also strengthen care coordination services and enable KRMC to screen for and address social determinants of health needs for at-risk mothers and families.

Grant Amount

$50,000

Term

24 month

2020

Logan Health 2020

Integrated Behavioral Health Outreach

Kalispell Regional Medical Center (KRMC) will serve as a hub to support the implementation of integrated behavioral health (IBH) across its growing network of affiliate hospitals. Two affiliate hospitals that have already implemented IBH – Cabinet Peaks Medical Center and North Valley Hospital – will receive ongoing technical assistance to improve their IBH practice. Northern Rockies Medical Center and Pondera Medical Center are just beginning the IBH implementation and will use the funding to hire a full-time behavioral health provider at each location. Marias Medical Center will participate in a planning capacity, with a goal of beginning to implement IBH at the same time as they begin offering primary care services. KRMC will provide leadership and oversee all IBH implementation activities, including universal screening for depression and substance use disorders, care coordination, psychiatric consultation, and rural site training. The National Council for Behavioral Health will provide technical assistance. Expected outcomes include universal screening for behavioral health conditions in the primary care setting, improvement in depression and substance use disorder outcomes, decreased emergency room visits related to mental illness and substance use disorders, and improved coordination of care between participating facilities.

Grant Amount

$200,000

Term

24 month

2020