We support a complete continuum of behavioral health services by addressing gaps in the prevention and treatment system.
Mental Illness & Substance Use Disorder Prevention
Implementing evidence-based mental illness and substance use disorder prevention programs like Communities that Care, the PAX Good Behavior Game, and supporting substance use disorder certification.
Communities that Care helps communities select and implement prevention programs that are best suited to their specific needs. The PAX Good Behavior Game helps early-grade students develop resilience, increase protective factors, and reduce substance use and delinquent behaviors later in life.
We are also working to strengthen the mental illness and substance use disorder prevention workforce by supporting the development of a prevention workforce certificate at the University of Montana.
Crisis Diversion
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.
Community-Based Treatment
Implementing the Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) in rural Montana to allow people with longstanding, severe, or disabling mental illness to live and function safely in their homes and communities rather than being hospitalized.
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. PACT teams, made up of a multidisciplinary group of licensed staff and paraprofessionals, are available anytime to go out into the community, meet, and provide care for people wherever they are.
This program helps people remain in their homes and communities rather than being hospitalized. It is particularly beneficial for people living in remote and rural communities who may not have easy access to mental health services.
In partnership with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, we support regions across the state to implement the new PACT program. For more information, visit the DPHHS website.
Recovery
Developing partnerships between organizations that serve people with behavioral health diagnoses.
Behavioral Health Policy & Communications
Finding and implementing practical policy solutions to support the sustainable development of Montana’s behavioral health systems.
Supporting Behavioral Health Advocacy
Supporting 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
Supporting a robust primary care system through our Integrated Behavioral Health Initiative and The Meadowlark Initiative®.
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.
Funding Opportunity
Crisis Diversion
We are currently offering grant funding to support communities interested in redesigning their crisis systems. Our support will help communities develop coalitions, complete system mapping to align behavioral health and criminal justice system resources, implement strategies to respond to behavioral health crises more effectively, and identify sustainable crisis funding sources. All project applications are by invitation only. For more information, please contact our office.
Program for Asservice Treatment (PACT)
In partnership with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, we are supporting regions across the state to implement the new PACT program. For more information visit the DPHHS website.
