INNOVATION GRANTS AWARDED
The Center has partnered with the Montana Children’s Mental Health Bureau (CMHB) to award $1 million in Title XX funding to support innovative projects that improve services provided to children in the CMHB system. The grant is focused on enhancing family engagement and supporting strong transitions to adulthood for children aging out of the Medicaid mental health system. We are happy to announce that Innovation Grants have been awarded to fund exciting projects by the following 13 organizations across Montana.
AWARE is using Innovation grant funding to provide quality child care and parent support to Billings Area families with children ages zero to five who are at significant risk of removal from home or working towards reunification at a licensed child care site located at the Housing Authority of Billings apartments.
Charlie Health
Charlie Health is using the funding to evaluate the effectiveness of statewide virtual intensive outpatient services with Montana Medicaid youth, particularly in rural and tribal communities. Key insights from outcomes data will inform clinical programming to enhance the effectiveness of treatment, prevent post-discharge out-of-home placement, and develop a proof of concept for Medicaid reimbursement.
HRDC Bozeman
HRDC is piloting a financial education program for parents with children through the organization’s current early childhood education program. The new program aims to help families build credit and develop financial literacy. HRDC plans to develop a training or template based on this program to share with other organizations throughout the state and region.
L’esprit
L’esprit is partnering with Livingston Public Schools Districts 1 and 4 to adopt the Family Trauma Institute’s Parenting with Love and Limits evidenced-based model to move school and community stakeholders from trauma-informed to trauma-responsive. Apart from training staff, teachers, and families in the Parenting with Love and Limits model, five to seven families will be served through the duration of the grant.
Mountain Home Montana
Mountain Home Montana, based in Missoula, is using Innovation grant funding to open a licensed child care center based on trauma-informed models, including Nurturing Parenting and Circle of Security, and launch four additional groups as part of their Open Table program.
Shodair Children’s Hospital
Shodair Children’s Hospital, based in Helena, plans to focus their efforts on integrating youth and family voice into their programs for young adults by developing a peer-run life skills group for youth transitioning out of care and a parent support group and parent mentoring program.
Thrive
Thrive is using Innovation grant funding to expand their Parent Place to serve children up to age 18 and develop an early childhood learning lab in Gallatin County. Thrive will also create an implementation guide for communities hoping to replicate their Parent Place model.
Turner School District
In partnership with Catalyst for Change, based out of Big Timber, Turner School District plans to conduct a community assessment to explore mental health strengths, needs, and stigma in Blaine County and set up tele-behavioral health services and access providers through Catalyst for Change provider network.
UM Criminology Research Group – Linking Systems of Care
The UM Criminology Research Group will deliver the Linking System of Care (LSOC) Trauma-Informed Practice Curriculum across Montana’s systems of care using a train-the-trainer model that will result in more than 200 individuals receiving the training during the grant period. Additionally, the group will survey Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program participants to gather information on effective youth engagement and outreach strategies.
Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch
The Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, based in Billings, is using Innovation grant funding to develop a smart phone app that will be used as a platform for providing aftercare services to young adults served by their programs. YBGRConnect App will be piloted with 28 young adults in their supported employment program who discharge from their psychiatric residential treatment facility during the grant period.
Youth Dynamics, Inc.
Youth Dynamics is creating a curriculum to establish a web of belonging into a child’s life during their time in care, focusing on youth in rural Eastern Montana. They will also implement a Life Skills curriculum to support youth transitioning from YDI’s care to adulthood. Service development will be informed by youth and family voice through one focus group of young people who have aged out of services and another of family members of youth who have been in YDI’s care.
Youth Homes
Youth Homes is using Innovation grant funding to hire three primary youth counselors who will serve as a “utility” support person for young people at their shelters in Helena, Missoula, and Kalispell. Youth Homes is developing life skills programming to prepare young adults for discharge and is enhancing family engagement through instituting family search and family find models.
YWCA Helena
YWCA Helena is piloting the Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams (START) program. Under this model, YWCA Helena staff and child protective service case workers will partner to create a holistic approach to family placement for mothers experiencing substance use disorder. YWCA will hire a staff member to split time between the YWCA and CPS offices.
For more information about the Innovation Grants and the projects as they develop over time, visit the Innovation Grants page on the Center’s website.
