For immediate release: Oct. 21, 2024
Media contact:
Cola Rowley, Gallatin County Deputy County Administrator
406-582-3047
cola.rowley@gallatin.mt.gov
Gallatin County Secures Over $3.6 Million in New Funding to Enhance Behavioral Health Services
Gallatin County is excited to announce over $3.6 million in new funding to strengthen the area’s behavioral health services.
The county will receive nearly $2.1 million from the State of Montana’s Crisis Diversion grant to support mental health interventions, with funds allocated to key partners for the following items:
- Help Center/211 – a resource specialist, care coordination, and training on suicide intervention
- HRDC – care coordination and a SOAR specialist who helps people get enrolled in benefits such as Social Security Disability
- Bozeman Health – care coordination for two years
- Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office – Crisis Intervention Team sergeant
- Gallatin Behavioral Health Coalition – coalition coordinator
The county is also awaiting notice of funding from the State of Montana’s Crisis Diversion grant to go towards the capital costs of a stabilization unit for individuals in mental health crisis.
“We’re excited to continue investing in our expanding behavioral health services and to build a comprehensive system of prevention, intervention, treatment, and rehabilitation. Our goal is simple: ensuring every community member gets the right service, in the right place, every time,” said Gallatin County Commissioner Zach Brown. “We are by no means out of the woods as a community, and there is so much more work left to do to build a functional safety net for our neighbors who are struggling. But these are tangible steps in the right direction that will save lives.”
Additionally, $1.5 million has been awarded from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration for an Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) program. The AOT program will provide a community-based alternative to state hospital commitments, serving adults with serious mental illnesses. The AOT program will create a multi-disciplinary, evidence-based approach to reduce the number of Montana State Hospital commitments, incarceration, and criminal justice system interactions, while improving the health and social outcomes for adults with serious mental illness.
“This grant represents a major step forward in our commitment to assist our neighbors struggling with serious mental illnesses. By improving our community-based services, we aim to offer better alternatives to state hospital commitments, reduce unnecessary incarcerations, and minimize interactions with the criminal justice system,” said Gallatin County Attorney Audrey Cromwell. “This funding will enable us to build a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach that not only addresses the immediate health needs but also improves overall social outcomes for those we serve. We are committed to transforming the lives of our most vulnerable residents through this innovative, multi-disciplinary approach.”
Clare Mack, Managing Attorney with the Office of the State Public Defender, said, “Lack of mental health resources is a societal epidemic, and Gallatin County is no exception. This grant will help us to meet the needs of our community members in a tangible, immediate way. By offering community-based mental health services as an alternative to incarceration or state hospital commitments, we empower our most vulnerable neighbors to seek and maintain treatment for their mental health disorders in the safety of their homes, with the support of their family, friends, and community.”
Lastly, the Gallatin County Metro Region opioid board has submitted requests for national opioid settlement funds, including $400,000 to support HRDC’s housing services for individuals in recovery and $137,280 for Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) at Community Medical Services: $71,280 of which is for general MAT and $39,600 specific to long-acting Buprenorphine.
These exciting developments build upon years of community collaboration to improve behavioral health services for all residents of Gallatin County and the region, including recent projects like the purchase of the Youth Behavioral Health Campus and Bozeman Health’s adult psychiatric inpatient unit with a planned opening in 2025.
“We are making meaningful progress in expanding behavioral health services across the continuum for adults and youth,” said Kirsten Smith, Gallatin Behavioral Health Coalition Coordinator. “By leveraging local, state, federal, and philanthropic funding, we will be better able to address the critical behavioral health needs of our community. Our success in accessing new funding resources is a testament to the collaboration among our community partners—together, we are achieving more than we could accomplish on our own.”
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