The expanding montana rural student mental health supports initiative aims to extend mental health resources to underserved rural, tribal, and frontier schools in western montana

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) awarded a $1,000,000 Project Grant under the STOP School Violence Program (CFDA 16.839) to the Western Montana Professional Learning Collaborative, a non-profit organization, to implement the Expanding Montana Rural Student Mental Health Supports Initiative. This three-year initiative aims to extend comprehensive mental health resources, including the Montana CARES app for 24/7 crisis support, a resource navigator, expanded teletherapy services, climate and culture programming, and mental wellness training, to underserved rural, tribal, and frontier schools in western Montana. The project will serve an additional 13,000+ students and their school community families, addressing significant inequities in school-based mental health resources in the region. The award period is from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2027.

This project will provide comprehensive school mental health services, including trauma-informed care, wellness training, curriculum, and teletherapy to establish safe school environments and ensure equitable access to mental health services. Expanding montana rural student mental health supports includes five key components: the montana cares APP for 24/7 access to help, a resource navigator for in-field support, expanded teletherapy services, live climate and culture programming through rachel's challenge, and enhanced mental wellness and resiliency training. The montana cares APP provides continuous access to crisis counselors and local resources, ensuring immediate and appropriate support. The project builds on the success of montana cares, which currently serves over 14,000 students and their families. Expanding care in montana will extend these services to the western regions, addressing significant inequities in school-based mental health resources, and serving an additional 13,000+ students and their school community families.