Project rise big sky

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded the Judiciary Courts of State of Montana $400,000 on September 30, 2026, under CFDA 93.490, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment Projects of Regional and National Significance, to fund Project RISE BIG SKY through September 29, 2031.

Project RISE BIG SKY will expand treatment capacity and reduce wait lists for the 13th Judicial District's two post-adjudication treatment courts serving justice-involved individuals with substance use disorders and co-occurring disorders: the STEER (Sobriety, Treatment, Education, Excellence, and Recovery) DUI Court and the CAMO (Courts Assisting Military Offenders) Veterans Treatment Court, both located in Yellowstone County. The project will implement in-house comprehensive trauma-specific assessment and initialize SUD/COD treatment to address existing treatment gaps. RISE BIG SKY will hire 1.5 FTE dedicated staff to provide immediate comprehensive assessment, Level 1.0 SUD/COD treatment, and recovery capital-based peer support for participants and families, supported by experienced licensed partnering service providers. The courts will expand their evidence-based continuum of care, enhance case management and recovery support services, and establish a teleservices track to serve justice-involved individuals in Montana's remote and rural areas. Performance takes place in Billings, Montana.

Abstract

Rise big sky the 13TH judicial district, yellowstone county, montana, is requesting funding through samhsa's funding opportunity no. TI-26-015: grants to expand substance use disorder treatment capacity in adult treatment drug courts. This joint project seeks to enhance yellowstone county's DUI court, steer (sobriety, treatment, education, excellence, and recovery), and its veterans treatment court, camo (courts assisting military offenders). Both are post-adjudication courts that serve justice-involved individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) and/or CO-occurring disorders (COD). Steer and camo jointly request available funding of $400,000 per year for five years. Funds will be utilized to implement project rise big sky, allowing steer and camo to expand court capacity and address burgeoning wait lists. Rise big sky will offer in-house comprehensive trauma-specific assessment and initialize SUD/COD treatment to alleviate a significant treatment GAP wherein participants currently rely on limited resources. In addition, steer and camo will utilize funds to expand their evidence-based continuum of care, enhance case management and recovery support services, and fund a teleservices track to serve the treatment and recovery support needs of justice-involved individuals living in montana's vast remote and rural areas. Proposed enhancements focus on an existing treatment GAP wherein camo and steer participants experience delays in the provision of SUD and/or COD treatment. This project will enable steer and camo to hire dedicated staff (1.5 FTE) to provide immediate and ongoing comprehensive assessment, level 1.0 SUD/COD treatment and recovery capital-based peer support for participants and their families. This continuum of care will be augmented by experienced and licensed partnering service providers. Yellowstone county contains approximately 169,000 residents, which represents approximately 17% of montana's total population, yet IT is responsible for roughly 26% of criminal filings in montana. Yellowstone county is adjacent to two of montana's seven native american reservations and sits along interstate 90, a high intensity drug trafficking area. The target population for steer includes high-risk/high-need adults charged with a felony DUI, while camo serves justice-involved veterans charged with a qualifying offense per statutory requirements. The age range of steer and camo participants is diverse, with the youngest participant aged 18 and the oldest aged 92. Over the five years of grant funding, the courts plan to serve 300 unduplicated clients with a census of 50 to 70 clients annually. Multi-track participation time ranges from 15-24 months. The courts are committed to the all rise best practice standards and are evaluated BI-annually by an independent research firm to determine the efficacy of policies, processes, and procedures. Requested funds will allow steer and camo to more efficiently and effectively screen and assess participants for SUD/COD, and provide evidence-based prevention, treatment, and recovery support services tailored to the population's specific needs. The courts are also committed to advancing samhsa's strategic priorities by providing evidence-based and outcome-focused treatment; advancing program integrity and fiscal stewardship; engaging in partnership and coordination between law enforcement, the judiciary, treatment providers, and community resources; promoting recovery, sobriety, and self-sufficiency; and responding to emerging behavioral health threats in the community.