Montana Mental Health Access Fund for Indigenous Communities

Helena, Montana, August 19, 2024 – A grant opportunity to expand access to mental health services for Indigenous communities in Montana is open now until November 1, 2024. The Montana Mental Health Access Fund, managed by the Montana Community Foundation (MCF), supports innovative initiatives aimed at improving mental health and well-being on Reservations in Montana. This includes leveraging technology and other resources to deliver mental health services to even the most remote areas and populations.

“Montana faces one of the highest suicide rates in our nation,” stated Elisa Fiaschetti, MCF Impact Programs Director. “Accessing mental health services remains a significant challenge, particularly for tribal communities. The Mental Health Access Fund aims to increase funding for organizations providing services in Reservations, thereby expanding access to essential mental health care.”

The Montana Mental Health Access Fund supports mental health service providers including health clinics, mental health centers, hospitals, social service agencies, nonprofits, schools, and for-profit licensed providers to provide mental health services on Reservations in Montana, including the members of Little Shell Chippewa Tribe.

Grants will range from $1,000 to $10,000. Projects eligible for funding include:

• Improve or increase access to mental health services, including leveraging technology (i.e. telehealth) and other resources to meet the need those represented on the seven Indian Reservations in Montana or the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe.

• Reduce barriers to accessing mental health services including geographic, demographic, and economic barriers.

• Provide mental health services associated with the grant at no cost to the patient.

• Are long-term and sustainable solutions to increasing access to mental health.

• Projects must be evidence based and demonstrate measurable outcomes.

• Projects must fill a need that other available resources in the community cannot meet. Organizations requesting funds for serving an existing client-base with a new type of mental health service (i.e. new technology serving an already served population/community) will not be ranked highly.

• We encourage projects that create or advance new and substantive partnerships that result in the more efficient and effective use of resources.

For questions about the Montana Mental Health Access Fund, please contact Impact Programs Director, Elisa Fiaschetti at (406) 441-4953 or [email protected]. To apply or learn more about the Montana Mental Health Access Fund, please visit https://mtcf.org/funding/apply-for-a-grant/the-montana-mental-health-access-fund.

About the Montana Community Foundation: The Montana Community Foundation’s mission is to cultivate a culture of giving so Montana communities can flourish. Founded in 1988, MCF manages more than $178.5 million in assets and administers more than 1,450 philanthropic funds and planned gifts. Since its founding, MCF has reinvested more than $100 million in Montana through scholarships, grants, and programs. Learn more at http://www.mtcf.org.