2025 Tribal Maternal Health Mini Grant applications will be awarded on a “first come, first served” basis. The application deadline is August 1, 2025, at 11:59pm MT. For questions about this application or program, please contact Sarah Buchanan at sarah.buchanan@mt.gov.
Program Description and Purpose
Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often need life-long supports and services to ensure health and safety while also accessing and participating in their local communities. These supports and services are often provided on a day-to-day basis by Direct Support Professionals (DSPs).
There is a significant need and in turn value to investing in DSP workforce stabilization and promoting stronger capacity across the continuum to support people with IDD. Specifically, this initiative calls for piloting a DSP credentialing structure to test best practice approaches to DSP stabilization through career ladders. The DSP Workforce Capacity Grants provide one-time grants to five (1 per DDP region) service providers for, on average, 25 DSPs to become credentialed through the National Alliance for Direct Support Professional platform eBadge Academy, a web-based credentialing platform. The Developmental Disabilities Program (DDP) will pre-purchase access to the credentialing platform on behalf of selected agencies, as well as some technical assistance support from NADSP. Grant funds will cover staff time for DSPs participating in the credentialing program as well as “backfilled” staff to cover the shift time of staff enrolled in the credentialing program; payroll processing, grant reporting and tracking and other administrative costs incurred by selected provider agencies; and one-time incentive bonuses to DSPs once they reach credentialing tiers, as modeled below:
DSP – I (Tier 1) –$1,000
DSP – II (Tier 2) – $1,500
DSP – III (Tier 3) – $2,000
DSPs enrolled in the NADSP eBadge Academy must complete the following under each tier to be eligible for the one-time bonuses; a DSP may achieve all three Tiers.
DSP-I
To earn a DSP – I certification, the DSP must earn 15 total E-Badges, including:
- The Code of Ethics Commitment E-Badge
- The 50 hours of Accredited Education E-Badge
- At least one E-Badge in Crisis Prevention and Intervention
- At least one E-Badge in Person-Centered Practices
- At least one E-Badge in Health and Wellness and
- At least one E-Badge in Safety
DSP-II
To earn DSP – II certification, the DSP must earn 30 total E-Badges, including:
- The DSP-I E-Badge
- The 100 hours of Accredited Education E-Badge
- At least one E-Badge in Evaluation and Observation
- At least E-Badge in Communication
- At least one E-Badge in Professionalism and Ethics and
- At least one E-Badge in Community Inclusion and Networking
DSP-III
To earn DSP – III certification, the DSP must earn 50 total E-Badges, including:
- The DSP-II E-Badge
- At least one E-Badge in Empowerment and Advocacy
- At least one E-Badge in Community Living Skills and Supports
- At least one E-Badge in Education, Training, and Self-Development
- At least one E-Badge in Cultural Competence
Application Criteria
PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION IN YOUR APPLICATION.
Youth behavioral health providers requesting funding must meet all threshold eligibility criteria to receive funding. Failure to meet any criteria will result in a denial of the application. This grant opportunity is a direct result of funding in House Bill (HB) 872, passed by the 2023 Montana Legislature and signed by Governor Gianforte, for the Behavioral Health Systems for Future Generations (BHSFG). The primary goal of the funding is to expand Targeted Case Management (TCM) for Youth with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED). This expanded access will support 140-200 additional youth to Remain At-Home, In-School, and Out-of-Trouble, which are statutorily defined reporting requirements pursuant to HB583 from the 2019 Montana Legislature.
Program Description and Purpose
Montana’s long-term vision is to provide robust care coordination, case management, and discharge planning to keep children and adolescents with SED in local homes, schools, and communities, at the lowest level of care necessary to safely meet their mental and behavioral health needs. For youth who are being served at higher levels of care, the vision includes supporting youth and families to successfully transition from higher levels of care to home and community settings. Through its Children’s Mental Health Bureau (CMHB), the Department is offering seven start-up grants to hire full-time TCMs that will focus on supporting youth and families in achieving these three outcomes. Please note that those requesting funds through this project must be licensed mental health centers with a youth-targeted case management endorsement under the Montana Office of the Inspector General (OIG) in order to be eligible. Requesters are required to attest that they will implement a targeted approach to supporting youth and families toward the pursuit of these three outcomes by collaborating with parents, guardians, schools, community partners, and treatment providers both in-state and out-of-state to identify youths at risk of out of home placement, in out of home placement, in need of additional support in the school setting, and/or at risk of suicide, substance use, or youth court involvement.
A total of $161,190.75 is available under this grant program. The Department anticipates funding seven grants of $23,027.25 to the first seven requesters who meet all non-competitive eligibility criteria. Grants will support the recruitment and onboarding of a full-time TCM who will oversee a caseload of no fewer than 20 clients and will supplement the cost of employment during the first quarter after hiring while a financially sustainable caseload is being built. Each provider requesting funding under this grant opportunity is limited to one submission for this project. Providers who are eligible to receive funding may elect to have 60% of the funds disbursed up front for staff recruitment, hiring, and onboarding. If funds are requested up-front rather than reimbursed, requestors must include a comprehensive plan for the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of the position. Remaining funds will be disbursed once an awardee submits relevant back-up documentation, including employment verification and/or a copy of an initial pay stub, and an additional attestation that a TCM has been hired and has a full caseload of at least 20 clients. If reimbursement is requested, requestors must provide relevant backup documentation, including employment verification and/or a copy of an initial pay stub, and an additional attestation that a TCM has been hired and has a full caseload of at least 20 clients. Providers requesting funds must attest that they have a plan in place to achieve a financially sustainable caseload for the newly hired TCM. All applications must be submitted via Submittable. Applications will be reviewed and evaluated by DPHHS in the order they are submitted. Approval notices will be sent out to requesters via email and Submittable.
Target Populations:
Please note that DPHHS aims to add new TCMs to the children’s mental health care system for youth with SED. Targeted populations include:
- Youth at risk of out-of-home placement or disrupting out of their foster/guardianship/adoptive home;
- Youth at risk of academic failure, repeating a grade, and/or dropping out of school;
- Youth at risk of substance use, suicidal ideation, and/or youth court involvement; and
- Youth transitioning from an out-of-home residential placement to a lower level of care
Required Components for Funding Requests
Requesters are required to provide an overview of the project, including an attestation that addresses:
- Recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and training of a new TCM; and
- Targeted outreach plans for the populations of focus
Please include the following with your application:
1. Executive Project Summary: Provide an Executive Summary of the Proposed Project, including:
a. A proposal for the recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and training of a TCM to serve Youth with SED;
b. A plan for how this position will partner with parents, guardians, schools, community partners, and
treatment providers (both in-state and out-of-state) to identify the target populations for service provision;
c. A comprehensive plan for the project, including:
1. Recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and training of staff;
2. Building a full caseload (no less than 20 clients) of the target population;
3. Completing the TCM E-Learning Training within the first six months of hire offered by the University of
Montana Center for Children, Families, and Workforce Development; and
4. Achieving financial sustainability for the position once grant funds are expended.
d. A 6-Month Project Budget using the template provided and to include:
1. Allowable costs; and
2. The overall cost of the project and how it will be funded in addition to the grant monies
Allowable Uses
Allowable uses of these funds include:
- Recruitment costs associated with adding a TCM with a priority focus on the target population;
- Hiring, onboarding, and training a TCM necessary to support the provision of TCM to the target population; and
- Paying staff wages or associated costs for sustaining the position while the TCM is developing a caseload that creates financial sustainability for the position.
Eligibility and Application Requirements
Providers applying for funds to hire a TCM must demonstrate in their application that they:
- Serve children with SED;
- Operate as an existing licensed mental health center with a youth targeted case management endorsement through the Montana DPHHS Office of the Inspector General;
- Must attest to having a targeted outreach plan in place that identifies how the target population will be identified and serve, and that partnerships exist or will be pursued with parents, guardians, schools, community partners, and treatment providers to identify youths at risk of out of home placement, in out of home placement, in need of additional support in the school setting, and/or at risk of suicide, substance use, or youth court involvement;
- Must attest that the organization has the administrative support infrastructure to meet the grant criteria;
- Must attest that the organization has the intention to recruit, hire, onboard, and train a TCM who can successfully maintain a caseload of at least twenty clients;
- Must attest that the hired TCM will complete the TCM E-Learning Training offered by the University of Montana Center for Children, Families, and Workforce Development within the first six months of hire;
- Must attest that all items included in the submitted budget fall under the allowable uses of funds for this grant program;
- Must attest to being in good financial standing;
- Must attest that the organization will comply with all applicable Montana Medicaid rules and manuals, e.g. CMHB Medicaid Services Provider Manual;
- Must attest to being able to comply with all state and federal laws, regulations, and policies applicable to the program; and
- Must attest that the information provided in the application is true and correct to the best of the authorized official’s knowledge and understanding.
FAMILY PEER SUPPORT GRANT EXTENSION GUIDELINES
PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION IN YOUR APPLICATION
The Family Peer Support Extension Grant is open to current pilot sites under contract and in good standing with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services through the Family Peer Support Near Term Initiative (NTI) established through the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations (BHSFG).
Program Description and Purpose
In January 2025, the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services funded four grants to family peer support (FPS) pilot sites to address the unmet emotional support needs of Montana families raising children with behavioral health challenges. The unmet emotional needs of parents and caregivers of children with behavioral health challenges can both exacerbate the behavioral health needs of their children and can negatively impact the health and well-being of the families, parents, and caregivers. This can increase the risk of abuse, neglect, and crisis episodes of these children.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, there are funds remaining from the NTI grant project that the Department now aims to reinvest into Montana families by extending the Family Peer Support Pilots by five months. In doing so, DPHHS can continue to expand Montanans' access to these programs to help improve health outcomes for youth with behavioral health challenges and their families or caregivers.
A total of $63,182.13 is available for this grant opportunity for currently DPHHS-funded Montana FPS pilot sites to request supplemental funding to extend their projects for an additional five months. To be eligible, pilots must have conducted Family Peer Support with at least 20 families during the first three months of the 2026 calendar year. The Department expects to offer up to (2) grants in the amount of $31,591.06 each.
The extension grant adheres to the same rules, priorities, and goals as the current NTI FPS grant, with two additions. For the first, Family Peer Support specialists will oversee a caseload of no fewer than a minimum average of 20 client families per funded pilot site throughout the grant extension period. Second, with the recent development of FPS as a state-certified position following the passage of HB76 in the 2025 Montana Legislative session, the Department now asks that all FPS specialists under this grant be certified or receive state certification by the Montana Department of Labor and Industries Board of Behavioral Health before the end of the grant extension period. Doing so will help bolster the standardization, sustainability, and credibility of the Family Peer Support Specialist role within the state. Costs associated with certification training, certification applications, and recertification are allowable through these grant funds. Throughout the grant period, recipients will continue to track activities and monitor outcomes as defined by DPHHS.
DPHHS Priorities The target outcomes for this grant program are listed below.
- Increased number of connections between families with children with behavioral health needs.
- Improved mental health and well-being of both families of children with behavioral health needs as well as the children themselves.
- Improved uninterrupted care during transitions.
- Improved system navigation for families with youth with serious emotional disturbances.
The target outputs for this grant program are listed below.
- Increased capacity in the behavioral health system for Family Peer Support services through the certification and/or recertification of FPS supporters under the pilot.
- Increased number of families with youth requiring behavioral health services receiving family peer support. Family Peer Support specialists will oversee a caseload of no fewer than a minimum average of 20 client families per funded pilot site throughout the grant extension period.
- Development of resources for families of youth receiving behavioral health services, including resource guides and system navigation tools.
Key Term Definitions
- A Family Peer Supporter is someone who has lived experience raising a child with behavioral health challenges and/or special healthcare needs.
- Family Peer Support is helping another family who is currently raising a child with behavioral health challenges and/or special healthcare needs. Family Peer Support includes active listening, emotional support, help navigating systems, and connection to resources.
Allowable Uses
The Department is extending the FPS grant for an additional five months. Budgets should ensure project continuity through June 6, 2027. Allowable uses of these funds include:
- Personnel expenses (includes wages and fringe benefits) in line with those set under the original NTI grant opportunity for Family peer supporter expenses plus Cost-of-Living Adjustments.
- Training, including certification training, travel & related expenses.
- Certification and/or recertification fees, and related expenses.
- Travel costs associated with conducting Family Peer Support, such as attending appointments with caregivers or guardians in the community.
Eligibility and Application Requirements
To be eligible to apply for this grant, service providers must have conducted Family Peer Support with at least 20 families under the original grant funded pilot program during the first three months of 2026. Additionally, requesters must complete an application outlining how they will continue to conduct further Family Peer Support services in Montana and must include a budget detailing how funds will be used. Organizations must commit to the following:
- Conducting FPS with families who are raising children under the age of 21 who require behavioral health services or who are believed to require such services if no diagnosis has yet been made
- FPS specialists will oversee a minimum average caseload of 20 families per funded site throughout the grant extension period.
- Retaining and certifying or re-certifying all Family Peer Supporter(s) dedicated to this project.
- Adhering to evidence-based and/or evidence-informed Family Peer Support models.
- Initial and ongoing training and oversight of the Family Peer Supporter(s).
- Maintaining and tracking services for a five-month period after the original grant ends on Jan. 5, 2027.
- Administering pre- and post-surveys to all families served.
- Fulfilling all reporting requirements subsequently defined by DPHHS.
Criteria for families to receive Family Peer Support:
- The family is raising a youth under the age of 21.
- The youth under the age of 21 has a Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) as defined in the Children’s Mental Health Bureau Medicaid Services Provider Manual
- The youth requires behavioral health treatment.
- Additionally, as a result of the youth’s behavioral health condition, the family must benefit from family peer support services through demonstrating need for emotional support, connection to community, or assistance in finding resources and navigating systems.
OR
If the youth does not have a confirmed diagnosis:
(1) The family has documented need for family peer support based on:
(a) Complexity of youth and family service needs and/or interventions;
(b) Severity of the youth’s behavioral health symptoms; or
(c) Strengths, preferences, and needs within family or caregiver capacity; and
(2) The youth and family or caregiver’s needs have been assessed and documented that family peer support services are necessary to maximize benefit and leverage resources from other systems in which the family or caregiver is involved.
Reporting Requirements Current pilot sites selected for a grant under this program will be required to:
- Track activities and services throughout the 5-month grant extension period;
- Monitor outcomes through administering surveys to members served and other activities;
- Report individual families served; and
- Provide data (including reporting related to outcomes and outputs)
The cadence of this reporting will occur at one quarter followed by a final overall report for the pilot at the project’s end one month following its completion. All applications must be submitted via Submittable. Applications will be reviewed and evaluated by DPHHS. Approval notices will be sent out to applicants via Submittable. Accepted providers will be required to sign formal agreements that include additional terms and conditions.
Please find the Scoring Criteria here.