Gianforte invests $8 million to behavioral health crisis Montana

On Monday, Governor Greg Gianforte announced an investment of up to $8 million to improve community-based response services for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis.

As recommended by the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations (BHSFG) Commission, the investment represents the second allocation of $300 million in funding the governor devoted last year to reform and improve Montana’s behavioral health and developmental disabilities services systems.

“With this investment, Montanans who are experiencing a crisis will have greater access to the support they need to get back on their feet,” Gov. Gianforte said. “I appreciate the work of the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations Commission to build stronger, healthier Montana communities.”

The first initiative, representing up to $7.5 million, will support mobile crisis response and crisis receiving and stabilization services. The investment will support care for Montanans who are unable to stabilize through crisis line de-escalation efforts, such as 988, and divert patients from local emergency departments, jails, and state-run health care facilities.

The second initiative, representing up to $500,000, will support the development of a crisis worker curriculum and certification course. This investment will help meet the increasing demand for highly trained behavioral health crisis professionals in Montana.

Established through House Bill 872, the BHSFG Commission is tasked with providing recommendations for allocating the governor’s historic $300 million investment to reform and improve Montana’s behavioral health and developmental disabilities service systems.

The commission is tasked with developing recommendations to stabilize behavioral health and developmental disabilities service providers, increase and strengthen the behavioral health and developmental disabilities workforce to provide critical care to those in need, increase availability of integrated physical and behavioral health care, and support the establishment of behavioral health settings and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities.