UM Program Awarded $2.4M to Support Behavioral Health Care Across Montana

UM Program Awarded $2.4M to Support Behavioral Health Care Across Montana

UNM program awarded $2.4 million to support behavioral health care across Montana. A significant boost for mental health care in Montana. The University of Montana has recently secured a remarkable grant of $2.4 million aimed at enhancing behavioral health care services throughout the state. This funding is crucial for the university’s initiative to train future professionals in the field, particularly those who will work with children, young adults, and individuals in rural or underserved communities. The grant was awarded to M’s behavioral health workforce education and training, BHWE program, which is part of the college of health and is located in the SCAGs building. This program has been instrumental in shaping the landscape of mental and behavioral health care in Montana for the past 8 years. Dr. Maryanne Sag, an associate professor at the School of Social Work and a key member of the BHWE team, expressed her gratitude, stating, “Our interprofessional BHWE program has been impacting mental and behavioral healthcare in Montana for the past 8 years, and we are honored to once again be recipients of this award. The funding means that we can continue supporting graduate students as they prepare to join Montana’s behavioral health workforce. The impact of the BHWE program is evident as its graduates are now employed in various settings across Montana, contributing significantly to their communities. Dr. SAG emphasized, “The continuation of this funding allows our BHWE team to keep serving both our graduate students and the citizens of Montana, especially our youth. This latest grant marks the third consecutive award from the Federal Health Resources Services Administration for the BHWE program. Initially funded in 2017 for a 4-year cycle, the program received a second grant in 2021. With this new funding, the BHWE program is set to expand its efforts to cultivate a robust behavioral health care workforce in Montana for at least another four years. The BHWE team is composed of an interdicciplinary group of faculty from both M and Montana State University including Dr. Sontag, Dr. Jana Mumbau from the department of counseling, Dr. Tay, Greg Machek, and Dr. Brian Cochran from the department of psychology along with consulting faculty member Dr. Holly Schliker. In the previous year, the BHWE cohort welcomed 21 graduate students from diverse fields such as counseling, psychology, nursing practice, and social work. Once they are accepted into the program, these students benefit from enhanced hands-on training that prepares them for their future careers. Additionally, BHWE students receive training stipens allowing them to dedicate more time and focus to their education and clinical internships. This comprehensive support ensures that they are well equipped to take on professional roles in behavioral health settings across Montana upon graduation. What do you think about the importance of funding for mental health education? Is it enough to meet the growing needs of our communities?

The University of Montana’s Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training program has been awarded a $2.4 million grant to continue growing the program and produce more providers serving Montana’s children, young adults, and those in rural and underserved areas of the state. The program trains students for careers in behavioral health care and has been impacting mental and behavioral health care in Montana for the past eight years. The funding will allow the program to continue supporting graduate students as they prepare to join Montana’s behavioral health workforce. The program is an interdisciplinary faculty group representing four departments from UM and Montana State University, and its graduates are employed across Montana in a variety of settings. The advanced training and support they received through the program directly benefit Montana communities. The program’s continuation of funding allows the team to keep serving both graduate students and the citizens of Montana, especially youth.