HELENA — The Montana Community Foundation has announced a new grant opportunity aimed at expanding mental health services in Indigenous communities across the state. The grant, which is part of the Montana Mental Health Access Fund, is now open for applications until November 1st.
The Montana Mental Health Access Fund, originally established in 2021 through a seed grant from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, has since grown with contributions from other donors. It is designed to support a wide range of mental health service providers, including health clinics, mental health centers, schools, and social service agencies.
These grants, which range from $1,000 to $10,000, are specifically targeted at projects that leverage technology like Telehealth, provide services at no cost to patients, and reduce demographic or economic barriers to accessing mental health care. The initiative aims to address the significant mental health challenges faced by Indigenous communities in Montana, who, according to the Montana Department of Health and Human Services, experience the highest rates of suicide among any racial or ethnic group in the United States.
Elisa Fiaschetti, the impact programs director for the Montana Community Foundation, emphasized the importance of community-led initiatives. “We don’t necessarily have an ideal project because it’s based on the community. We really look to community-led grant-making, relying on guidance from the people on the Blackfeet Reservation, Crow Reservation, and other Indigenous communities to determine the best ways to increase access to services,” said Fiaschetti.
The Foundation is looking for long-term, evidence-based, and sustainable projects that can provide measurable outcomes. This grant opportunity is distinct from the Montana Community Foundation’s Snowbird Fund, which focuses on aiding the search for missing and murdered Indigenous people.
Through this grant, the Montana Community Foundation seeks to empower Indigenous communities to develop tailored solutions that will have a lasting impact on mental health care access and quality.
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