Now that we are a couple months into the new year, it feels good to be focused on the task at hand, and paying attention to the latest goings-on in our local Montana communities, as well as nationwide. Below are a few noteworthy items that may be of interest to many of you.
- Children’s Targeted Case Management:
The DPHHS Children’s Mental Health Bureau will adopt a rate of $15.90 for the urban counties and $18.28 for the rural counties. Urban counties are: Flathead, Lake, Missoula, Ravalli, Lewis & Clark, Silver Bow, Deer Lodge, Cascade, Gallatin and Yellowstone. There will be a 30-day comment period and the Department plans to implement the rate on April 1, 2020. The public hearing date is not yet set for these rates. - AMB West Foundation Support of the Alliance:
AMB West, the Blank Family Foundation in Paradise Valley, has offered their ranch for an Alliance retreat on Oct. 14-16. The Alliance Retreat will focus on Gracious Space: A Guide for Working Better Together, and Chantel Schieffer with Leadership Montana will be one of the facilitators. - CCBHC Expansion Grant Funding:
Certified Community Behavioral Health Center (CCBHC) Expansion funding is available from SAMSHA. This is different than the CCBHC Demonstration Project funded through CMS and applied for by states. In this funding, each agency would have to decide if they can attest to the requirements of the grant and stand up a CCBHC on their own. The funding is up to $2M for two years and the successful grant applications will need to demonstrate sustainability after the two-year period. To read more about this grant, visit this site. - Policy and Advocacy Position:
The Behavioral Health Alliance will be adding a part-time Policy and Advocacy contract position. This position will help the Alliance to educate the public, legislators, and government officials about the work of providing behavioral health in Montana. If you’re interested, please see the contract job description at this link. - National Council Hill Day in WDC!
Several members of the Behavioral Health Alliance and behavioral health advocates from Montana will be attending Hill Day in Washington, D.C. this June 23-24th. If you’d like to join the team advocating for behavioral health in Montana, please contact Montana Captain Mary Windecker at mwindecker@bhamt.org. More details can be found here at the National Council website: https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/events-and-training/hill-day/home/ - Upcoming Events:
Don’t forget to mark your calendars, and to sign up for the two events we have coming up soon. On May 5, we will be hosting the Peer Support Summit in conjunction with the Montana Healthcare Foundation, Montana’s Peer Network and AMDD. On May 18, we will be hosting the Behavioral Health Candidate Forum to hear from candidates for the Governor, Attorney General and State Auditor/Insurance Commissioner races. Hope to see you at both events!