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:  

1. Recruitment costs associated with adding a TCM with a priority focus on the target population; 
2. Hiring, onboarding, and training a TCM necessary to support the provision of TCM to the target population; and
3. 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:    

1. Serve children with SED;  
2. Operate as an existing licensed mental health center with a youth targeted case management endorsement through the Montana DPHHS Office of the Inspector General;  
3. 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;
4. Must attest that the organization has the administrative support infrastructure to meet the grant criteria;
5. 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;
6. 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;
7. Must attest that all items included in the submitted budget fall under the allowable uses of funds for this grant program;
8. Must attest to being in good financial standing;
9. Must attest that the organization will comply with all applicable Montana Medicaid rules and manuals, e.g. CMHB Medicaid Services Provider Manual;
10. Must attest to being able to comply with all state and federal laws, regulations, and policies applicable to the program; and
11. Must attest that the information provided in the application is true and correct to the best of the authorized official’s knowledge and understanding.

2026 MCHBG Pilot Program Mini Grant applications will be awarded on a “first come, first served” basis. The application deadline is May 6, 2026, at 11:59pm MT. For questions about this application or program, please contact Alison Mutz at alison.mutz@mt.gov. 

2026 MCHBG Pilot Program Mini Grant applications will be awarded on a “first come, first served” basis. The application deadline is May 6, 2026, at 11:59pm MT. For questions about this application or program, please contact Alison Mutz at alison.mutz@mt.gov. 

2026 MCHBG Pilot Program Mini Grant applications will be awarded on a “first come, first served” basis. The application deadline is May 6, 2026, at 11:59pm MT. For questions about this application or program, please contact Alison Mutz at alison.mutz@mt.gov. 

2026 MCHBG Pilot Program Mini Grant applications will be awarded on a “first come, first served” basis. The application deadline is May 6, 2026, at 11:59pm MT. For questions about this application or program, please contact Alison Mutz at alison.mutz@mt.gov. 

2026 MCHBG Pilot Program Mini Grant applications will be awarded on a “first come, first served” basis. The application deadline is May 6, 2026, at 11:59pm MT. For questions about this application or program, please contact Alison Mutz at alison.mutz@mt.gov. 

2026 MCHBG Pilot Program Mini Grant applications will be awarded on a “first come, first served” basis. The application deadline is May 6, 2026, at 11:59pm MT. For questions about this application or program, please contact Alison Mutz at alison.mutz@mt.gov.