Community-Based Stabilization Services Pilot Grant Program
Ends on
PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION IN YOUR APPLICATION
Community-Based Stabilization Services Pilot Grant
Applications will be reviewed by the Department in the order they are received; however, applicants that demonstrate an exceptional need as determined by the Department will receive priority. Applications will be considered complete if they have answered all required questions and included all requested documentation. If an application is deemed incomplete, it will not proceed through the remainder of the evaluation process. Applications received that do not meet application criteria will not be awarded. The application will close on May 23, 2025.
Program Description and Purpose
To address the limited options for court-ordered forensic evaluations (COEs) in Montana and in an effort to mitigate the large number of evaluations that are conducted at the Montana State Hospital Forensic Mental Health Facility (FMHF), DPHHS began paying for Community-Based Court Ordered Evaluations. The Department still observes a large number of individuals on the FMHF waitlist in part due to the lack of professionals who are qualified to not only conduct fitness evaluations but also deliver treatment to stabilize and evaluate defendants and restore them to fitness. Additionally, counties have expressed a need for telehealth technology and services that would assist in providing stabilization services at the local level while the defendant is awaiting admission to FMHF or receiving evaluation services in the community.
This program seeks to provide one-time only 24-month pilot grants to counties, municipalities, or multi-county entities so they may provide or arrange for community-based stabilization services. This grant is funded through Near-Term Initiative #1: Incentivize Community-Based Court Ordered Evaluations. Court Ordered Evaluations ordered pursuant to Mont. Code Ann., § 46-14-202 may be performed using on-site and/or telehealth psychiatric services. While this new program seeks to build community capacity for stabilization services, generally, priority will be given to those counties with a demonstrated backlog of individuals awaiting admittance to FMHF for evaluations order pursuant to Mont. Code Ann., § 46-14-202 and a demonstrated need for stabilization services. Additionally, the Department aims to prioritize applications that demonstrate a robust sustainability plan for these services using local funds after the 24-month grant period.
Funding for the program is provided via the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations Commission, as authorized under HB 872. HB 872 explicitly authorizes certain expenditures and prohibits others. Acceptable uses for HB 872 funds are listed in Section 3 of the Bill. The Department submits this recommended initiative can be paid for by HB 872 funds as it is:
From Section 3, subsection (3)(c), “statewide community-based investments to stabilize behavioral health and developmental disabilities service providers and delivery, increase and strengthen the behavioral health and developmental disabilities workforce, increase service capacity to meet identified behavioral health and developmental disabilities services demands, and increase opportunities for Montanans to receive integrated physical and behavioral health care;” or relate to (as cited in Section 3, subsection (3)(f), “planning, operation, or other contract expenses associated with behavioral health settings.”
Funding will be provided either in an upfront or reimbursement form, depending on the identified needs of the county and details of the approved application for funding. Proof of the county’s contract with a qualified contractor(s), medical provider(s) or other vetted entity/entities will be required for any prepaid provision of funds, as well as demonstration that such contract(s) are serving defendants awaiting admission to FMHF and/or in need of Court Ordered Evaluation. Receipts, invoices, and other supporting materials will be required for any provision of funds based on reimbursement.
DPHHS aims to provide one-time funding to support start-up costs for innovative community stabilization services at the county level. The Department expects to award $6.5 million in awards.
DPHHS Priorities
The primary goal of this BHSFG Near-Term Initiative grant program is to expand capacity for community-based stabilization services across Montana, reducing the likelihood of an individual being placed on the FMHF waitlist. DPPHS will prioritize applications from counties, municipalities, and multi-county entities that identify sustainability partnerships with entities with a proven history of and/or commitment to working with single providers who provide stabilization services at the local level.
The target outcomes and outputs for this grant program are listed below
- Increased infrastructure and capacity for provision of a comprehensive suite of healthcare services in carceral settings.
- Increased number of county jails using stabilization services at the local level
- Increased number of defendants receiving stabilization services at the local level
- Decreased time spent by county employees transporting defendants to and from FMHF
- Reduced acuity and psychiatric decompensation of defendants
- Reversed growth trend in the FMHF waitlist
- Decreased average number of days spent on the FMHF waitlist
Key Terms
Stabilization Services: Psychiatric and clinical treatment provided to a pretrial defendant that is often necessary to prevent or reverse psychiatric decompensation and facilitate participation in a court-ordered initial fitness evaluation, ordered pursuant to Mont. Code Ann. 46-14-202). This level of treatment is not necessarily the equivalent of the treatment contemplated by and ordered by a court pursuant to Mont. Code Ann. 46-14-221, which would be ordered to achieve “restoration to fitness.” However, depending upon the presentation and needs of the defendant, it may result in “restoration to fitness.” This form of treatment has, in recent years, almost exclusively been provided at the FMHF prior to a fitness evaluation. Stabilization services required in connection with an evaluation ordered pursuant to Mont. Code Ann. 46-14-202, include medical and psychiatric assessment as well as medical and psychotropic compliance. Reimbursable community-based stabilization and restoration services should and can be provided in non-FMHF settings if the specific nature of a defendant’s needs can be met in the community.
Proposed Project Cost Guidance
Applicants should submit proposals with costs that are accurate and verifiable; a project budget is required with each application. Applicants may submit proposals that do not cover the full cost of a project if they identify the sources of other funds that will be leveraged to cover the full cost.
Allowable Uses
Potential allowable uses of these one-time funds include costs for stabilization services, such as:
- Contracted services (Examples of known entities providing such services in Montana are Wellpath, Traditions Behavioral Health, and Liberty, but may include others)
- Medication management and costs (including long-term injectables)
- Training/ professional development
- Technology
- Transportation
- Hiring and staffing (employees related to stabilization services)
- Administrative services
Additional services may be considered but must align with the outcomes and outputs of this pilot grant program.
Eligibility and Application Requirements
To be eligible to apply for this grant, applicants shall:
- Be a MT County, Municipality, or Multi-County Entity
- Have the administrative support infrastructure to meet the grant criteria, including ongoing reporting requirements
- Have knowledge of state and federal laws, regulations, and policies applicable to stabilization
- Demonstrate a need for the requested stabilization-related services
- Use funds for stabilization-related services only
- Submit a long-term sustainability plan for stabilization services post-grant funding
Reporting Requirements
Counties, municipalities, or multi-county entities selected for an award under this program will be required to:
- Track activities and services throughout the grant period (maximum of 24 months)
- Monitor outcomes through administering surveys to members served and other activities
- Report the number of individual members served
- Provide data (including reporting related to outcomes and outputs)
- Be able to demonstrate financial sustainability of the program following one-time-only funding investment
- Meet all reporting requirements subsequently outlined in the grant application process
The cadence and format of this reporting will be determined by DPHHS and the provider after a provider is selected under this program.
All applications must be submitted via Submittable. Applications will be reviewed and evaluated by DPHHS. Approval notices will be sent out to applicants via Submittable. Accepted providers will be required to sign formal agreements that include additional terms and conditions.
Payment Information
This grant will be paid on a reimbursement basis with up-front payments approved on a case-by-case basis for start-up costs. Awardees must adhere to all components of the Community-Based Stabilization Services Pilot Grant Agreement.