Investment To Expand Family Peer Support Services
Gov. Greg Gianforte has announced a $700,000 investment to expand peer support services in Montana, specifically for families and caregivers of youth with serious emotional disturbance.
“This investment addresses specific needs for Montana families who are raising a child with behavioral health challenges,” Gianforte said. “Families have expressed the importance of family peer support, and how it can make a difference in their lives.”
As recommended by the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations Commission, the investment represents the next allocation of $300 million in funding secured by the governor to reform and improve Montana’s behavioral health and developmental disabilities services systems.
The award recipients are AWARE, Inc., Mental Health American of Montana, Montana Rescue Mission and St. John’s United. These organizations were awarded based on their experience providing family peer support.
The funding adds six family peer supporters across these four providers. DPHHS estimates each full-time peer supporter will be responsible for managing a caseload of about 20-30 families.
Department of Public Health and Human Services Director Charlie Brereton said the Commission heard from numerous families over the past year about the importance of this initiative.
“Family peer support services provide crucial backing to caretakers and allow them to remain mentally, physically, and spiritually healthy,” Dir. Brereton said. “Being able to leverage the experience and guidance of a peer with lived experience can make all the difference for caretakers and their families in the best interest of the youth being served.”
A recent study conducted by Montana’s Peer Network showed that 94 percent of Montanans who received family peer support services reported an improved quality of life and 87 percent reported an increase in the quality of the care provided to a child.
The funding is designed to address the unmet needs of families raising children with SED, with the goal of improving health outcomes for youth, their families, and caregivers.
