CHIP Priority Area – Substance Use Disorder, Behavioral Health, and Mental Health
Learn more about each goal below
Goal 1 – Sustainable Behavioral Health System
Strive for a behavioral health system that can respond to people’s needs promptly, efficiently, and appropriately by ensuring services are grounded in best available practices and focused on sustainability.
Leadership
Strategic Alliance for Improved Behavioral Health oversees Goal 1.
About the Strategic Alliance
The Missoula County Strategic Alliance for Improved Behavioral Health was formed to address the growing need for a unified, systems-level approach to behavioral health challenges in the region. Established in 2019, the Strategic Alliance aims to bridge existing gaps by promoting greater collaboration, alignment, and shared accountability among partners. This effort is designed to create a more integrated and effective behavioral health system for Missoula County.
The coalition brings together diverse group of over forty representatives from organizations and programs connected to behavioral health, ensuring a wealth of expertise and perspectives. Decision-makers from AWARE, the City of Missoula, Community Medical Center, Missoula County, Missoula Public Health, Partnership Health Center, Providence St. Patrick Hospital, Western Montana Mental Health Center, and one at-large member govern the Strategic Alliance.
Objectives and Strategies
Objective:
Support people with behavioral health needs by collaborating with partners to implement effective and efficient services using data and policy to guide efforts.
Strategies:
Community partners selected the following strategies to achieve this:
- Collect quarterly data reports from relevant services and stakeholders.
- Strengthen the behavioral health care continuum for youth by increasing access to community-based transition services.
- Strengthen the care continuum for adults through increased coordination between adult-serving agencies.
Data
Accomplishments
Goal 2 – Prevention through Risk and Protective Factors
Look upstream to prevent issues related to Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and Substance Use Disorder by enhancing protective factors and reducing risk factors.
Leadership
Missoula Public Health and the Missoula SPACECAT Network oversees Goal 2.
The purpose of the Missoula SPACECAT Network is to create a culture of teamwork amongst our partners in the service of our community by aligning groups working on Suicide, Overdose, and ACEs prevention.
Objectives and Strategies
Objective:
Align in our understanding of community needs.
Strategies:
Community partners selected the following strategies to achieve this:
- Conduct listening sessions with people with lived experience.
- Share results from the Community Resource Guide Needs Assessment report.
- Share results from the Youth Behavioral Health Needs Assessment report.
Accomplishments
- Missoula SPACECAT Network Community Listening Session Executive Summary and Full Report
- Missoula Resource Guide Needs Assessment
- 2023 Missoula County Youth Behavioral Health Needs Assessment Report
Goal 3 – Foster Community Understanding and Reduce Stigma
Foster Community Understanding and Support to cultivate a community-wide dialogue to destigmatize substance use disorder, mental health, and behavioral health challenges, and promote empathy and understanding regarding mental health and substance use disorders.
Leadership
Missoula Public Health and the Missoula SPACECAT Network oversees Goal 3.
The purpose of the Missoula SPACECAT Network is to create a culture of teamwork amongst our partners in the service of our community by aligning groups working on Suicide, Overdose, and ACEs prevention.
Objectives and Strategies
Objective:
Develop community-wide communication procedures and practices.
Strategies:
Community partners selected the following strategies to achieve this:
- Share the Communicating about Suicide and Overdose Best Practices Media Guide.
- Develop a training based on the media guide and present it to community partners.