The University of Montana has received a three-year, $1.2 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration through its Rural Communities Opioid Response Program-Pathways initiative to create behavioral health career pathways for rural youth. The funding will support youth behavioral health programs in Montana, addressing urgent workforce shortages in a state where youth suicide rates are nearly three times the national average.
The Crisis Context
Montana faces a severe youth behavioral health crisis. In 2023, one in four high school students in the state reported seriously considering suicide, and one in seven had attempted it. Meanwhile, 46 of Montana’s 56 counties are classified as frontier, and 51 are designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas, meeting only 32.9% of behavioral health needs. Montana has no established pathways for youth to enter behavioral health careers, despite having a strong foundation in work-based learning.
Program Details
The RCORP-Pathways grant will create a workforce pipeline in Livingston, Helena, and Kalispell. High school students will train as community health workers, earn a university-issued credential, complete internships, and have the opportunity to receive dual enrollment credit through partnerships with colleges and universities. Students will develop essential life and career skills such as problem-solving, personal wellness, and resilience. Kate Chapin, executive director of the UM Center for Children, Families and Workforce Development, stated: “This grant represents a transformative opportunity for Montana’s youth and rural communities. By equipping high school students with the skills and credentials to become community health workers, we’re not only addressing a critical workforce shortage, we’re empowering young people to be part of the solution in their own communities.”
A statewide network of over 30 industry associations, nonprofits, agencies, and educational institutions—including the Montana Primary Care Association and Montana Urban Indian Health Consortium—will support the initiative. Montana is among only 12 states nationwide awarded such grants, leading the way in youth behavioral health workforce development.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.umt.edu/news/2025/10/101525hrsa.php