Governor Greg Gianforte recently engaged with the Rocky Boy Agency Tribal council in Box Elder, Montana, to discuss significant investments in behavioral health care across north central Montana.
During his visit to the Rocky Boy Health Center, Governor Gianforte underscored the state’s commitment to supporting mental health and substance abuse initiatives rather than neglecting those in need.
“It’s great to recognize the expansion of the Rocky Boy Health Center and Tribal council for investing in our rural communities along the Hi-Line,” stated Gov. Gianforte, emphasizing the collaborative efforts aimed at improving Montanans’ overall health.
The meeting, held at the new administration building of the Rocky Boy Health Center, focused on enhancing healthcare infrastructure and expanding access to medical services, particularly in mental health and substance abuse prevention.
Tribal leaders, legislators, and health center administrators discussed future steps to prioritize behavioral health care improvements both within Tribal communities and statewide. The Rocky Boy Agency Tribal council expressed their commitment to ongoing collaboration with lawmakers to advance recommendations for initiatives crucial to their community.
Highlighting recent investments, the council detailed efforts to construct housing near the health center, catering specifically to elderly residents, further supporting holistic health care initiatives.
In a separate development this week, Governor Gianforte announced up to $6.5 million in one-time grants allocated to Tribal nations and Urban Indian Health Organizations (UIHOs) to bolster behavioral health services in Native American communities. This funding, part of a broader $300 million initiative secured by the governor last year, aims to reform and enhance Montana’s behavioral health and developmental disabilities services.
The grants will support various initiatives recommended by the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations (BHSFG) Commission, including facility improvements, mobile crisis response teams, and transportation services tailored to meet behavioral health needs in culturally relevant ways.
Governor Gianforte’s commitment to improving access to affordable, high-quality health care and advancing behavioral health care services underscores his administration’s dedication to prioritizing the well-being of Montanans.