Family Peer Support Pilot Program

Research has shown that when the needs of their adults are met, youth with mental health challenges are more likely to thrive and experience better life outcomes.

To embrace this concept and provide more support for Montana caregivers, guardians, and parents from others who share the lived experience of raising a child with mental health care needs, DPHHS embraced Family Peer Support as a Near-Term Initiative under the Behavioral Health Systems for Future Generations. Overseen by the Children’s Mental Health Bureau (CMHB), this initiative provided grants to four sites across the state in January 2025, including, AWARE, Inc., Mental Health American of Montana, Montana Rescue Mission, and St. John’s United to create family peer support pilots.

Learn more about services available through the pilots below:

For Parents

Peer Support Pilot Fact Sheet

Family Peer Support Presentation – Video Library

As part of the grant program, CMHB partnered with subject-matter experts to deliver quarterly presentations to supplement learning of Family Peer Support specialists hired through pilots with topics such as sibling needs, suicide prevention, resource connection, and how to engage fathers.

Below is a library of those presentations. More will be added through May 2027.