School Health Grants

The School Health Mini-Grant Program provides grants in the amount of $1,000 to school nurses, asthma and diabetes educators, school counselors, and administrators working in K-12 schools throughout Montana. Grants support applicants in their efforts to create safe and healthy learning environments for students and school staff.  

The 2023-2024 application period opens September 1, 2023 and will remain open through March 31, 2024 or until funding is no longer available. 

How to Apply

Step 1: Confirm eligibility

  • School Nurses
  • Head Start Nurses
  • City/County Public Health Nurses
  • Certified Asthma or Diabetes Educators
  • School Counselors
  • School Administrators

Step 2: Choose a project

Using educational materials provided by the Montana Asthma Control Program, award recipients will provide asthma education and training to school teachers, staff and/or coaches. Educators may choose to focus their asthma education and training towards all school staff by using the “Creating Asthma Friendly Schools” resource guide. Alternatively, the training can be tailored towards coaches using a slightly different presentation and additional coaching resources.

In order to complete this project, asthma education and training must be provided to at least five school staff members or coaches per individual applicant. School nurses and asthma educators are encouraged to consult with school administrators to determine if the training can be incorporated into a PIR training day. OPI renewal unit certificates from the Montana Asthma Control Program are available upon request.

Grantees are encouraged to direct school staff and coaches who are unable to attend in-person trainings to the online training on OPI's Teacher Learning Hub.

Project Documents

Using a school policies and practices checklist form provided by the Montana School Health Program, grantees will assess school policies and practices related to asthma or other chronic diseases. Grantees will then present their findings to the school administration.

Project Documents

This option allows participants to use their funding to attend the annual Big Sky Pulmonary Conference, Asthma Educator Certification Review Course, Diabetes Conference, or other School Health Training event. The Montana School Health Program will wave registration fees for the applicants and the mini-grant funding can be used for travel, lodging expenses, and substitute costs. In order to complete this project, the applicant must attend at least one educational events and return the outcomes report form to the School Health Program. The school representative attending the conference must directly work with school health initiatives or policies. DPHHS may ask for a brief justification for staff attending a conference and the clinical benefit. 

Project Documents

Applicants will teach an asthma self-management curriculum to students with asthma, using either the Open Airways for Schools Program or the Kickn' Asthma Program (depending on the age of the students). In order to complete this project, asthma self-management education must be provided to at least five students.

Project Documents

This option provides applicants the opportunity to partner with a certified instructor to bring a Hands-Only CPR training to the school. The Hands-Only CPR training was developed by the American Heart Association and has been used to train over 50,000 people in Montana. In order to complete this project, individual grantee must provide training to at least 25 students and group grantees must train at least 50 students. Applicants must submit an outcomes report form to the School Health Program.  

Please note: This project is intended to facilitate school trainings. Funding cannot be used for the purchase of AED units. Please view "AED Grant Funding" below to locate programs to obtain AED units for your school. 

Project Documents

Hands-Only CPR Training Checklist
Hands-Only CPR Training Outcomes Report Form

AED Grant Funding

The Cardiac Ready Communities Program encourages communities to purchase Automated External Defibrillators (AED) for use in public locations in the event of a Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Grant funding and support is available to schools to purchase AED equipment.

The granting organizations listed below include school districts in their eligibility requirements:

Additional Support

Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation - raising awareness & savings lives, sca-aware.org
The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation has information about grant writing as well as information on various AED models. Their campaign, You Can Save a Life at School, focuses on many great school-related resources. 

SIM MT logo
Simulation in Motion Montana: Three mobile simulation training trucks with a suite of high-definition simulation manikins allow more realistic training opportunities for health professionals and students interested in the medical fields, especially from the point of view of emergency technicians.  The front of the trucks have pull-out areas and simulate an emergency room; the back simulates an ambulance. Visit the Mobile SIM Montana website to learn how your school can request a SIM truck to augment first aid training and education.

Nurses, Certified Asthma Educators, or other school staff will review school records and identify students with a current asthma diagnosis as diagnosed by a medical provider. The grantees will assess asthma control among students using the Asthma Control Test and other measures specified by the Montana Asthma Control Program. Students with uncontrolled asthma shall be referred to the Montana Asthma Home Visiting Program (MAP) in their county/region. MAP services are available in the following counties: Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, Blaine County, Butte-Silver Bow County, Cascade County, Custer County, Dawson County, Flathead County, Gallatin County, Hill County, Lewis and Clark County, Liberty County, Missoula & Granite Counties, Park County, Richland County, and Roosevelt County. Students whose asthma is under control will receive educational materials and resources to take home. Students with uncontrolled asthma will be referred to the MAP home visiting nurse in the area. In order to complete this project, asthma control assessments must be performed with at least five students.

Project Documents


Asthma Take Home Resources

This option allows applicants to design their own chronic disease focused project to address a specific concern in their school or district. The Montana School Health Program will work closely with the applicant to clearly identify the project scope and goals.

Potential Projects

  • Student Chronic Disease Support Groups
  • Youth Diabetes Self-Management Education
  • Chronic Disease Awareness/Education Campaign


Project Documents

Step 3: Complete and submit application form and W-9

School Health Grant Application Form

  • Complete the application form and submit according to the instructions on the form.
  • Please complete and submit a W-9 for the entity or individual that will receive the grant funding. The W-9 form should be submitted alongside the grant application form.
    Grants will not be processed until DPHHS has a valid taxpayer identification number on file.
    DPHHS W9 Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification form
  • Once your application is submitted, you will receive an email from schoolhealth@mt.gov confirming your application has been received. If there are any questions regarding your proposed project, the DPHHS state school nurse consultant will contact you using the contact information provided on the application form. 

Things to know

  • A School Health Program staff member may need to set up a time to talk with you about your application if they have questions regarding your proposal. 
  • Applicants who have completed their first project may apply for additional funding to work on new projects in the same funding year or in subsequent years. 
  • If possible, submit your application well in advance of your project to allow DPHHS staff the time to review and process the application before you get started. 
  • Applications can take 3-4 weeks to process. An award letter and check will be sent from DPHHS to your school supervisor or administrator.
  • Approved uses of funding include but are not limited to: grant-related educational materials, staff time to administer training, staff time to attend training courses, travel costs, contracting with content experts for training services, meeting expenses, and limited chronic disease support tools for students. 
  • Questions? Contact schoolhealth@mt.gov or 406-444-4592.