BOZEMAN – With the backing of a $50,000 Healthy Kids, Healthy Families® grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana (BCBSMT), Family Promise of Gallatin Valley is launching an innovative program to provide financial assistance for mental health and addiction counseling for families experiencing homelessness.
According to Family Promise, 100% of families served in the last two years through its sheltering program suffered from a variety of adverse mental health conditions, such as anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, trauma/stressor-related disorders and addiction.
“Family Promise already does heroic work to provide shelter to those in need in the Gallatin Valley, but this new program promises to provide another vital layer of care for families experiencing homelessness,” said Jesse Zentz, manager of community relations for BCBSMT.
Family Promise’s Healthy Mind, Healthy Home program is designed to guarantee access to mental health and addiction counselors for families in need to ensure they have the tools necessary to begin the healing process from the effects of homelessness. The hope is that this program will provide a support system to encourage self-sustainability necessary to create a healthier future for families and children.
Founded in 2006, Family Promise supports three primary programs: The Interfaith Hospitality Network, Moving Mountains Aftercare and the Transitional Housing Program. This past year, 27 families experienced transformational assistance from Family Promise through the three sheltering programs. That impact is expected to grow with the addition of the Health Mind, Healthy Home program.
Healthy Kids, Healthy Families is a signature program of BCBSMT and part of an ongoing commitment to invest in and partner with like-minded nonprofit organizations that offer sustainable, measurable programs to reach children and their families in the five following areas: nutrition, physical activity, disease prevention and management, substance abuse prevention, and suicide prevention. The $50,000 grant is one of four BCBSMT awards each year.
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About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana (BCBSMT) is a division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BCBSMT is the largest and longest-standing statewide, customer-owned health insurer and full-service health benefits administrator in Montana. BCBSMT believes that Montana consumers and employers deserve the best of both worlds — access to quality, cost-effective health care and superior customer service from a company that focuses solely on members. BCBSMT has provided high-quality health insurance plans and administrative services to Montanans for nearly 80 years. BCBSMT is committed to ensuring its members — no matter where they are on the health spectrum — achieve maximum health. BCBSMT’s mission is to stand with its members in sickness and in health. BCBSMT’s website is www.bcbsmt.com.
About Family Promise of Gallatin Valley
Since 2006 Family Promise of Gallatin Valley in Montana has been a non-profit organization working with a large base of local volunteers to provide shelter, meals, training, and many other necessities to bring lasting solutions to families in need. Family Promise empowers homeless families with children to achieve self-sufficiency through partnerships, services and advocacy. Through these efforts, Family Promise aims to end homelessness in the Gallatin Valley, one family at a time. Family Promise’s website is www.familypromisegv.org.