By Kirsten Smith, Heather Grenier, Mike Chavers and Gallatin County Commissioners GUEST COLUMNISTS
Gallatin County’s youth are facing a mental health crisis. Fourteen percent of local teens reported attempting suicide last year, and 21% have seriously considered it. Yet many of these children have no local treatment options and are sent far from home to facilities designed for adults. This is a critical gap in care that we can address by supporting the development of a dedicated youth behavioral health campus near Bozeman.
The Human Resource Development Council, Gallatin County and Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch are working to create a campus that will provide crisis and residential services for youth ages 11 to 18 in Gallatin, Park and Madison counties. The first phase of the project will focus on crisis services which include stabilizing youth in need, assessing their situations and connecting them to appropriate resources. As the campus grows, we hope to eventually offer a full continuum of high-acuity therapeutic services to meet the complex needs of our children.
Having these services available in our local community is essential. Currently, too many of our youth in crisis are sent out of the area, away from their families and communities, to facilities that are often not best suited to their needs. This campus will enable our youth to remain close to home, receive specialized care, and recover in an environment designed specifically for them.
HRDC has acquired temporary financing to purchase the 30-acre property for the campus. However, to complete the project, we need to raise $5.05 million next year to cover the acquisition, renovation, and program startup costs. Gallatin County provided $1.5 million in seed money to close on the property, but significant additional community philanthropic support will be required to make this campus a reality. If we don’t raise the necessary funds by August of 2025, this property will be sold and we will lose this incredible—and fiscally responsible—opportunity.
This is a rare opportunity to invest in a much-needed solution for our youth. By providing local, specialized care, we can offer hope and healing to the children who need it most. Please join us in supporting this vital project by donating today. Together, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of Gallatin County’s youth.
Kirsten Smith is the coordinator of the Gallatin Behavioral Health Coalition. Heather Grenier is the CEO of HRDC, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of southwest Montana communities. Mike Chavers is the CEO of Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, which provides behavioral health services to youth across Montana. The Gallatin County Commissioners are committed to advancing local mental health resources and ensuring the well-being of our region’s youth.
