HELENA — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana (BCBSMT) recently awarded its annual The Big Blue Sky InitiativeSM major grants through the Blue ImpactSM program to deserving Montana nonprofits. This year we are thrilled to continue our support for organizations whose missions align with our values.
St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation
Usings funds from its grant, the St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation premiered a two-part, four-hour primetime documentary series by renowned filmmaker Ken Burns: “Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness.” The Foundation continues its work to raise awareness and reduce stigma associated with mental illness by hosting viewings of the film along with trainings hosted by Kee Dunning, a Billings-area psychotherapist. Since the premier, more than 1,800 Montanans have received direct training, education, and consultation from Dunning with resources from the film. The Foundation will continue this work due to support from BCBSMT.
Montana Academy of Pediatric Physicians (MTAPP)
As a membership organization for pediatric healthcare professionals, MTAPP works to bring training and resources to their members and improve outcomes for the youngest patients. MTAPP will continue to host an annual REACH Institute training to enhance the quality of mental health diagnostics and treatment for young people across Montana. Providers who have completed REACH training expressed higher comfort in diagnosis and management of anxiety, depression, ADHD, and suicidal thoughts. BCBSMT is proud to support work to care for children with mental health disorders.
Montana Pediatrics
Montana Pediatrics was founded to enhance access to pediatric healthcare and improve the quality of life for providers by uniting healthcare providers across the state. They have six primary service lines aimed at providing innovative solutions to pediatric healthcare challenges: after hours urgent care, rural and urban Native American support, support for families and children in crisis or transition, family support for children with type I diabetes, rural complex care, and integrated mental and behavioral health. BCBSMT is proud to support this essential work that empowers pediatric healthcare providers across the state.
Alluvion Health Foundation
Through a grant from BCBSMT, the Alluvion Health Foundation in Great Falls will be able to support a state-of-the-art mobile autism clinic. This groundbreaking approach to Autism Spectrum Disorder improves access to diagnostic evaluations and ongoing care for children living in rural and underserved areas of north-central Montana. The mobile clinic will eliminate a two-year waitlist for services and reduce the cost of care by $60,000 a year.
Since 2014, BCBSMT has awarded more than $2 million through Big Blue Sky Initiative major grants. Additionally, BCBSMT contributes more than $500,000 each year to nonprofit organizations that support efforts throughout the state to improve the health of all Montanans.
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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 has provided high-quality health insurance plans and administrative services to Montanans for more than 80 years and is committed to ensuring its members — no matter where they are on the health spectrum — achieve maximum health. Headquartered in Helena with five regional offices, BCBSMT’s purpose is to stand with its members in sickness and in health.