Nearly $2 million in federal funding will support efforts to reduce school violence in Montana. The $1,999,992 grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, will fund two projects from October 2024 to September 2027.
The Western Montana Professional Learning Collaborative in Lolo will receive $1 million to expand mental health services in underserved rural, tribal, and frontier schools. The initiative will provide trauma-informed care, wellness training, curriculum, and teletherapy, benefiting an additional 13,000 students in western Montana.
Billings Public Schools will receive $999,992 to address rising violence and gang activity in the district. The funding will support the Culture of Care program, which will focus on violence prevention and building resiliency skills in students, particularly in middle schools.
The Culture of Care program will hire specialists to work directly with students and a program leader to manage the initiative across six middle schools. The goal is to reduce violence by resolving conflicts early and promoting a positive school climate.
U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich praised the grants for being proactive in addressing school violence. He emphasized the importance of supporting mental health and violence prevention programs to create safer, more supportive learning environments.