HELENA, Mont. (NMB) – The Montana Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for healthcare organizations to help facilitate its Montana Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Counseling Voucher Program.
To prioritize mental health in agricultural communities and improve access to trained professionals based in Montana, the department is launching a counseling voucher program to provide free mental health services to individuals involved in agriculture across the state. The department expects to award $250,000 in funds through the program which was funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN).
Healthcare organizations interested in applying can learn more about the program on the department’s website at agr.mt.gov/frsan. Applicants must be based in Montana, have the ability to offer both in person and telehealth appointments, and should have a network of mental health counselors that are familiar with the stressors faced by agriculture producers. The application deadline is December 6, 2021.
Several Montana agricultural organizations have already been awarded grant funds for mental health speakers, trainings, and workshops through the department’s Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Mini-Grant Program. A Montana-focused ad campaign will soon begin its work to continue addressing the stigma surrounding mental health issues and connect Montanans involved in agriculture with tangible, effective resources as well.
Click Here to view counseling voucher program guidelines. Click Here to apply before 5 PM on Dec. 6th.
Courtesy of the Montana Department of Agriculture
