Montana Family Support Program Curriculum
Below is a overview of the Montana Family Support Program, which includes the Level I Core Course options, the ten Level II Professional Development Trainings, and the Level III Apprenticeship opportunity. Together, these components are designed to build foundational skills and specialized knowledge to support youth and families affected by substance use and opioid use disorders. Space is limited to 27 participants in Level I and Level II and 9 participants in Level III per year.
Level I Core Course Options
Participants must complete one of the four core courses listed below. Participants should plan to dedicate roughly three to twelve months to complete their selected core course. Course overviews and links are provided below.
*Note: Community Health Worker Training requires employee sponsorship to complete a supervised experience.
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Fundamentals of Behavioral Health TrainingThis training provides the knowledge and skills necessary to understand the basics of behavioral health and mental health illnesses, treatments, and resources. |
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Community Health Worker Fundamentals TrainingThis course provides the foundation for understanding the Community Health Worker profession and developing the core knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to effectively support individuals, families, and communities. |
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Community Integrated Health (Community Paramedicine)This course prepares EMS professionals and other healthcare providers to expand their roles beyond emergency response and deliver integrated care in community settings. |
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Recovery DoulaThis course prepares individuals to provide full-spectrum birth and postpartum support to families navigating behavioral health challenges. |
Level II Professional Development Trainings
Professional Development Trainings are composed of both live instruction and online training. Below are the curated training sessions for the Montana Family Support Program workforce development program. Participants should plan to dedicate roughly four (4) months to complete the required ten (10) trainings. Space is limited to 27 participants in Level I and Level II each year. A stipend is available upon completion of Level I and Level II.
Question. Persuade. Refer. The (QPR) Gatekeeping course is an online, self-paced suicide prevention training that teaches participants how to recognize the warning signs of suicide, confidently engage someone in crisis, and connect them to appropriate support. This brief, evidence-based training is designed for anyone—no clinical background required—and provides a simple, actionable framework to help save lives. This course is approximately 1 hour in length.
Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) for Behavioral Health Professionals course from HealtheKnowlege. The course covers evidence-based strategies for early screening, conducting brief interventions using motivational techniques, and making effective referrals to treatment services. This course is approximately 3.5 hours in length.
Management of Aggressive Behaviors (MOAB®) is an online, self-paced certification course that teaches evidence-based strategies for recognizing, reducing, and safely managing aggressive behavior. MOAB® equips participants with nonverbal, verbal, and physical techniques to de-escalate conflict and respond with compassion across a range of crisis situations. This course is approximately 2 hours in length.
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is a virtual training that teaches adults how to support adolescents (ages 12–18) experiencing mental health or substance use challenges. The course covers common youth mental health conditions, typical adolescent development, and a 5-step action plan for helping young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. This course is 8 hours in total—consisting of 2 hours of pre-training coursework and 6 hours of live, instructor-led training.
Motivational Interviewing is an online, self-paced course from HealtheKnowledge. It takes the learner on a tour of the essential skills used to strengthen an individual's motivation for behavior change. Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a form of collaborative conversation for strengthening a person's own motivation and commitment to change. This course is approximately 4 hours in length.
Trauma-Informed Care: Become a Trauma Champion is an online, self-paced course. This course, which was created and taught by Ron Huxley, LMFT, is designed for individuals seeking practical, real-world skills to support children, families, and communities affected by trauma. This course is approximately 4 hours in length.
Learn to Prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) is an online, self-paced course through the CDC's Veto Violence website. This course helps to understand, recognize, and prevent ACEs. This course is approximately 1.5 hours in length.
Opioid Overdose Response Training is an online, self-paced course through the Safe Project website. In this course, participants will learn what an opioid overdose is, how to recognize one, and how to save a life with naloxone. This course is approximately 30 minutes in length.
Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM) is an online, self-paced course through the Zero Suicide website. This course teaches evidence-based strategies to reduce access to lethal means—primarily firearms and medications—for individuals at risk of suicide. This course is approximately 2 hours in length.
Healing Families, Healing Lives is an online, self-paced course offered through MORH/AHEC's online learning library. This course supports parents and caregivers impacted by substance abuse. This course is approximately 4 hours in length.
Level III Apprenticeship
Participants have the opportunity to complete Level III Apprenticeship through the Montana Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) The Montana Department of Labor & Industry oversees the Montana Registered Apprenticeship Program, a program that combines on-the-job training with classroom instruction to prepare workers for high-demand careers. Apprentices gain real-world experience and earn wages while training under experienced mentors—helping them avoid student debt as they build valuable skills.
Participants and their employer enter into an apprenticeship agreement overseen by DLI for a 2,000-hour apprenticeship. Space is limited to nine (9) participants in the Level III Apprenticeship each year. A stipend is available upon completion of Level III.
Montana Registered Apprenticeship Program
Questions
For more information about the BHWET program or to find out
how you or your organization can get involved, please contact:
Beth Ann Carter
Assistant Director, Paraprofessional Workforce
📧 beth.carter@montana.edu | 📞 406-925-1261
