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LAC hears legislative priorities on suicide prevention, contingency‑management for meth and upcoming advocacy day
Summary
Members reviewed state behavioral‑health priorities from NAMI Montana, discussed a governor priority to fund contingency‑management programs for meth recovery, and noted an AFSP advocacy day at the state capitol on Feb. 11 plus online suicide‑prevention training options.
Eleanor Wend and Laurie Bishop provided a legislative update focused on behavioral‑health measures moving through the state legislature. Wend noted budget items in the House related to suicide‑prevention funding and priorities circulated by NAMI Montana, including group‑home funding and community‑based treatment development.
Laurie Bishop said there is a governor priority to expand contingency‑management programs for meth recovery and described increased federal and settlement funds targeted at substance‑use interventions. She also flagged bills concerning firearms access as items the advocacy community will watch because of established links between firearm access and suicide risk.
Bishop encouraged members to consider participating in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention advocacy day scheduled for Feb. 11 at the state capitol and said some LAC members are planning to attend. Members also discussed a 2–3 hour online suicide‑prevention training they recently found useful for volunteers and peer‑support staff; the training covered practical legal and support boundaries for non‑clinician providers.
The council discussed family support specialist legislation that would add capacity for families of children with high needs but currently lacks dedicated funding or a billing lever for Medicaid. Members noted Medicaid expansion remains an ongoing policy question affecting long‑term capacity.
