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Regional mental‑health center outlines services and urges continued county support for alcohol‑tax-funded prevention
Summary
Eastern Montana Community Mental Health (regional provider) told commissioners it provided substance‑use treatment and prevention in Fallon County last year — serving 22 clients and delivering roughly 200 service events — and described prevention activities that returned roughly $60,000 in value to the county; commissioners discussed amending a 1996 contract and asked to review Fallon County’s comprehensive plan under statute 53-24-211.
A representative identified as the CEO of Eastern Montana Community Mental Health briefed Fallon County commissioners on the agency’s work across 17 eastern Montana counties and on services provided locally.
The presenter said the agency—headquartered in Miles City—provides behavioral-health and substance-use treatment and prevention services across the region, noting that last year Eastern provided substance-use treatment to 22 Fallon County residents and logged more than 200 service events in the county. The speaker said most treatment billing is to Montana Medicaid and that county alcohol-tax allocations under statute are used for prevention and other locally delivered programs.
Examples of prevention programming included a school‑linked campaign for prom messaging, mobile 'hidden in plain sight' demonstrations for parents, a State of Mind theater program coming to Baker, and an equine‑assisted therapy pilot. The presenter said prevention activities returned an estimated $60,000 in value to Fallon County last year and explained that prevention staff (Beth Regan, prevention specialist assigned to Fallon County) logged extensive hours supporting schools and community events.
Commissioners raised contract and governance questions: the current agreement dates to 1996 and requires the county to allocate alcohol‑tax revenues to the regional provider. Several commissioners said they would prefer year‑by‑year funding decisions or an amended contract to allow allocation at the county’s discretion and asked staff to request a copy of Fallon County’s comprehensive countywide plan (statute requires a plan and annual allocation reporting). The commissioners also discussed obtaining regular reports from the provider to document services and spending. The presenter welcomed county oversight and suggested the county counsel review contract language if the commission wants to amend the historic agreement.
No formal vote was taken; commissioners asked staff to request the plan and to begin discussions about possible contract amendments.
