As the 2025-2026 school year quickly approaches, AWARE Inc. has announced the addition of more school programs in Butte, Missoula, and the Bitterroot Valley to its already existing school-based mental health initiatives for students.
“We are excited to add the additional schools in the Missoula and Bitterroot Valley communities to provide critical and compassionate care to even more Montana kids,” said Matt Bugni, CEO of AWARE. “Children learn best in the classroom. Our team offers the support and structure that kids, teachers, aides, and families need to help kids stay with their classmates and promote growth and development.”
For over 20 years, AWARE has provided school-based mental health services in Billings, Bonner, Ramsay, East Helena, Havre, Lockwood, Hamilton, Corvallis, Great Falls, and Helena, supporting nearly 800 kids. In May, AWARE announced an integration with Western Montana Mental Health Center (WMMHC), where WMMHC services would be brought under the AWARE umbrella. The transition is expected to take several months, but the school-based services were transitioned this summer.
AWARE’s school-based mental health support focuses on helping clients and their families succeed across school, community, and home environments. Using a wrap-around approach, AWARE’s specialized staff work directly with the identified children, their parents, teachers, and school personnel to meet the goals outlined in each individualized plan. The services offered include assessment and evaluation, classroom support, crisis intervention training, classroom behavioral support, and family, group, and individual therapy.
AWARE also offers in-home applied behavior analysis programs for children up to 21 years of age. Board-certified behavior analysts work with families to teach children new skills, reducing problem behavior and helping them grow, connect, and thrive.
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AWARE Inc. is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Anaconda, providing community-based support to all 56 counties for individuals with mental health and/or developmental disabilities. To learn more about AWARE Inc., visit www.aware-inc.org.
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