Rural Resilience

Rural communities are recognized for their Resilience and grit. However, a long-standing stigma surrounding mental health coupled with a lack of access to support in these communities often negatively impacts an entire community's ability to thrive. Rural Resilience is focused on designing long-term infrastructure for mental and behavioral health catalysts customized to each community served. Rural Resilience originated in park county, Montana thanks to grant support from amb west in july 2020. The organization seeks financial support and investment to continue to work towards long-term sustainability in order to provide accessible and consistent services throughout Rural communities. Rural Resilience currently provides mental and behavioral health services and support to students and their families across five different communities in Rural Montana. Services are provided by a behavior analyst and clinical therapist, as well as collaborative community networks that otherwise would not be accessible due to geographical, socioeconomic, and historically rooted barriers. These resources have been carefully crafted through relationship building and networking to meet the needs of five very unique Rural communities across park county, Montana and has spurred other Rural communities' desire for our programming and services. Rural Resilience has positively impacted entire communities by providing supportive and non-judgemental programs and liaisons to support individuals in need of mental and behavioral health services in isolated communities. The organization has successfully helped students and families overcome the stigma surrounding mental health in many Rural communities. This has opened the door for additional community members to both seek and accept help. Rural Resilience embodies the Rural ideal by investing directly in local youth and leading with a boots on the ground philosophy to ensure the long-term growth and sustainability of the Rural lifestyle and health of its communities. Rural Resilience established non-profit status in march of 2021.