ABOUT PROJECT TOMORROW

OUR MISSION

At Project Tomorrow Montana, our mission is to promote awareness, provide support, and offer educational opportunities in the vital efforts of suicide prevention and postvention. In collaboration with Missoula Public Health, we engage with community service organizations to foster a network of care and understanding. Together, we are dedicated to saving lives, building resilient communities, and ensuring that no one faces their struggles alone.

OUR HISTORY

Originally known as the Western Montana Suicide Prevention Initiative (WMSPI), the organization was founded by the Missoula City-County Health Department, United Way of Missoula County, the Institute for Educational Research and Service (IERS) at The University of Montana, and LivingWorks Education in 2014. In 2016 the organization rebranded and adopted the name Project Tomorrow Montana.

The initiative was established to reduce the number of suicides and suicide attempts in Western Montana through collaborative efforts that promote, support, and increase awareness, prevention, intervention, and recovery. Under this model, Project Tomorrow has educated hundreds of health care professionals, school counselors and community members on how to identify suicide warning signs and safe intervention strategies. Together, we are fighting for a better tomorrow, for Missoula, for Western Montana.

PROJECT TOMORROW COALITION COORDINATORS:

• Jackie Briggs, United Way of Missoula County, Project Tomorrow Montana Coordinator
  • jacquelyn@missoulaunitedway.org
• Hannah Pepprock, Missoula Public Health, Suicide Prevention Coordinator
  • hpepprock@missoulacounty.us

COMMUNITY PARTNERS:

• The 4th D Club
  • The Fourth D Club. We provide a welcoming, substance free space for individuals impacted by drug and alcohol addiction to engage in fellowship and recovery meetings. Substance abuse is far-reaching and insidious, affecting everyone it touches—especially friends and family members. Recovery is not only for the person struggling with addiction; it is necessary for all who are impacted.  
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – Montana Chapter
  • The AFSP Montana Chapter works to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide through education, advocacy, and community connection. We offer evidence‑based prevention education, support for people with lived experience and those who have lost someone to suicide, and opportunities for Montanans to come together through events and outreach. Our work focuses on reducing suicide risk, strengthening protective factors, and building a more connected, informed, and compassionate community. We offer a wide range of free suicide prevention, education, and support programs, and we’re always eager to share them with communities across Montana. If you’re looking to make a difference, we also welcome volunteers who want to support this life‑saving work. Please visit our web site at
• Be SMART Montana
  • At Be SMART Montana, we educate families about the importance of securely storing firearms unloaded, locked and out of reach and sight of young people and teens with ammunition locked and stored separately. To reduce access to fatal means for suicide, school shootings, and unintentional shootings. We educate families to understand how important it is to securely store firearms unloaded, locked and out of sight of young people and teens with ammunition locked and stored separately to reduce suicide, shootings at school, and unintentional shootings.
• Blackfeet Tribal Health Public Health Clinic
  • The Blackfeet Tribal Public Health Clinic is committed to enhancing the well-being of individuals both on and off the Blackfeet Nation in Montana. Through improved internal processes, we provide education, wellness, preparation, and confidential services for men, women, and children. Our clinic works closely with other tribal health clinics across Montana to expand access to quality care. We focus on preventative health measures to address high disease rates within our community and ensure our children have the healthiest start to life. Our services include primary care, vaccinations, STI testing and treatment, family planning, harm reduction programs, and chronic disease screenings—all designed to empower individuals with the tools to lead healthier lives. At the heart of our mission is a commitment to confidentiality, respect, and culturally informed care. Your health and privacy are our top priorities, and we are here to support you every step of the way. Blackfeet Tribal Public Health strives to be the trusted healthcare provider of choice, delivering an extraordinary and culturally responsive experience for all who seek care. We envision a clinic where patients feel valued, employees thrive, and healthcare professionals choose to collaborate in advancing the health of our community. Through innovation, education, and unwavering commitment to well-being, we will empower future generations to lead healthier lives. 
• Community Medical Center
  • Community Medical Center is a leading healthcare system in Western Montana with a longstanding tradition of providing personalized care close to home — offering treatments and technology combined with medical specialties and certifications often only available in major cities. It’s what we’ve been doing from day one.
• Missoula Aging Services
  • Missoula Aging Services provides a wide range of programs and services for older adults and those who care for them. Resource Center and Call Center staff help community members connect with the help they need. Family Caregiver Support, Meals on Wheels, Money Management, and Veteran Directed Care empower older adults to continue living independently in their own homes.
• Missoula Crisis Intervention Team
  • CIT is a program that provides the foundation necessary to promote community and statewide solutions to assist individuals in crisis. The CIT Model reduces both stigma and the need for further involvement with the criminal justice system. It provides a forum for effective problem solving regarding the interaction between the criminal justice and mental health care system and creates the context for sustainable change.
• Missoula Drug Safety Coalition
  • Missoula Drug Safety Coalition is led by Missoula Public Health, along with many community partners. We want a community where every life is valued and where fatal overdoses are prevented. Our goal is to impact culture, policies and programs in Missoula County to save lives, reduce risk, and remove barriers to care for all.
• Missoula Local Advisory Council on Behavior Health
  • The Missoula Local Advisory Council on Behavior Health ( MLAC) works with individuals and organizations in Missoula to improve the quality of local behavioral health services, and to inform the public about behavioral health resources available. Our members are available to speak to local groups of all kinds. We report regularly to the Montana Dept. of Public Health and Human Services. The MLAC is composed of volunteers, most of whom have lived experience with behavioral health issues. Our services are entirely free. To learn more, contact MLAC at missoulalac@gmail.com
• Missoula Public Health
  • Missoula Public Health is a government agency dedicated to promoting and protecting the health of the community through disease prevention, health education, and access to healthcare services.
• Missoula Vet Center
  • We offer confidential help for Veterans, service members, and their families at no cost in a non-medical setting. Our services include counseling for needs such as depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the psychological effects of military sexual trauma (MST). We can also connect you with more support by providing referral services to the David J. Thatcher VA Clinic or other appropriate resources in our community.
• Montana 988
  • Montana 988 is part of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network. Calls made to 988 in Montana are routed to one of our three Lifeline call centers: Voices of Hope in Great Falls, The Help Center in Bozeman and Western Montana Mental Health in Missoula. Together, they provide coverage to every county in Montana. Currently, Montana leads the nation in call handling rate with less than ten percent of calls made in Montana being routed to another call center in the network backup system.
• Montana VA
  • Montana VA Healthcare System offers a wide range of health and support services. Find a medical center or clinic near you and manage your health online. Sign up for community events and updates and discover what’s new at your Montana VA health care.
• Partnership Health Center
  • Compassionate Behavioral Health Care for All. Comprehensive healthcare treats the whole person. Behavioral Health providers work closely with your Medical and Dental teams to ensure you have support for every part of your life, all in one place.
• Providence St. Patrick’s Hospital
  • It’s easy to see why St. Patrick Hospital is a one-of-a-kind hospital. We’re committed to you. Whether you are visiting a loved one after surgery or are facing a serious illness yourself, we will care for you at each step. But at St. Pat’s, you will get more than excellent medicine. Guided by the philosophy of the Sisters of Providence, we live their Mission of compassion and respect, caring for the poor and vulnerable. Every day, we reach out to help those who need us the most by caring for them and easing their way.
• Recovery Friendly Montana
  • Building safe, inclusive, Recovery Friendly work environments in Montana. Our Mission: To provide connections, education and resources about recovery and addiction to Montana’s workforce in order to develop and maintain stigma-free and supportive Recovery Friendly workplaces.
• Tamarack Grief Resource Center
  • Tamarack Grief Resource Center (TGRC) strengthens and honors individuals, families, and communities throughout their journey with grief. Our services include Grief Support (youth and adult support groups, overnight camps and retreats, community workshops, and urgent response after sudden tragedy), Grief Education (annual conference, suicide prevention training for youth and adults, custom education for schools and businesses), and Counseling. We support individuals across the lifespan, navigating any kind of loss. With offices in Missoula and Kalispell, we primarily serve western Montana, but as the only year-round, comprehensive grief center in the state, we serve individuals across Montana (and beyond!). We are stronger together. If you need a training for your staff on supporting individuals amidst loss, or need personal support after a significant death, or want ideas for how to support a close friend, don’t hesitate to reach out to us: 406-541-8472. TGRC is here.
• Western Montana LGBTQ+ Community Center
  • The Center is welcoming, affirming space for LGBTQ+ people, families, and allies across Western Montana. Located in downtown Missoula, The Center provides connection, care, and community for LGBTQ+ people of all ages. Our services include: community drop-in space, peer support groups, access to LGBTQ+ affirming resources and referrals, gender neutral community clothing closet and community events and education. The Western Montana LGBTQ+ Center is a welcoming, affirming space for LGBTQ+ people, families, and allies across Western Montana. We offer peer groups, resources, and inclusive events, and are open for drop-in visits Monday–Friday from 1–5 PM, as well as by appointment.
• Western Montana Mental Health Center/AWARE Inc.
  • Western Montana Mental Health Center helps adults and children with mental health challenges and addiction treatment. Our dedicated team of healthcare professionals is committed to assisting Montanans from diverse backgrounds, ages, and ethnicities on their path to recovery. We understand the difficulties of seeking help and successfully support more than 15,000 individuals each year to live fulfilling lives.
• YWCA of Missoula
  • YWCA Missoula is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.
    We believe that everyone has the right to a life free from violence and discrimination, with access to safe, decent housing and the resources to pursue their dreams. We are determined to create a community where all people, regardless of gender or race, have opportunities for growth, leadership and power.