Montana Grandfamily Resources and Kinship Support Programs

Montana has a network of programs built specifically for grandfamilies — grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives who stepped in to raise a child. These are not generic social services; they exist because the state and its universities recognized that kinship caregivers face challenges that standard family support programs do not address. Here is where to find them.

Montana Kinship Navigator Program (MTKNP)

Run through Montana State University Extension, MTKNP is the single best starting point for any relative caregiver in the state. The program does not distribute cash directly, but it connects you to every service that does — and it does so with people who understand your situation.

• Helpline: 1-888-445-3395
• Email: [email protected]

MTKNP services include one-on-one navigation help with benefit applications, peer support groups (including the Coffee Talk groups that meet by phone and video), evidence-based educational materials through the MSU Extension MontGuide series, and referrals to legal aid, mental health services, and community resources.

The MontGuides are particularly practical — they cover topics like advocating for a relative child in school, understanding your legal options as a caregiver, and navigating the DPHHS system. These are free, downloadable, and written for Montana specifically.

Human Resource Development Councils (HRDCs)

Montana's 10 regional HRDCs manage emergency and ongoing assistance for low-income households. For grandfamilies, the most relevant programs include:

• LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) — help with heating and utility bills during Montana's long winters
• Emergency rental assistance — short-term help if a sudden child placement puts strain on housing costs
• Weatherization — free home improvements that reduce energy costs
• Emergency hardship funds — one-time cash assistance for acute needs

Each HRDC covers a specific region of the state. Contact the MTKNP helpline or call Montana 211 to find the HRDC serving your county.

Area Agencies on Aging

Caregivers age 55 and older qualify for the National Family Caregiver Support Program under Title III-E of the Older Americans Act. Montana's local Area Agencies on Aging administer this program, which provides:

• Temporary respite care (someone watches the child so you can attend appointments, rest, or handle errands)
• Counseling and support groups tailored to older caregivers
• Emergency supplemental assistance for specialized child needs
• Referrals to legal aid and health services

Statewide number: 1-800-551-3191

Tribal Kinship Programs

Montana's seven reservations maintain tribal social services departments that serve Native American grandfamilies. Tribal programs operate alongside state DPHHS services and may provide additional resources including:

• Tribal TANF programs with their own eligibility rules
• ICWA-specific kinship placement support
• Cultural and community support through tribal elder and family programs
• Referrals to tribal court for guardianship proceedings

Contact your tribal social services office directly, or ask MTKNP for a referral to the tribal program serving your community.

National Resources Available in Montana

• Grandfamilies.org: maintains a state-by-state database of laws, benefits, and services for relative caregivers. The Montana page compiles current TANF, Medicaid, and guardianship rules in one place.
• AARP GrandFacts: publishes factsheets summarizing each state's legal framework for grandparents raising grandchildren.
• Generations United: advocates for grandfamily-supportive policies and publishes research on kinship care nationwide.

Pulling It All Together

The challenge for Montana grandfamilies is not a lack of programs — it is knowing which ones apply to your situation and how to access them across a state where the nearest OPA office may be a 90-minute drive. Start with MTKNP (1-888-445-3395) to get oriented, then work through the benefit applications at apply.mt.gov.

The Montana Kinship Financial Help Guide consolidates every program, application step, and document requirement into one reference, so you do not have to piece together information from a dozen different agencies.

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