Access to mental health resources can be a significant challenge for schools and communities in rural Montana. To address this, the Montana Safe Schools Center (MSSC) has partnered with graduate students from the University of Montana’s counseling, social work, and school psychology programs to launch the Virtually Assisted School Team (VAST), a tele-mental health initiative aimed at supporting students’ behavioral, mental, and academic health.
The program, initially launched in 2020 as a tele-counseling service, was rebranded as VAST in 2023 when Tammy Tolleson Knee took over as director. It focuses on helping rural and tribal schools, where access to mental health support is limited due to factors like distance, availability, and cost.
While MSSC is considering expanding the program to include hybrid sessions, research shows that tele-mental health services are just as effective as in-person support for many populations and settings.
The success of the program is evident. In its first year, VAST provided tele-mental health counseling to 24 students from 12 school districts in Montana. According to a survey, 100% of students reported improvements in their mental health and daily lives.
One anonymous school partner shared, “In our rural and isolated community, the service provided consistent opportunities for students to get the help they needed.”
The VAST program continues to grow in the 2024-2025 school year, now supporting over 70 students across 25 districts. In addition to serving students, the program offers University of Montana graduate students valuable hands-on clinical experience.
Tolleson Knee highlighted the benefits for the interns, saying, “The interns are really immersed in VAST, learning about tele-mental health while also understanding the needs and strengths of rural Montana.”
Each intern brings unique skills, allowing MSSC to match students with the best possible support for their specific needs.
Related Topics:
