AWARE in Great Falls: Growing to Serve Our Community

Great Falls AWARE has come a long way since its early days. What started with just two group homes and case management on the highline has now grown into a thriving network of services. In the beginning, our office was housed within one of the group homes—a small space offering only a few essential services. But even then, our commitment to providing the best possible care helped our community flourish.

Over the years, AWARE in Great Falls has expanded, embracing new challenges and broadening our support for families at multiple levels. Our services have grown to meet the specific needs of our clients, ensuring they receive the care and resources they deserve. As demand increased, we quite literally outgrew our building, leading to the construction of our current AWARE facility in Great Falls. Now, when you walk through our front doors, the first friendly face you’ll see is Rio, our Administrative Assistant. Rio is the heart of our office—coordinating appointments, greeting clients, and keeping everything running smoothly. Whether you call or visit, Rio is ready to help guide you in the right direction.

Comprehensive Case Management Services

AWARE in Great Falls offers multiple case management programs designed to assist individuals with varying needs:

• Developmental Disabilities Targeted Case Management (DD TCM) – Overseen by

Service Administrators Steffani Bleken and Brianna Pena, this program supports children and adults eligible for the DD 0208 waiver. Services are reimbursed through Medicaid Waiver and are also available to those on the waitlist.

• Severe Disabling Mental Illness (SDMI) Waiver Case Management – Led by Clinical Coordinator Kate Linderman, this program provides case management for adults with qualifying SDMI diagnoses in Great Falls. Medicaid Waiver funding ensures access to necessary services.

• Adult Case Management (ACM) – Managed by Service Administrator Sarah DeMoney, ACM assists adults in Great Falls with qualifying SDMI diagnoses, offering services covered by Medicaid, private insurance, or private pay.

  
  

Our case managers do more than connect individuals with services—they work closely with clients and their families to develop meaningful, person-centered plans that foster long-term success. AWARE's case management team is deeply invested in the Great Falls community, ensuring that each individual receives the best support possible.

Therapeutic Recreational Services

AWARE understands the importance of socialization and community engagement. Our Therapeutic Recreational Services in Great Falls include Recreation Therapy and Mind-Body Wellness programs, designed to enhance well-being through structured activities. Services are available through internal referrals and specific program guidelines. In Great Falls, we offer recreation therapy through the SDMI waiver, the FACT program under Home Support Services, and the DD Waiver. Raquel Emery, CTRS, oversees these services and can provide additional information as needed.

From art classes to nature walks, our recreational programs aim to create inclusive and enriching experiences for all participants. The goal is to help individuals build confidence, reduce stress, and enhance their quality of life through meaningful engagement with others.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Services

Our ABA program in Great Falls works across multiple settings—group homes, schools, and the community—to help individuals build essential skills while reducing problematic behaviors. Using principles of Applied Behavior Analysis, we conduct assessments to identify needs and develop Positive Behavior Support Plans (PBSPs). Our team, led by Charity Symonds, collaborates with other AWARE services in Great Falls, including FACT, Targeted Case Management, and Psychiatry, to ensure clients receive comprehensive care. Services are available through Medicaid, private insurance, and the DD 0208 waiver.

The ABA team takes a personalized approach, focusing on individual strengths and challenges to develop strategies that promote long-term growth and independence. By integrating ABA principles into various aspects of daily life, we help individuals achieve meaningful progress in their goals.

Supporting Families Through Group Homes and Day Center Services

AWARE operates several group homes in Great Falls, providing 24/7 care for individuals with varying needs:

• Adult Mental Health Home & Youth Mental Health Homes – These homes in Great Falls offer onsite therapy, support services, and individualized treatment plans to promote independence. AWARE provides one adult mental health home, and two youth mental health homes. We work with multiple people on a team to create individualized treatment plans to assist clients in becoming as independent as possible.

  
  

The group homes provide internal groups as well as individual care for clients. They provide day to day skills that clients need to reach levels of independence that they want to achieve. In addition, they provide the support and encouragement to do things out in the community. From band, clubs, school sports to jobs out in the community, AWARE provides the support that these clients need to be successful outside of the group home as well as in it.

• Developmental Disability (DD) Homes & Day Center – We have nine DD homes in Great Falls and a dedicated Day Center, which provides socialization opportunities and job training. Clients participate in volunteer work, community activities, and skill-building programs tailored to their goals and aspirations. Our DD Residential Services are overseen by Service Administrator Dawn Lucero, who ensures quality support and personalized care for each resident.

  
  

The Day Center serves as a hub for learning and connection, offering everything from karaoke to vocational training. It is a place where clients in Great Falls can grow, build confidence, and engage with their community. Many clients who attend the Day Center have found new hobbies, formed lasting friendships, and developed important life skills.

FACT Program: Family and Community Treatment

Led by Sally Seidel, LCPC and statewide director Heather Remington AWARE’s FACT program provides community-based support for children and families in Great Falls.  The role of this program is to help support children and their families learn the skills necessary to be successful in the home, school, and community. Services include:

• Home Support Services (HSS) – Helping families build skills for success in home, school, and community settings. The focus of HSS is the family as a whole. HSS has two separate sides to it; the community side where the majority of the work is done in the home and community, and the school side, where the majority of the work is done in the child’s school and in the community during our phenomenal summer program.

• School-Based Mental Health Services – AWARE supports nearly 200 children with qualifying SED diagnoses in 13 schools across Great Falls and Havre, with licensed clinicians and Treatment Service Specialists (TSSs) assisting students in real-time social and coping skill development. They spend a great deal of time teaching clients on-demand social and coping skills to be able to appropriately navigate all the stimuli and challenges that are an organic part of the student experience. 

• Youth Case Management (YCM) – Managing services for approximately 60 children in Great Falls, we have three amazing YCM professionals who help families access essential resources such as transportation, food, healthcare, or programs to help them live happy successful lives.

Psychiatric Services: Comprehensive Mental Health Care

Psychiatry falls under the FACT umbrella, providing critical mental health support across all ages. Christian Madson, PNP, serves Great Falls and works closely with our adult DD and mental health clients. Using both in-person and telehealth options, AWARE ensures psychiatric care is accessible to those who need it most. Dr. Kathryn Brogan, our Medical Director, leads our psychiatric team statewide.

AWARE’s Commitment to Community

One of the unique aspects of AWARE in Great Falls is the way our programs collaborate. For example, FACT and School-Based HSS programs often visit our Farm Program, run by DD services, where clients learn about agriculture and animal care. These interactions foster connection, growth, and hands-on learning experiences for everyone involved.

No matter the service, AWARE’s mission remains the same: to create an environment where individuals and families can thrive. Our work in Great Falls is guided by Unconditional Care Principles (UCC), ensuring that each client receives the personalized support they need to reach their full potential.

From case management to therapeutic services, group homes to psychiatric care, AWARE in Great Falls is committed to making a difference. If you’d like to learn more about our services or how to get involved, visit www.aware-inc.org.