A new therapeutic youth crisis shelter designed to provide a safe, supportive place for young people ages 10 to 17 experiencing a mental health crisis is nearing completion, supported in part by a $300,000 grant from Providence’s Well Being Trust.
“We are incredibly honored to receive this funding from Providence’s Well Being Trust,” said Amy Schaer, Chief Executive Officer of Youth Homes. “Providence is a long-time partner in our work to support the youth of this community, and this grant shows another layer of their commitment to this work and gets us so close to reaching our fundraising goal to open the crisis shelter.”
The Birnbaum Youth Home is named after Geoff Birnbaum, a beloved community member who spent 42 years as the Youth Home’s executive director. After retiring, he remained deeply involved with the organization. Sadly, Geoff died suddenly in 2025.
Over the past year, Youth Homes has been fundraising to build a new and improved shelter, where kids in crisis can continue their education, maintain their support systems, access mental and physical health services, and work towards regaining a sense of normalcy and belonging. The project broke ground last July. With the recent grant award from Providence’s Well Being Trust, Youth Homes has only $152,000 left to raise and is planning a fall opening.
“Too often, young people in crisis are left without the right support at the right time and in the right setting,” said Dr. Arpan Waghray, CEO of Providence’s Well Being Trust. “The Birnbaum Youth Home will help change that by offering youth and families a safe, compassionate place to stabilize, heal, and stay connected to the care and community they need. We are proud to support Youth Homes in bringing this critical resource to the Missoula community.”
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness’ 2025 Mental Health in Montana fact sheet, 18,000 Montana adolescents experience a major depressive episode each year, and 12,000 have serious thoughts of suicide. The Birnbaum Youth Home will offer youth in Missoula County and across Montana a therapeutic alternative to emergency departments, unnecessary hospital stays, or detention.
“For youth experiencing a mental health crisis, the period immediately after discharge from the emergency department or an inpatient setting is especially important,” said Kate Wiltfong, manager of behavioral health at Providence St. Patrick Hospital. “Having a dedicated step-down option can help bridge the gap between hospital care and longer-term community support, giving young people and their families a clearer path forward.”
Through its partnership with Providence St. Patrick Hospital, the center will provide a formal referral and step-down pathway for youth leaving acute inpatient care who still need a safe place to stabilize and connect to ongoing services.
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Youth Homes is a nonprofit organization caring for children who are facing abuse, neglect, emotional trauma, and substance use problems. Through emergency shelters, therapeutic group homes, foster care and adoption programs, and counseling services, they provide a safe refuge for kids while they begin the difficult healing process. Since 1971, they have cared for more than 20,000 children and their families in Western Montana. To learn more, visit youthhomesmt.org.
Providence’s Well Being Trust is a national foundation dedicated to advancing the mental, social, and spiritual health for all. Learn more at wellbeingtrust.org.
