County backs grant application for Intermountain

Flathead County will sponsor a grant application on behalf of Intermountain Providence Home, county commissioners decided at a recent meeting.

In addition to sponsoring the grant application, the county will donate in-kind services to the effort in the form of time spent on the application and grant administration by Debbie Pierson, the county’s grant writer.

Intermountain Providence Home is seeking a $450,000 Community Development Block Grant from the state Commerce Department, which funnels those federal grant funds, according to Intermountain Foundation Relations Officer Stephanie Knapp.

Dee Incoronato of Bigfork, president of the Providence Home board, provided a brief overview of the group’s efforts during the public hearing.

She said the group has been in the Flathead Valley for 30 years. About 80 children have been cared for at Providence Home in Somers since it opened in January 2009, she said, but a lack of space has resulted in about 50 youths being turned away.

Providence Home serves as a temporary crisis shelter for abused, abandoned and neglected children. It serves children from newborns to age 12. Most children are referred to the facility because they are victims of domestic abuse or in households where drug and alcohol problems affect the children.

“These children are the poorest of the poor in our community,” Incoronato said.

The grant will help fund construction of a new building to house Providence Home, she said. The organization already owns the land in Somers and plans to break ground this summer on the $20 million, five-year campaign. To date, the group has rented space.

Volunteer Janet Loranger spoke in favor of the grant application. Loranger volunteers with Court Appointed Special Advocates.

“I can’t tell you how important Providence Home is from CASA’s perspective. To me, Providence Home isn’t big enough,” she said.

Diane Piorer also urged commissioners to support the grant application. Providence Home allows for children to stay in a familiar community, to continue see their local doctors and family members and experience less disruption in their lives than if they are sent to another community, she said.

“We need to accommodate these kids in a safe environment,” she said.

Somers resident Michael Didier spoke in favor of the application.

“This is a time you need to look seriously at your infrastructure,” he said, “and that’s children.”

The home is a good thing for Somers and an opportunity “to be extraordinarily sensitive to our neighbors,” Didier said.

Flathead County Administrative Officer Mike Pence told Providence Home supporters the county is “very impressed with what you do.” 

Commissioner Dale Lauman lauded the Providence Home crowd, which filled the commission chambers. He said their organization and their main office facilities in Helena “is probably the best in the U.S. It’s an A-plus facility. We’re proud to have them interested in coming to Flathead County.”

Providence Home is a program of Intermountain Deaconess, a nationally accredited nonprofit organization that provides mental health and educational services to meet the needs of families facing emotional challenges. Intermountain is licensed by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.

Primary areas of service include residential treatment, outpatient services, community-based programs and professional training. Operating for more than 100 years, Intermountain is Montana’s oldest child welfare agency.

Reporter Shelley Ridenour may be reached at 758-4439 or by email at sridenour@dailyinterlake.com.