Bridgercare Montana Youth Risk Avoidance Project (MYRA) - Project Title: Montana Youth Risk Avoidance Applicant Name: Bridgercare Address: 1288 N 14th Ave Suite 201 Bozeman Montana 59715 Phone: (406) 587-0681 Email address: education@bridgercare.org Website: https://www.bridgercare.org/ Bridgercare, a nonprofit family planning clinic serving Southwest Montana, submits this proposal to implement a three-year Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) project known as Montana Youth Risk Avoidance (MYRA). MYRA will serve youth ages 10-19 in rural and frontier communities across Gallatin, Madison, and Park Counties with expansion to high-risk counties throughout Montana. The project will provide effective SRAE to middle and high school students while building the capacity of local educators to deliver effective programming within their own communities. By investing in both young people and the adults and schools who support them, the project will promote healthy youth development, personal responsibility, and stronger families and communities. The project will reach approximately 3,500 youth over three years. Bridgercare will initially parter with 11 schools across Gallatin, Madison and Park counties to reach 800 youth in Year 1, 1,200 in Year 2 and 1,500 in Year 3. The project will implement Love Notes with middle and high school students. Through this evidence-based SRA program, youth will develop knowledge and skills to make responsible decisions, build healthy relationships, set goals, and make choices in order to meet their long-term goals and overall well-being. MYRA will use a combination of direct education and a Training of Educators (TOE) model. Through the TOE model, MYRA will provide curriculum training, professional development, technical assistance, implementation support, and quality improvement to educators and staff in participating schools. This approach places expertise and implementation capacity within local communities, allowing schools and community parters to take an active role in supporting the positive development of the youth they serve. This approach will expand access to effective SRAE programming while creating a network of trained educators capable of continuing implementation within their communities beyond the federal funding period. Bridgercare brings extensive experience implementing evidence-based youth education programs, training educators, developing community partnerships, and managing large-scale initiatives. With established relationships with 11 schools in the proposed service area, Bridgercare is prepared to begin implementation immediately. Through strategic investment in direct education and local capacity, the project will expand access to effective SRAE programming for rural and frontier youth while building sustainable community capacity across Southwest Montana.
