Curtis-Wilson Plan for Montana
The State of Montana asked the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities to help create the Curtis-Wilson Plan. We were calling this the Olmstead Plan, but we want to change that. Olmstead was the person trying to keep people with disabilities living in institutions. Lois Curtis and Elaine Wilson were the brave women who said “no!” They took Olmstead to the US Supreme Court and won. We celebrate them by calling it the Curtis-Wilson Plan.
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The Curtis-Wilson planning process will be from Spring 2024 to Winter 2025.
We will update this webpage as we go through the process. Be sure to check back regularly for current information.
What is the Curtis-Wilson Plan?
- The Curtis-Wilson Plan is the state’s plan to keep people with disabilities living where they want.
- The plan makes sure that people can get services from the State in their communities. People don’t need to live in institutions if they don’t want to.
- It is an opportunity to provide modern answers to living independently.
- The State of Montana is working with partners like us to make the plan. They are also working with the (MTSILC).
- We will provide opportunities for people to speak about the plan. We will be traveling around the state to learn what people think about the plan. We want to be sure people get the services they need in their communities. We want the Curtis-Wilson Plan to work for everyone!
Our Curtis-Wilson workplan has six goals:
- Show data on services provided by the State of Montana.
- Ensure plan language is available at all steps of the process.
- Talk with consumers, stakeholders, and partners statewide. Listen to people and gather feedback on the plan.
- Produce a draft Curtis-Wilson Plan.
- Create a plan to review the Curtis-Wilson Plan in 2026.
- Share the Curtis-Wilson Plan across Montana.
Timeline:
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Look at data and plan for feedback meetings.
Kick-off Meeting held 4/11/24. -
Held regional focus groups held around the state with people with disabilities, family members, and caregivers. We used a combination of in-person, virtual, and hybrid meetings.
- 9/24/24 – Havre (hybrid)
- 9/26/24 – Polson (in-person)
- 9/27/24 – Billings (in-person, 2 meetings)
- 10/2/24 – Miles City (hybrid)
- 10/4/24 – Helena (in-person)
- 10/8/24 – Helena (virtual)
- 10/9/24 – Miles City (hybrid)
- 10/15/24 – Missoula (hybrid)
- 10/15/24 – Missoula (virtual)
- 10/17/24 – Great Falls (hybrid, 2 meetings)
- 10/18/24 – Bozeman (in-person)
- 10/22/24 – Butte (in-person)
- 10/26/24 – Billings (virtual)
- 10/29/24 – Kalispell (virtual, 2 meetings)
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Look at data from feedback meetings.
Conduct interviews to better understand what we learned from the focus groups. (More information below in “How to get involved”)
We will interview people who are living in congregate care settings or recently transitioned. Congregate care settings are places like group homes or residential treatment centers where people live and receive care together. -
Begin drafting review plan.
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Collect feedback on draft plan, finalize review plan.
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Share the final plan statewide.
How to get involved:
We have completed our focus groups for 2024. A huge “thank you!” to everyone who participated and provided input.
We still need your help! We would like to interview people about their transition from a congregate care setting (places like group homes or residential treatment centers). We are looking for people who:
- Receive the Severe Disabling Mental Illness (SDMI) waiver,
- Have transitioned or are in transition from a congregate care setting, and
- Are willing to be interviewed about their experience.
If you are an SDMI waiver client and would like to be interviewed, please email Molly Kimmel at molly.kimmel@mso.umt.edu or leave her a voicemail at 406-243-4779.