Montana’s Peer Network is a statewide peer run 501c3 non-profit recovery organization with a mission to lead the development of the peer support workforce and create pathways for wellness and recovery in communities across Montana.
We are a network of over 1700 individuals in 78 communities across Montana who are in recovery from mental health or substance use or identify as family member of a child with behavioral health challenges or special health care needs. We provide, education, consultation, training, advocacy, peer support demonstration projects and resources across the state using our own “lived experience” through peer support. We feel peer support should be universally available throughout the healthcare system and that peer support is one of the most effective ways to improve the system of care. We are not a service provider instead we work to develop and expand the peer support workforce, create opportunities for wellness and recovery and connect individuals and families together. We are advocates through personal experience.
MPN/ Strategic Plan is updated on even years. Our current strategic plan includes:
GOAL 1: Be a self-sustaining organization
- Financial diversification
GOAL 2: Support for Operations
- Trainings, consulting, and demonstration projects
GOAL 3: Expand our influence
- Membership, public relations, social media outreach and advocacy initiatives
Goal 4: Increase capacity among board and staff
- Legacy Planning, Mentoring, & Leadership development
GOAL 5: Achieve non-profit excellence
- Set the standard for non-profit recovery organizations
Our Staff
Jim Hajny
Executive Director
Jim Hajny has served as Montana’s Peer Network’s, Executive Director since its inception in June 2011. He has taken the organization from a fledgling grassroots startup to a statewide recovery network with more than 1600 members statewide. He is an advocate for recovery oriented behavioral health services and driving force behind the development peer support workforce development and training across Montana. Mr. Hajny is a trained Peer Support Specialist, and a recovery trainer, a past chair of the Montana Peer Support Task Force and was appointed by Governor Steve Bullock to the Mental Disability Board of Visitors.
He is also a consultant to behavioral health agencies on peer services and recovery programming both statewide and nationally. On social media he hosts, 5 Good Minutes and podcast Recovery Talks. He is a member of the Montana Behavioral Health Advisory Council, a past board member of the Park County Local Advisory Council on Mental Health and the Central Service Area Authority. He has been in recovery from a mental health and substance abuse diagnosis for over 26 years.
Beth Ayers
Family Peer Support Lead
Beth was born and raised in Billings, MT and lives with her husband Rex, son Trent, dog Tillie, and cat CeCe. Her daughter lives in Washington state. She enjoys walking her dog at the river, eating family dinner with her mom every Sunday, watching Blue Bloods, playing Catan with her family, traveling, going to church, and being with friends.
Raising a child with behavioral health challenges has humbled Beth, strengthened her faith, and taught her to love more deeply. It has given her a greater acceptance and understanding of others, especially those different from herself. The road has not been easy, but the fight has been worth it. It has ignited a passion for behavioral health advocacy and Family Peer Support.
Andi Daniel
Technology Coordinator
Andi has been in stable recovery from a mental health diagnosis for over 10 years. She has more than 20 years of experience working with non-profit organizations in various roles and has been managing websites, technology, and marketing for most of that time. Andi was the project director for the Bear Paw Kids’ Management Authority Systems of Care grant project for 3 years service youth with mental health diagnoses and has extensive experience working with low income families. She is involved with several local groups including as the Chair of the Hill County Behavioral Health Local Advisory Council and member of the Hill County Suicide Awareness Coalition.
Andi has been with MPN since 2018 and is the co-chair of the Family Support Committee. She was instrumental in the development of the Peer Advocacy and Leadership (PAL) project funded through a SAMHSA Statewide Consumer Networking grant and has assisted with grant writing for MPN.
Kayla Myers
Family Peer Supporter
Kayla has lived experiences raising a child diagnosed with developmental disabilities while having her own diagnosis and is in recovery from mental health challenges.
Kayla is in a relationship with Mitch and is a proud mom to two boys who are ten and seven and just as proud to be a bonus mom to a girl aged six. Kayla understands, through her own feelings of helplessness, being scared, and lost in the unknown of what was happening with her child’s regression, she now can offer emotional support to those going through similar journeys. She has felt like she failed at being a mom many times, couldn’t keep up, and didn't know where or who to turn to that could just “understand." She believes that while it’s valuable to feel your feelings, is it important to move onto processing, and setting out to be the best advocate for your child. Through her own research, persistence, and utilization of the resources she found, she has been able to find the things that work for her son, Bryce.
Being a Family Peer Supporter has changed her life and she loves connecting with like-minded people going through the same situations life has thrown her way. She finds daily that while working with peers, it is just as healing and helpful to her own parenting journey. She is a passionate and open-minded person, with the hope to help just one individual she meets.
While life hasn’t always been very fair, Kayla feels fortunate to be able to use Bryce’s and their story and success in her own mental health journey, to encourage others through their recovery process.
Ty LaFountain
Recovery Support Coordinator
Ty LaFountain is a person in long-term recovery from both mental health and substance use disorders (co-occurring). He was born in Lewistown, MT, raised in Great Falls, MT and currently lives in Lewistown, MT. Since learning about Peer Support and completing PS 101 two years ago, Ty feels he has found his calling as an advocate for people who struggle in the same ways he has. As a justice impacted individual, Ty is very passionate about justice reform and the movement to end mass incarceration. Ty is currently in his second year of pursuing his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
Over the past two years Ty has gotten involved in many different projects, not only in his community and state, but across the country. Ty is known as a voice of advocacy in his community, having a monthly slot on the local radio station, serving as a member of Shelter Solutions, and is the Chair of the Fergus County Local Advisory Council. On the state level, Ty is a former board member of MPN, represents his county for the Service Area Authority, and is a member of the Behavioral Health Advisory Council Peer Support Sub-committee. On the national level, Ty has attended multiple national conferences making connections across the country, was selected as a member of and attended Mobilize Recovery 2023, and most recently graduated as a member of DREAM.ORG’s 2024 Justice Cohort.
Our History
Current and Past Funders
Organization Timeline
Milestones
51 Peer Supporters trained in Peer Support 101
523 individuals trained in peer support/recovery
225 hours of peer supporter mentoring
33.5 hours of staff education
- Membership surpasses 1700
Award Winners
Peer Supporter of the Year
Preston Justice
Board President
Carol Walsh
Milestones
- 5 Peer Support 101 trainings
- 330 people trained in peer support or recovery principles
- 319 hrs. mentoring of CBHPSS
- 934 hours of staff training
- Family Division launched
- Family Peer Support project funded
- Recovery Conference held in September
- Membership surpasses 1600
Award Winners
Peer Supporter of the Year
Zac Cannada
Recovery Ally of the Year
Jamie Hanson
Drop-in Center of the Year
Never Alone Recovery Support Services, Ronan
Board President
Greg Arciello
Milestones
- Celebrated 10 years in business with special Anniversary logo
- Provided 476 hours BHPSS mentoring
- Training provided:
- Peer Support 101 to 113 people
eCPR to 24 people - Peer Advocacy and Leadership Training to 86 people
- Peer Coaching Series Training to 111 people
- Provider Employer training to 27 people
- Peer Support 101 to 113 people
- Recovery Conference cancelled due to COVID-19
Award Winners
Peer Supporter of the Year
Lisa Clark
Drop-in Center of the Year
Hope Rescue Mission, Missoula
Board President
Greg Arciello
Milestones
- Pierson (the MPN company vehicle) joins MPN
- COVID-19 shutdown ends demonstration project at Montana Chemical Dependency Center and cancels the Recovery Conference
- Trainings Provided
- 21 Peer Advocacy and Leadership trainings
- 12 Realizing Recovery Webinars
- 12 Peer Supporter Skills trainings
- 2 Recovery Program Must Haves
- 2 eCPR trainings
- 1 Trauma Informed Peer Support trainings
- Peer Support 101 goes virtual
- 8 PS 101 (5 virtual and 3 in person)
Board Presidents
Bobbie Becker
Greg Arciello
Milestones
- SAMHSA awards MPN a 3 year grant for Peer Advocacy and Leadership Development Project
- MPN receives funding from MT Mental Health Trust to begin Peer Support Demonstration Program in Townsend
- 2019 Legislature approves peer support as a Medicaid billable service $6m
- Annual Recovery Conference held September 6 in Helena
- Membership surpasses 1100
- 35,346 miles traveled across Montana leading the recovery movement
- Training offered:
- 4 PS101 trainings
- 1 Employer/Provider trainings
- 4 Trauma trainings
- 2 Recovery Program Must Haves
- 3 Intro to Recovery
- 3 Navigating Complex Relationship trainings
- 1 Clinical Supervisor trainings
- 24 webinars offered
Award Winners
Peer Supporter of the Year
Jason McNees
Recovery Ally of the Year
Dennis Nyland
Best Recovery Services
Wellness Consultants, Butte
Board President
Bobbie Becker
Milestones
- MPN receives the Mignon Waterman Award from the MT Healthcare Foundation for innovation and leadership in behavioral health
- Annual Recovery Conference held September 15 in Missoula
- MPN receives funding from MT Mental Health Trust to begin Peer Support Demonstration Program in Butte
- SAMHSA Statewide Consumer Network Grant and Recovery Opioid Project continue
- MPN begins consulting with Eastern Montana Community Mental Health to implement Recovery Coaching Project
- Membership passes 900 members
- 40,637 miles traveled across Montana leading the recovery movement
- Training offered:
- 6 PS101 trainings
- 3 Employer/Provider Trainings
- 9 Trauma trainings
- 1 Intro to Recovery training
- 2 Clinical Supervisor trainings
- 6 webinars
Award Winners
Peer Supporter of the Year
Asa Lehrke
Recovery Ally of the Year
Never Alone Recovery Support Services, Ronan
Best Recovery Services
Instar Recovery Services, Helena
Board President
Brent Morris
Milestones
- Over 800 members across the state
- Staff expands to 5
- MPN receives a 2-year grant to implement peer support programming as part of the State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis grant
- Senate Bill 62 certification of Behavioral Health Peer Support Specialists passes the state legislature 149-1 and is signed into law March 30, 2017. The law goes into effect October 31, 2017
- Executive Director Jim Hajny receives the NAMI “Hero” Award
- SAMHSA grant and Peer Support Demonstration Program in Bozeman continue
- 32,300 miles traveled across Montana leading the recovery movement
- Training offered:
- 6 PS101 trainings
- 3 Employer/Provider trainings
- 9 Trauma trainings
- 1 Intro to Recovery training
- 2 Clinical Supervisor trainings
- 6 webinars
Award Winners
Peer Supporter of the Year
Laurie Pope
Recovery Ally of the Year
Bob McCabe
Best Recovery Services
Transitional Recovery & Culture
Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council, Billings
Board President
Brent Morris
Milestones
- Montana reaches 100 peer supporters in the workforce for the first time
- MPN receives a 3-year SAMHSA Peer Support Recovery Enhancement Project grant to train peer supporters state-wide
- National Council features MPN in article on peer support and law enforcement
- Membership surpasses 700
- Training offered:
- 4 PS101 trainings
- 11 Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies events
Award Winners
Peer Supporter of the Year
Pat Solan
Recovery Ally of the Year
Sgt. Jim Anderson
Best Recovery Services
Connie Griffen, Helena
Board President
Brent Morris
Milestones
- Over 560 members across the state
- Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies workbook developed
- Peer Support Demonstration Program provides community based mobile crisis outreach in Gallatin County utilizing peer support and working in conjunction with CIT Montana
- Training offered:
- First Peer Support 101 training
- 19 Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies events
Award Winners
Recovery Ally of the Year
Charlie McCarthy
Best Recovery Services
Winds of Change, Missoula
Board Presidents
Todd Tecca
Gary Travis
Milestones
- MPN reaches the 400 member count
- Peer Support Demonstration Program in Gallatin County launched (3 pilot projects are funded by the Montana Mental Health Trust to move peer support out of centers and placing it in the community. Winds of Change, Consumer Direct and MPN all hire peer supporters)
- Peer Support 101 training is developed
- 7 Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies events offered
Board President
Sandi Glenn
Milestones
- MPN receives SAMHSA grant award for Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies; a peer approach
- MPN begins to promote standards and training for peer supporters
- A documentary entitled Dandelion is produced on the impact of early childhood trauma
- 5 day WRAP Facilitator Training sponsored by MPN
- Wellafalooza is sponsored in Billings
- Membership surpasses 300
Board President
Sandi Glenn
Milestones
- Wellness and Recovery telephonic support group offered
- MPN joins the National Coalition on Mental Health Recovery
- WRAP workshops are offered throughout the state
- Holistic recovery workshop offered
- Mental Health TV and recovery podcasts are launched
Board President
Sandi Glenn
The latest incarnation of Montana’s statewide peer run organization was officially incorporated in December 2011 with non profit 501c3 status achieved. The entire organization was re-constituted and the old organization dissolved. With new leadership, a new board of directors and new by-laws Montana’s Peer Network was born. New recruitment, executive director hired, healthy budget and we began to forge a new future.
Board President
Sandi Glenn
The organization's 990 tax returns, tax exempt status documentation, donor contributions and decision-making process are available by request. Please email the Executive Director jim@mtpeernetwork.org
Employment Opportunities
There are no employment opportunities at this time.