Consent 1.G.
City Council Regular Business Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 11/09/2026
- TITLE
- Acceptance of Montana Opioid Abatement Trust Grant Funding
- PRESENTED BY:
- Kevin Bentz
- Department:
- Fire
Presentation:
No
Legal Review:
No
Project Number:
N/A
RECOMMENDATION
Approve acceptance of $46,340.80 in Montana Opioid Abatement Trust grant funding for the expansion of the Billings Fire Department Safety Squad Public Education Program.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Billings Fire Department has received approval from the Yellowstone Region Board of the Montana Opioid Abatement Trust (MOAT) for $46,340.80 in grant funding to expand its existing Safety Squad Public Education Program. The award represents the full amount requested and is pending final review by the state board in October 2026.
This funding will allow the Department to expand its opioid prevention and public education efforts throughout the Billings Urban Fire Service Area (BUFSA) during calendar year 2027.
The Safety Squad Program currently serves all 21 Billings public elementary schools, providing age-appropriate education on personal safety, emergency preparedness, medication safety, and healthy decision-making. Grant funding will support expansion to seven additional BUFSA elementary schools and all four Billings public high schools, reaching approximately 2,500 additional students.
This funding will allow the Department to expand its opioid prevention and public education efforts throughout the Billings Urban Fire Service Area (BUFSA) during calendar year 2027.
The Safety Squad Program currently serves all 21 Billings public elementary schools, providing age-appropriate education on personal safety, emergency preparedness, medication safety, and healthy decision-making. Grant funding will support expansion to seven additional BUFSA elementary schools and all four Billings public high schools, reaching approximately 2,500 additional students.
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
The Montana Opioid Abatement Trust administers funding resulting from national opioid settlement agreements to support programs focused on opioid misuse prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction.
The Billings Fire Department Safety Squad Program was established to provide age-appropriate safety education through partnerships with Billings School District 2, the Billings Police Department, and Billings Public Safety Communications. Initially piloted in eight elementary schools during the 2023–2024 school year, the program expanded to all 21 Billings public elementary schools during the 2024–2025 school year.
The program provides students with instruction on medication safety, identifying unsafe substances, resisting peer pressure, making healthy decisions, recognizing emergencies, and knowing when to seek assistance from a trusted adult. Instruction is delivered through interactive activities involving firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency dispatch personnel.
Grant funding will expand this education to additional BUFSA schools and introduce opioid overdose recognition and emergency response education at all four Billings public high schools. High school instruction will include recognizing opioid overdoses, activating the 911 system, and hands-on training using reusable naloxone administration devices.
The expanded program emphasizes early intervention and prevention by equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary to make safe decisions before substance misuse occurs. This initiative supports the Department's ongoing community risk reduction efforts while addressing the long-term impacts of opioid misuse throughout Yellowstone County.
The Billings Fire Department Safety Squad Program was established to provide age-appropriate safety education through partnerships with Billings School District 2, the Billings Police Department, and Billings Public Safety Communications. Initially piloted in eight elementary schools during the 2023–2024 school year, the program expanded to all 21 Billings public elementary schools during the 2024–2025 school year.
The program provides students with instruction on medication safety, identifying unsafe substances, resisting peer pressure, making healthy decisions, recognizing emergencies, and knowing when to seek assistance from a trusted adult. Instruction is delivered through interactive activities involving firefighters, law enforcement officers, and emergency dispatch personnel.
Grant funding will expand this education to additional BUFSA schools and introduce opioid overdose recognition and emergency response education at all four Billings public high schools. High school instruction will include recognizing opioid overdoses, activating the 911 system, and hands-on training using reusable naloxone administration devices.
The expanded program emphasizes early intervention and prevention by equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary to make safe decisions before substance misuse occurs. This initiative supports the Department's ongoing community risk reduction efforts while addressing the long-term impacts of opioid misuse throughout Yellowstone County.
FISCAL EFFECTS
The Yellowstone Region Board approved the Billings Fire Department's full funding request of $46,340.80.
Grant funding is allocated as follows:
Funding will primarily support personnel overtime associated with delivering the expanded educational program, along with the purchase of 500 reusable naloxone training devices.
Grant revenue will be deposited into the appropriate City revenue account and used to offset eligible program expenditures. No budget amendment or additional City funding is required.
Grant funding is allocated as follows:
| Expenditure | Amount |
| Elementary school instruction | $20,238.40 |
| High school instruction | $23,129.60 |
| Training and program administration | $722.80 |
| Naloxone training devices | $2,250.00 |
| Total | $46,340.80 |
Grant revenue will be deposited into the appropriate City revenue account and used to offset eligible program expenditures. No budget amendment or additional City funding is required.
STAKEHOLDERS
ALTERNATIVES
City Council may approve or deny acceptance of the grant funding.