Missoula Substance Use Disorder Connect (MSUDC), housed at United Way of Missoula County, is a coalition of organizations dedicated to combating the epidemic of substance use in Missoula County, and innovating the options, systems and processes for doing so. We focus on prevention, treatment and support for those in recovery. We use a Collective Impact framework that results in a multifaceted and comprehensive approach to developing the best path forward to address the problems at hand.
MSUDC started with two visits in 2019-2020 from then-U.S. State Attorney Kurt Alme, to present to groups of Missoula stakeholders what Yellowstone County was doing to address addiction and crime rates. Participants were excited about the idea of forming a coalition, and United Way of Missoula County was identified as a source of support. With encouragement from Yellowstone Substance Abuse Connect coalition and Alme, United Way applied for and received (in November 2020) a one-year planning grant from the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) in conjunction with the Missoula Drug Task Force.
Throughout 2021, the Core Team worked diligently to reach out to various community organizations, government agencies, and community members to put together a large and diverse representation of stakeholders and began to collaborate with community partners. In addition, in 2021 JG Research & Evaluation conducted and completed a Needs Assessment that was specific to substance use in Missoula County. In the Fall of 2021 , MSUDC held a two-day Stakeholder Retreat of training and discussion. From that Retreat, three areas of focus were identified as priority areas.
