What is the Forum?

The Missoula Forum for Children and Youth is an alliance of prevention coalitions, agencies, and individuals united by a common mission: 

To build and maintain a supportive environment for collaborative and proactive work to help Missoula prevent substance abuse and other problem behaviors and grow healthy and resilient children and youth.

The Forum was established in 1996 by community leaders who recognized the need for a better infrastructure to link, coordinate, and build community-wide prevention efforts in Missoula County. 

Today, the Forum is the hub of Missoula's prevention community.  Over 650 individuals and dozens of agencies and businesses participate in the Forum's efforts to help Missoula Make the Connection for kids.  We do this by helping caring agencies, adults, and youth Connect, Learn, and Collaborate.

The Forum helps "Make the Connection":

• Develops a common vision of positive youth development and prevention
• Assesses prevention needs and strengths in Missoula County through review of local data
• Researches and promotes effective prevention and intervention programs and practices
• Facilitates collaboration through coalition and Forum meetings
• Convenes community teams to develop and implement research-based prevention strategies
• Offers service agency and community trainings on prevention issues
• Channels individual efforts toward a common goal of youth and family health
• Provides a venue for professionals, volunteers, and community leaders to share resources and combine efforts to increase resiliency among Missoula's youth.