“Our program is different than other state programs,” said Stephanie Perry, the new community outreach coordinator with Benchmark Montana Milestones. Benchmark is an early childhood intervention service in North, Central and Western Montana that connects families with support for things like occupational therapy, speech therapy and physical therapy.
“We don’t have a waitlist,” Perry said. “Our job is to let families know about all the services and providers in the area that can help them and their child.”
Benchmark Montana Milestones provides free early intervention services for children ages 0-3, with no income requirements. Through Benchmark, families receive individualized support from certified family support specialists who meet them in their homes and communities.
Benchmark came to Missoula in 2024, shortly after being selected by the Montana Department of Health and Human Services to administer the Montana Milestones program in Missoula and Kalispell. Its local team of 23 employees serves approximately 300 children across the 17 counties in North, Central and Western Montana that the team supports.
One such family is Jes and her son, now 3, who was struggling with a speech delay at 2 years old. At her son’s regular 2-year check-up, his pediatrician recommended they reach out to Benchmark.
“Benchmark helped set us up with therapists, which at the time was tricky since there was a waitlist for a lot of different services,” Jes said. “I love the therapists we work with and (my son) is still seeing the same therapists even now that he’s aged out of the program.”
Perry, who is from Cascade, Montana, has been with Benchmark since 2019 and recently transitioned from program director to community outreach coordinator for Missoula. She took on the new role because her previous work with the company showed Perry that there is a gap between families and providers who recognize the need for early childhood intervention and those who know where to go with their concerns.
Since coming to Missoula two years ago, Benchmark has been working to engage with the community and let families and providers know that its no-cost services are available wherever needed. That’s one of the benefits of not having a brick-and-mortar office — Benchmark’s family support specialists meet families at any location they’d like — in their homes, community centers or wherever feels comfortable to them and their child.
One way Benchmark gives back to the community is through school screenings. Perry said the screenings, provided at no cost to school districts across western Montana, help identify children who would benefit from additional services. However, most of those children could have benefited from intervention even earlier — during the 0-3 age range Benchmark serves.
Perry stressed that parents in Missoula — and professionals who work closely with young children, like childcare providers and physicians — can request a free consultation with Benchmark’s at-home team if they have concerns about developmental milestones.
“If you’re a parent in the community and you’re curious about where your infant or toddler is at developmentally, we’re here, and happy to have a conversation with you and your little one,” Perry said. “And, if you’re a Missoula provider, we welcome collaboration with you in early childhood intervention and keep us in mind when you have concerns about a child in your care.”
If you would like to make a referral to Benchmark or learn more about their services, visit BenchmarkMTMilestones.com.
