A Court for Mental Illness

Posted by admin on Nov 30, 2009 in News Articles | 0 comments

Susan Thornton writes in this DenverPost.com piece about the newly established Mental Health Court in Colorado’s 18th Judicial District. 

"The court is a specialized treatment court similar to others used in Colorado for drug users and teen offenders. It’s designed to divert nonviolent felony offenders who have a serious mental illness such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or major depression, as well as those with a combination of mental illness and substance abuse. It is not open to those with violent behavior or to sex offenders."

Click here to read more about the court and statistics demonstrating the human and fiscal need for such a court. 

$1.5 million federal grant going to help the homeless

Posted by admin on Nov 30, 2009 in News Articles | 0 comments

This article in the Colorado Springs Gazette by Debbie Kelley discusses a recent federal grant award of $1.5 million to the Pikes Peak Behavioral Health Group (PPBHG) to treat and provide job training and education to mentally ill homeless individuals in the Colorado Springs area.  The grant dollars will go a long way to helping PPBHG to not only reduce homelessness, but also to ensuring the appropriate mental health treatment and other skill building resources are in place to help keep these folks off the streets. 

Click here to read more about the grant.

First Lady Ritter Sees Healthcare at Work on Grand Junction Visit

Posted by admin on Nov 24, 2009 in News Articles | 0 comments

As reported in the Grand Junction Sentinal, the Colorado West Regional Mental Health Center received a visit from Colorado First Lady Jeannie Ritter recently, as a part of her travels around the state in support of behavioral health and healthcare integration.  The First Lady’s visit to the area also included visits to the Oasis Clubhouse and Marillac Health Clinic.  At both of those sites she emphasized the need for a collaborative approach to healthcare delivery and the need to support vulnerable populations through important community programs.

Click here to read the full article written by Amy Hamilton.

PAUL SISKA WINS 2009 OUTSTANDING BOARD MEMBER OF THE YEAR

Posted by admin on Nov 24, 2009 in News Articles | 0 comments

"Paul Siska, Adams County Undersheriff, has been named 2009 Outstanding Board Member of the Year by Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council (CHBC).  Siska has been active on Community Reach Center’s Systems Board for ten years, including a two-year term as Board President.  His steadfast efforts to improve access to mental health services for criminal offenders and reduce stigma associated with mental illness are extensive.  He chairs the Metro Area County Commissioners Mentally Ill Inmates Task Force, and represents law enforcement on Colorado’s Legislative Oversight Committee and Advisory Task Force, to study treatment of persons with mental illness in the criminal justice system." 

Click here to read the entire Press Release 

Can Accountable Care Organizations Improve the Value of Health Care by Solving the Cost and Quality Quanderies?

Posted by admin on Nov 11, 2009 in Research/Publications | 0 comments

Kelly Devers and Robert Berenson of the Urban Institute have completed a policy brief supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation examining Accountable Care Organizations in the United States.  Critical questions still exist about how ACOs should be structured, but their approach to addressing coordination of care issues and improving fragmented health care delivery systems is earning the attention of policymakers. 

Click here to read the complete study