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Remembering, Connecting, andContinuing the Work |
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As we close out August, we pause to recognize International Overdose Awareness Day, observed each year on August 31. Today is an opportunity to remember the lives lost to overdose, support the families and loved ones who continue to carry those losses, and recognize the individuals and communities working every day to prevent overdose and save lives.
Overdose continues to impact communities across Colorado and the nation. While there is still significant work ahead, there is also |
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| reason to recognize the progress being made through prevention, harm reduction, treatment, recovery, and efforts to reduce the stigma surrounding substance use and behavioral health.
Today, we honor those we have lost and reaffirm the importance of meeting people with compassion, dignity, and the support they need. We are grateful to the behavioral health professionals, peer specialists, community partners, families, and advocates who continue this work every day.
As we move into a new month, we remain committed to supporting our members, sharing resources and information, and working together to strengthen behavioral health services and improve the well-being of Coloradans.
Thank you for all that you do for your communities and for being part of the CBHC network. |
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CBHC Selected for National CHART Initiative |
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CBHC has been selected for the National Council for Mental Wellbeing’s 2026–2027 Coalition for H.R. 1 Alignment, Readiness and Transformation (CHART) cohort. Through the initiative, CBHC will receive support to help Colorado’s behavioral health community prepare for the federal Medicaid changes enacted under H.R. 1. As Colorado develops new eligibility and administrative processes while confronting significant budget pressure, implementation decisions could have lasting consequences for Medicaid coverage, provider capacity and access to mental health and substance use care. Through CHART Colorado, CBHC will convene providers, advocates, payers, hospitals, public safety partners and other stakeholders to assess those effects and develop practical recommendations for state leaders. Whether you deliver care, finance services, advocate for communities or help administer Colorado’s health care system, your perspective will be essential. CBHC will share additional details and opportunities to participate as the initiative gets underway. Interested in joining the coalition or learning more? Contact Veronica Bell, CBHC Public Policy Manager, at vbell@cbhc.org. |
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| Under the Golden Dome: Medicaid Commission Examines Colorado’s Path Forward |
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Colorado’s Interim Commission on Medicaid is undertaking a broad review of the state’s Medicaid program at a pivotal moment. Created through Senate Bill 26-187, the Commission is evaluating how Colorado should implement forthcoming federal policy changes while building a more sustainable Medicaid program and supporting Coloradans affected by those changes. Its final recommendations are due to the General Assembly and Governor by December 11. The Commission’s work is examining how Medicaid is financed, administered and delivered, including eligibility, managed care, provider reimbursement, access to services and opportunities to control costs. The meeting schedule has remained fluid as the Commission responds to questions and priorities raised by commissioners and stakeholders. Upcoming discussions are expected to address how members access care, long-term services and supports, Medicaid financing, and lessons from what has—and has not—worked within Colorado’s current system. A dedicated discussion of behavioral health is also anticipated this fall. CBHC is working to ensure that behavioral health remains central to the Commission’s deliberations. Our message is clear: Colorado cannot build a sustainable Medicaid program without a sustainable behavioral health safety net. CBHC will continue bringing provider data, operational experience and community perspectives into the conversation as the Commission moves from information-gathering toward recommendations. The Commission’s meeting schedule, agenda, and public-engagement opportunities can be found here. |
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| Share Your Perspective
The Commission is seeking input from Medicaid members, providers, advocates, payers and other community partners through its stakeholder survey. We encourage you to share what is—and is not—working within Colorado’s Medicaid program. Feedback on barriers to care, administrative burden, reimbursement, workforce capacity and effective practices can help ensure the Commission’s recommendations reflect real-world experience.
Complete the Commission’s stakeholder survey. |
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2026 CBHC Behavioral Health Conference: Less Than 5 Weeks Away! |
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The countdown is on! We are now less than five weeks away from the 2026 CBHC Annual Behavioral Health Conference in Breckenridge. We’re excited to bring together behavioral health professionals, leaders, and partners from across Colorado for connection, collaboration, and learning centered around this year’s theme, Meeting the Moment for Communities.
This year’s conference features 40+ breakout sessions, inspiring keynote presentations, pre-conference training opportunities, and dedicated time to connect with colleagues and partners from across the state. With a wide range of topics and perspectives represented, there will be plenty of opportunities to learn something new, exchange ideas, and bring practical strategies back to your organization and community.
As you prepare for your time in Breckenridge, now is a great time to explore the conference program and plan your schedule.
Registration and hotel reservations are still open, but we encourage you to take care of both as soon as possible. We want to make sure you have your spot secured and your accommodations booked before we gather in Breckenridge this fall.
We can’t wait to see you there! |
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Celebrating Our 2026 Behavioral Health Champions |
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Each year, CBHC recognizes Colorado policymakers whose leadership, partnership, and commitment have made a meaningful difference for our state’s behavioral health safety net. This year, we are proud to recognize Representative Gretchen Rydin and Senator Cleave Simpson as our 2026 Behavioral Health Champions! |
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| | Representative Gretchen Rydin has quickly emerged as a thoughtful and trusted voice on behavioral health policy in the General Assembly. As one of the few practicing behavioral health clinicians serving in the legislature, she brings invaluable frontline experience to policy discussions and has demonstrated leadership on complex issues including competency, involuntary treatment, care transitions, and the financing and design of Colorado’s behavioral health system. She has also been an accessible and engaged partner to CBHC and our members, consistently working to ensure provider and community perspectives are part of the conversation. |
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Senator Cleave Simpson has been a steadfast champion for rural Colorado and a bipartisan leader on behavioral health issues. Throughout his legislative service, he has advanced policies addressing workforce, crisis response, secure transportation, competency, and the intersection of behavioral health and the criminal justice system. He has also built strong relationships with safety net providers in his region and used his leadership role to ensure rural perspectives are represented in statewide policy discussions. |
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We are grateful to Representative Rydin and Senator Simpson for their leadership and partnership in strengthening behavioral health care for Coloradans
We’ll celebrate our 2026 Behavioral Health Champions at the CBHC Annual Conference in Breckenridge on Friday, October 2. We hope you’ll join us in congratulating them! |
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| CBHC Pre-Conference Workshop: Behavioral Health Trainings: Building the Future of Prevention, Education, and Community Impact
This September, Mental Health First Aid Colorado will help lead one of the featured pre-conference workshops at the 2026 Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council Annual Conference in Breckenridge. The full-day workshop, “Behavioral Health Trainings: Building the Future of Prevention, Education, and Community Impact,” will bring together trainers, coordinators, educators, and community leaders from across Colorado and beyond to explore the future of prevention and behavioral health training.
Designed for professionals involved in Mental Health First Aid, QPR, ASIST, safeTALK, Psychological First Aid, substance use prevention, recovery education, and community outreach, the workshop will focus on strengthening collaboration, building sustainable training programs, and maximizing community impact. Participants will engage in discussions around instructor development, statewide partnership building, outreach strategies, financial sustainability, and workforce retention.
The event reflects MHFACO’s ongoing commitment to building a stronger, more connected behavioral health training network. By bringing together leaders from diverse sectors, we hope to foster new ideas, strengthen partnerships, and develop shared strategies that expand access to behavioral health education throughout Colorado. To learn more, please visit https://www.cbhc.org/conference/
Pilot Training: Substance Use First Aid (SUFA)
CBHC- Mental Health First Aid Colorado is also excited to pilot a new training opportunity: Substance Use First Aid (SUFA). SUFA equips participants with practical, non-clinical skills to take early, compassionate action when they recognize signs of unhealthy substance use. The training is built around four core components—See, Understand, Facilitate, and Assist—and combines evidence-informed education, lived experience, and interactive practice to help participants build confidence and readiness to support others.
If you are interested in learning more about Substance Use First Aid or bringing a training to your organization or community, visit https://www.substanceusefirstaid.com. We look forward to expanding this important resource and helping communities across Colorado strengthen their response to substance use challenges. |
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A-Train Marketing is proud to partner with the CBHC to promote mental health in Colorado and beyond. We serve as deep marketing partners for behavioral health entities and currently support clients in 29 states. Our team understands that marketing in this space requires a unique blend of ethics, sensitivity, and strategic precision to connect individuals with the care they need. Specializations We focus on delivering results through brand development, high-conversion websites, SEO, and digital advertising. Rather than providing one-size-fits-all solutions, we immerse ourselves in your unique mission, and unique challenges, to create strategies that directly solve organizational challenges. We help bridge the gap between individuals seeking help and the invaluable resources your organization provides. Whether you are scaling a multi-location system or launching a new service line or brand, we act as an extension of your team to ensure your messaging is both compliant and compelling. Free Strategic Review Connect with our team to see how we can help. A-Train’s CEO Timothy Zercher is currently offering a free, no-commitment, strategic review to help you optimize your marketing efforts and increase your impact. Book your meeting here! |
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| Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and the Colorado Opioid Abatement Council (COAC) will host the 5th Annual Colorado Opioid Abatement Conference on Wednesday, September 30th at the Copper Mountain Conference Center in Summit County. This interactive conference will include collaborative break-out rooms and networking sessions, presentations on best practices for addressing the opioid crisis, the nuts and bolts of opioid settlement funds, and practical strategies for leveraging state and national resources. The conference is for all members of the Regional Opioid Abatement Councils, local government representatives, providers, subject matter experts, and community stakeholders engaged in opioid abatement in Colorado. There is no cost to attend. |
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North Range Behavioral Health
A new partnership between The Weld Trust, North Range Behavioral Health, and the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment is bringing behavioral health services directly into communities through the county’s Public Health Mobile Unit. Funded by The Weld Trust, the initiative will provide up to 40 hours per week of behavioral health support, including consultation, early intervention, crisis support, case management, referrals, and connections to community resources—helping reduce transportation and geographic barriers and connect individuals and families to care earlier. Read the full article here.
Health Solutions West
Health Solutions West and the West Mountain Regional Health Alliance have launched La Alianza, a collaborative network bringing together local organizations, institutions, businesses and community leaders to improve the health and well-being of Latino communities in the Roaring Fork Valley. The initiative aims to address barriers such as language, transportation, limited awareness of available resources and challenges navigating health and social service systems by coordinating resources and building stronger connections between families and the organizations that serve them. Read the full article here.
WellPower
WellPower has launched a new Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Walk-In Clinic to make treatment for opioid use disorder more accessible to people who are ready for help. The clinic offers same-day, walk-in treatment with medications such as Suboxone and Sublocade, along with support from nurses, pharmacists, and peer specialists with lived experience. The program takes a harm-reduction, nonjudgmental approach and also provides fentanyl test strips and naloxone, helping reduce barriers to treatment and connect people with support when they need it most. Read the full article here.
Valley-Wide Health Systems
Valley-Wide Health Systems has welcomed three new family medicine residents—Drs. Madison Bassett, Joseph Viviano, and Dylan Waddill—to its Alamosa Rural Training Track. The residents will provide care to patients of all ages while completing their rural medical training, gaining experience in comprehensive family medicine and serving the San Luis Valley community. The program is designed to prepare physicians for rural practice while expanding access to high-quality, integrated health care for underserved communities. Read the full article here.
Health Solutions
Health Solutions is expanding access to primary care in Cañon City with the grand opening of its new Family Practice and Walk-In Clinic. The clinic provides convenient health care services for local residents, including family medicine, walk-in care, and sports physicals for area students and families. The new location strengthens Health Solutions’ commitment to making accessible, community-based health care available to residents throughout Fremont County. Read the full article here. |
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