Colorado’s behavioral health reform can’t leave the most seriously mentally ill behind
By Kara Johnson-Hufford Recently, the mayors of Colorado’s three largest cities made a public plea for help in three newspapers. Their point was simple: If we leave people with serious mentally illness (SMI) to fend for themselves in our communities and on our streets, we are endangering them and hurting our communities. The mayors of…
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Investing in a system that fills gaps across the state
By Kara Johnson-Hufford, CBHC CEO There is no doubt that Colorado invests significant state dollars in community mental health centers and clinics across Colorado with about $500 million flowing to the 17 centers that blanket the state. It’s important to understand what Colorado’s return on that investment is in lives saved, quality of life improved…
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Crisis care is at the heart of community mental health centers’ service
By Kara Johnson-Hufford, CBHC CEO Individuals with serious, persistent mental illness need a variety of care, supports and wrap around services to successfully manage their often-multiple challenges. Community mental health centers were built for just this purpose. The initial community mental health center system was built to take care of the most seriously mentally ill…
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Community roots in service run deep for mental health centers across Colorado
By Kara Johnson-Hufford, CBHC CEO In Greeley, teachers self-administered a survey in 1913 that revealed the need for a mental health center for their students. When the center opened, a child psychiatrist provided services one day a month. Now known as North Range Behavioral Health, the center has been continuously providing services and expanding well…
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September is Suicide Prevention Month
CBHC is committed to ending the stigma around reaching out for help when individuals are feeling down or depressed, anxious, suicidal, experiencing a substance use issue, or any other behavioral health issue. We want YOU to know that there is help, and while it may feel frightening to reach out in the moment, it is…
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tMHFA Set to Expand in Colorado
It is no secret that the mental health of teenagers has been steadily declining. According to a 2022 survey of teens age 12- 17 conducted by the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), only 48% of teens say they talk to their parents about mental health while only 22% speak to their friends about it.…
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Meet CBHC’s New CEO, Kara Johnson-Hufford
The Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council would like to introduce you to our new CEO, Kara Johnson-Hufford. A few words from Kara Johnson-Hufford I’m thrilled and honored to be taking the reins at CBHC. Doyle’s are big shoes to fill, and I’m eager to begin the work. The video that accompanies this gives you a bit…
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Kendra Scott Donates to Mental Health First Aid Colorado!
Tomorrow, May 20th, in honor of May is Mental Health Month, Kendra Scott jewelers will be donating 20% of their proceeds to Mental Health First Aid Colorado at their Cherry Creek location from 2pm – 4pm! They will also honor the 20% discount at their online store for both May 20th and 21st. We hope that you…
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Mind Springs Health Makes Waves
A recent article in the Grand Junction Sentinel, written by Janet Rowland, a member of the three-person Mesa County Board of Commissioners, discusses the progress its region has seen under the leadership of CEO John Sheehan. Rowland notes that the community is seeing positive changes thanks to more transparency, a new psychiatric emergency department, telehealth…
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Diversus Health Recognized as 2023 Organizational Lean On Me Award Recipient by Envision: You
Each year, Envision:You, a Colorado non-profit dedicated to advancing behavioral health care for the LGBTQ+ community, celebrates an organization and an individual who have shown dedication to improving behavioral health outcomes for LGBTQ+ Coloradans. This year, Diversus Health, a Community Mental Health Center based in Park, El Paso, and Teller Counties, received this prestigious award…
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