Partner Spotlight: Mental Health Colorado

This month, CBHC is proud to feature Mental Health Colorado, a long-standing leader in mental health advocacy and one of our invaluable partners in strengthening Colorado’s behavioral health system.

Mental Health Colorado’s mission is rooted in promoting mental well-being, expanding access to care, and ending health-based discrimination. As the state affiliate of Mental Health America and Colorado’s leading mental health advocacy nonprofit since 1953, the organization works across policy, systems, and communities to ensure every Coloradan—across all ages and backgrounds—has the support needed to live a healthy, meaningful life. Their work builds public will, shapes state policy, and drives community solutions that prioritize mental health in every corner of Colorado.

Advocacy That Bridges Divides

At the heart of Mental Health Colorado’s work is a commitment to non-partisan, solutions-focused advocacy. The organization collaborates with policymakers across the political spectrum to strengthen Colorado’s behavioral health system through evidence-based, compassionate policy strategies. 

An example that reflects this approach is Course Corrections, a national effort launched in 2015, that brings together partners from healthcare, housing, crisis intervention, and law enforcement to develop care-based alternatives to incarceration and address the complex intersections of mental health and criminal justice.

In addition, the School Mental Health Community of Practice, which supports educators and mental health professionals with shared tools and strategies to improve student well-being and access to services in districts statewide provides another example of ways that Mental Health Colorado seeks to find policy strategies that impact health outcomes.

MHC notes a promising shift in how the state views behavioral health—as inseparable from overall well-being—and is encouraged by growing momentum behind integrated care, peer support, and community-based crisis response. The permanent funding of the iMatter program is a clear demonstration of what’s possible when policymakers, providers, and advocates work together toward shared goals.

Through joint advocacy and information-sharing, Mental Health Colorado values its partnership with CBHC as a critical driver of statewide reform. CBHC’s network of providers brings essential clinical expertise and on-the-ground insight that strengthens policy solutions and ensures reforms reflect the needs of Colorado communities.

Upcoming Events & Resources

• Legislative Education & Advocacy Day (LEAD) – Held each spring at the State Capitol, LEAD brings together advocates, providers, and lawmakers to elevate priority mental health issues.
• Colorado Course Corrections Summit – May 2026 – Marking 10 years since the first state convening, this summit reconvenes cross-sector leadership to continue advancing alternatives to incarceration and advance health-based responses statewide. 
• Legislative Report & Scorecard – Released each June – A flagship, non-partisan resource evaluating Colorado’s progress on mental health and substance use policy, highlighting wins and opportunities for improvement.

Looking ahead, MHC hopes to continue partnering with CBHC to strengthen Colorado’s behavioral health continuum to ensure every person has timely access to quality housing, healthcare, and essential supports.

We’re grateful for the partnership of Mental Health Colorado and their ongoing leadership. Stay tuned next month as we spotlight another organization advancing this important work.