In 2013, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and the General Assembly enacted landmark legislation to create a statewide behavioral health crisis system, giving Coloradans a direct line to a robust array of acute, community-based services. This nascent system has taken on the challenge of meeting a pent-up and rising demand to develop a national model for behavioral health crisis response. As a result, Colorado is reducing emergency room and hospital visits, as well as easing the burden on law enforcement and the criminal justice system for managing behavioral health issues.
Click on the link below to learn more about the success of Colorado’s crisis services.
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…
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…
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…
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…