The Colorado Behavioral Health Planning and Advisory Council (BHPAC), in accordance with federal law and as directed by SAMHSA, was established to advise the State regarding the federal block grant and address key statewide policy issues related to behavioral health. This council includes people in recovery, family members, state agencies, treatment providers, advocates and other individuals who have a vested interest in Colorado's behavioral health systems. The BHPAC is a fully integrated planning and advisory council, equally inclusive of representation of mental and substance use disorder issues. If you are interested in becoming a BHPAC Council Member, please complete the BHPAC Application.
- Meetings
Find meeting recordings on the BHPAC Meetings YouTube Playlist.
- Agendas and Minutes
- Members
Natalie Brown: Natalie Brown, MSW, LCSW, currently serves as the Program Manager of Spirit Crossing Clubhouse Individualized Placement and Support Program with SummitStone Health Partners. Her mental health experience began in 1992, as a residential treatment worker for children with severe emotional disturbance and survivors of abuse. Natalie has worked as the supervisor of Spirit Crossing Clubhouse since 1999, established Spirit Crossing as an Accredited Clubhouse program in 2004, and joined Clubhouse International Faculty for Program Development in 2008. Her professional development training includes: Trauma Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, IPS Supported Employment approaches, and Clubhouse Model of Rehabilitation.
Savannah Brown: Savannah Brown serves on the Summitstone Health Partners Client and Family Advisory Council. She is dedicated to supporting women victims of domestic violence, addressing homelessness, and promoting affordable housing. As a life coach, addiction counselor, and peer specialist, Savannah has helped individuals navigate their challenges and find hope. Savannah has written several essays and non-fiction pieces, focusing on educating readers about the history and legacy of the African slave trade, the American caste system, and the history of medical apartheid in America. She also writes about how to navigate the medical system, drawing from their own experiences. Savannah is living with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, and she shares her experiences to inspire and connect with others facing similar challenges.
Charles Davis: Charles Davis is the CEO at Crossroads’ Turning Points, Inc. with over 33 years in the Colorado SUD and Behavioral Health fields. Charles has been on numerous committees and councils in the past and currently serve on the COPA executive board as treasurer, a board member of Signal Behavioral Health, and serves on the Behavioral health Integration sub-committee for PIAC, the BHA Administrative Burden Advisory Group, the Auditing and Accounting Guidelines committee as well as several local and regional coalitions and committees in southern Colorado. Charles is passionate about behavioral health access in Colorado, and is currently serving his second term with the Behavioral Health Planning and Advisory Committee.
Kari Eckert: Kari Eckert is Robbie’s Mom and serves as Executive Director for Robbie’s Hope. Robbie’s Hope is a youth-led teen suicide prevention nonprofit with the mission to destigmatize teen depression and anxiety with the goal of reducing youth suicide rates. Prior to raising two beautiful kids she was owner/operator of Roberts-Eckert Funeral Home in Forest Lake, MN. She has her graduate degree in Mortuary Science from the University of Minnesota and a degree in Psychology from North Dakota State University.
Jacob Frye: Jacob Frye is a Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS) in the State of Colorado and a National Certified Addiction Counselor (NCAC I) through the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors. Jacob is currently obtaining a bachelor’s in Social Work at Metropolitan State University of Denver, and aims to pursue a master’s in social work. Jacob has been in the field of SUD for 15 years in various capacities, both clinical and administrative, and currently serves as the Director of Operations for a residential treatment facility in Denver. As a professional in the behavioral health field, Jacob’s interest in serving on the BHPAC stems from a desire to be proactive in voicing the needs of the SUD community from a treatment standpoint, while also remaining closely informed of any developments that may directly affect said community.
Sean Gatrell: Sean Gartrell is a dedicated professional in long-term recovery, currently serving as the Director of Training at Advocates for Recovery Colorado (AFRC). Originally from Colorado, Sean’s journey into recovery began after years of struggling with substance use. By 2015, he had found himself living in his car. With the steadfast support of his friends and family, combined with his multiple visits to detox centers, emergency rooms, treatment facilities, mutual support groups, and sober living environments, Sean was able to cultivate an active and sustained recovery that remains active to this day. Sean’s lived history has allowed him to fully appreciate what potential impact a Peer Recovery Coach can have, and he considers what meeting one earlier in his own experiences might have had on his journey. He is deeply committed to fostering and supporting an inclusive recovery community and is honored to serve as a member of the Behavioral Health Planning and Advisory Council.
Kelly George: Kelly George is a mental health community advocate with 13 years in the mental health field, 9 of which she has served as a licensed professional counselor. Kelly has worked with various communities such as persons with substance use disorders, IDD, trauma, children and youth, and more. As a CODA and native ASL speaker with four neurodivergent children, Kelly is passionate about finding ways to ensure behavioral health access through creative solutions.
Laureen Gilroy: Laureen is a person living in dual recovery. She is a member of Frontier House in Greeley and serves on the Rocky Mountain Clubhouse Coalition. Laureen holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma. Laureen is retired and lives in rural Oklahoma.
Marjorie Grimsley: Marjorie (Margie) Grimsley is the Executive Director of the Family-Run Organization, the CO Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health. Margie was a founding member of the Colorado Federation which began in 1993. She has served on the board and transitioned to being on the CO Federation staff. During this time, Margie has served as an advocate for both individual families as well at the local, state and national level. Margie brings to her work her personal experience as a parent who has raised a child diagnosed with mental health challenges. Margie's primary focus continues to be to work to ensure that families are heard, and their needs are appropriately met.
Jenni (Evguenia) Guentcheva, LPC, LAC, NCAII: Evguenia (Jenni) Guentcheva, the co-founder and Chief Clinical Officer of Green Thumb Initiative (GTI), has contributed to both the Mental Health and the Substance Use Disorder treatment programs in Colorado since 1999. As a licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Addiction Counselor in the US, and a Psychologist in Europe, she has dedicated her work to developing and applying models for safe and effective treatment in diverse cultural contexts including rural and underserved urban areas. Her mission is to foster growth in her clients, both individuals and organizations. In addition to leading the GTI programs focusing on food as a conduit to achieving wellbeing for all, Jenni is also the CEO of Goodneighbor LLC, a treatment, training, and consulting agency with a global footprint.
Danielle House: Danielle House is a Ute Mountain Ute tribal member that lives and works on the Ute Mountain Ute reservation in Towaoc Colorado. Danielle has seen the everyday struggles of her people who are still dealing with generational trauma that happened less than a hundred years ago. She is a firm believer that all native tribes not only need more access to Behavioral Health Services, but that the services should provide a sense of cultural understanding and safety. As a mother of children that has navigated behavioral health access challenges, Danielle encourages increased peer support services for youth and teens, especially for families living in rural communities throughout Colorado.
Hope Hyatt: Hope Hyatt is a Peer Support Professional, Supervisor, and an individual with lived experience of co-occurring conditions. She serves the behavioral health community as the Executive Director of Colorado Mental Wellness Network (CMWN), a leading 100% peer-run nonprofit dedicated to advancing the peer support movement. Hope supports CMWN’s mission to provide individuals with opportunities to improve their quality of life, contribute to the community through meaningful roles, and shift perceptions of behavioral health through education and advocacy. Hope also serves as Chair of the Behavioral Health Planning and Advisory Council. Born and raised in Denver, Hope holds a BA in Communications from the University of Kansas. She enjoys live music, travel, and spending time with family and friends in her free time.
Stephanie Johnson: Stephanie Johnson serves as the Director of Community Relations & Public Policy at WellPower. Stephanie had over a decade of experience in direct care as a licensed clinical social worker and licensed addiction counselor before deciding to focus on macro-level policy issues. Her work is driven by the belief that policy can and should decrease barriers and improve quality of care. Along with the relationship between behavioral healthcare and policy, Stephanie is passionate about the intersection of behavioral health and athletic development.
Meighen Lovelace: Meighen Lovelace lives and farms with their family on Colorado’s west slope. They serve on the board for the Alliance to End Hunger in Washington DC, the governing council for the Colorado Blueprint to End Hunger, the Family Advisory Council for the Pediatric Mental Health Institute at Children's Hospital Colorado, and the Child and Youth Mental Health Service Standards Advisory Board for the state of Colorado. They currently lead the Mental Health Policy work for the Colorado Cross Disability Coalition. Meighen believes that every Coloradoan deserves the right to mental health services with dignity and compassion when, where, and how they need it. They work across sectors towards a thriving and accessible Colorado for all.
Amy Lyden: Amy is a counselor, advocate, and storyteller. Fueled by their own lived experience with recovery, Amy is passionate about helping individuals, groups and organizations improve the way that mental health is talked about and treated in policy, organizations, and general society. Amy has experience as a peer specialist, speaker, clinician, and advocate, with a focus on grassroots advocacy and personal empowerment. Currently, Amy is the Manager of Peer Services at Jefferson Center.
Dr. Asia Lyons: Dr. Asia Lyons, the founder and lead designer at Lyons Educational Consulting (LEC) LLC, is deeply committed to her mission of co-creating truly inclusive environments designed to empower Black educators and foster their self-actualization through wellness initiatives. She earned her doctorate in Leadership for Educational Equity, with a concentration in Urban and Diverse Communities, where her dissertation research examined the profound impact of racism-related stress and racial battle fatigue on Black educators and their families. As a consultant and speaker, she shares her research findings and approaches to help Black educators recover from racial battle fatigue and help institutions and organizations better support their Black educators to improve retention. In addition, she is the host and producer of The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, where she amplifies the stories of former Black educators and why they left education. She hopes to inform, through the podcast, school districts, teachers' unions, families, and others how to better support and retain Black people in education.
Sharon Mauch: Sharon Mauch is a former Lamar County educator, with 10 years experience in Special Education. Sharon was raised in a large, poor family that included a sister with mental health disorders that began her passion for behavioral health. Sharon currently works as a family advocate for the Collaborative Management Program in Prowers, Baca, Kiowa and Cheyenne counties, and has a deep understanding of the struggles faced by families in the southern region of Colorado. Sharon believes access to quality behavioral health care is the key to preventing and solving many issues faced by society today, and is an advocate for rural care access throughout Colorado.
Michael Miller: Michael Miller, an experienced Harm Reductionist and public health professional with over 15 years in direct services and drug policy, formally joined the Behavioral Health Planning and Advisory Council (BHPAC) in 2024. As HIV & Harm Reduction Program Manager at Jefferson County Public Health, Michael supports a Syringe Service Program team providing harm reduction tools/education, drug checking, peer support, street outreach, drug user health services and providing technical assistance to other harm reduction programs. A certified Peer Worker (CPFS) and trainer, Michael draws on lived and living experience as a person who uses drugs (PWUD), survivor of OD and homelessness, and veteran of the drug war. He challenges power structures causing harm, demands transparency, and fights alongside countless others for equitable access to quality, evidence-based care. Michael is unapologetic in his dedication to tearing down barriers to justice while preserving and celebrating the dignity of each individual and the communities to which we belong.
Dr. Camille Sinclair: Dr. Camille Sinclair is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in health psychology and neuropsychology. She has extensive experience working with clients navigating the emotional and cognitive challenges associated with acute and chronic illnesses. Dr. Sinclair also conducts comprehensive evaluations, diagnosing a wide range of neurological disorders, including dementia, as well as conditions related to acquired and traumatic brain injuries. In addition to her private practice in Denver, Dr. Sinclair is the Founder of the Confident Caregiver Academy, an innovative program designed to empower dementia caregivers. The Academy provides essential skills and strategies to enhance care for loved ones with dementia while mitigating caregiver burnout.
Dennis Stretar: Dennis Stretar is a member of BHPAC as a person with lived experience as the primary caregiver for his wife living with Alzheimer’s (5 years) with complications of clinical depression (30 years). Dennis currently serves as the Membership Subcommittee Chair, and is a member of the Prevention Subcommittee. As a behavioral health advocate and public affairs broadcast journalist, Dennis created and hosts the Behavioral Health Best Practices podcast to educate and inform the public about behavioral health issues, treatment, and support services. Visit www.ocbn.online for more information on the podcast initiative.
Angi Wold: Angi Wold is the Director of Operations for Addiction Research and Treatment Services (ARTS). She has over 25 years of experience in the mental health/substance abuse field. Angi began her career at ARTS in 1999. She is a member of ARTS’ Executive Committee. Angi is actively involved in work groups and planning committees with Signal Behavioral Health Network, Colorado Behavioral Health Planning and Advisory Council, Health Care Policy and Finance, and the Colorado Department of Human Services Behavioral Health Administration.
Annette Zacharias: Annette Zacharias is the Executive Director of Family Housing Network, a shelter and housing program for families with children in Larimer County. She has 30 years of nonprofit experience in human services, and has been a longtime advocate for families struggling with mental health issues, homelessness, and domestic violence. Annettee strives to improve systems to provide access to services for everyone in need.
- Committees
Data & Evaluation Committee
The Data & Evaluation Committee works to improve information-sharing relationships and processes to provide data to the council and its committees. Reports are used to guide block grant decisions.
Learn more in the Data & Evaluation Committee:
Legislative Committee
The Legislative Committee typically meets only during the legislative session (January-June) to discuss bills of interest to the council. The group discusses bills and brings information and recommendations back to the larger council.
Learn more in the Legislative Committee:
Membership Committee
The Membership Committee is responsible for assisting the council with bylaws and procedural issues, as well as managing application and retention of members. The Membership Committee is the only committee that members must be approved by the council to join.
Learn more in the Membership Committee:
Prevention Committee
The Prevention Committee's work is focused on prevention of substance use disorders among both youth and adults in Colorado. The committee reviews relevant research documents and studies trends to determine the best strategy for prevention in the state.
Learn more in the Prevention Committee:
Recovery Committee
The Recovery Committee's focus is on improving and expanding the availability of recovery support services in Colorado. This includes topics such as peer specialist/recovery coach workforce development, funding for peer- and family-run organizations and support groups.
Learn more in the Recovery Committee:
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee consists of four council members and two co-chairs. The Office of Behavioral Health, at its discretion, can assign one or more staff to the Steering Committee. The co-chairs and Steering Committee members shall be elected by the council. Efforts will be made to ensure representation of family members, persons in recovery and service providers on the Steering Committee
Treatment Committee
The Treatment Committee is focused on access to and funding of clinical mental health and substance use treatment in Colorado. Members make priority recommendations based on their experience working in the field, especially in rural communities where access to clinicians and recovery support professionals are limited.
Learn more in the Treatment Committee:
- Documents and Forms
New members are invited to watch the BHPAC Member Orientation video.
Click here to comment on the 2024-25 Behavioral Health Block Grant Application.