Blog Post

Jan. 24, 2022: January is National Mentoring Month, and the Colorado Department of Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) wishes to celebrate the work of a few of our grantees who are invested in creating and expanding opportunities for youth through mentoring. Today we spotlight the work of Gunnison Valley Mentors by featuring a submission from Gunnison Valley Mentors Executive Director Tina McGuiness.

Jan. 10, 2022: The Colorado Department of Human Services is coordinating with other state agencies, providers, schools and community organizations to ensure Coloradans’ behavioral health needs are met following the Marshall fire on Dec. 30. We've compiled a list of behavioral health resources.

Jan. 6, 2022: The new Director of Equity and Community Engagement for the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), René González, writes about his goals in his role and the importance of community empowerment for serving and being responsive to all Coloradans.

Dec. 21, 2021: Four county jails in Southeast Colorado (Prowers, Bent, Otero and Crowley) receive Jail Based Behavioral Health Services (JBBS) support to provides mental health, substance use, and re-entry services for incarcerated inmates. This summer, the jails partnered to open the Re-Entry Center in Lamar that serves as a space for clients to meet with the counties' shared transition services coordinator for help with referrals, sending applications to sober living programs, mental health, and substance use treatment facilities, as well as assisting them in applying for things like identification, birth certificates, Medicaid, and food assistance. 

Dec. 6, 2021: Nearly 50 Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) programs statewide teach people skills to motivate loved ones in recovery, and—just as importantly—tend to their own emotional needs.

Dec. 1, 2021: Today the Colorado Department of Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) announced that Dr. Victoria Trapp will become the new chief executive officer of the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan (CMHIFL).

Nov. 23, 2021: On Nov. 1, Governor Jared Polis released his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2021-22, including proposed investments to support the opening of two units at the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan that are currently under construction; a 1.0 percent rate increase for community-based providers; improving involuntary mental health treatment; and more.

Nov. 19, 2021: The Office of Behavioral Health is seeking public comment on Colorado’s Annual Synar Report for Federal Fiscal Years 2021-2022 as a part of the rules listed in the Tobacco Regulation for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant.

Oct. 29, 2021: The Office of Behavioral Health's Forensic Service Team (FST) is forging ahead with its goal of establishing Regional Care Rings in 2021. These collectives of regional providers and agencies will be responsible for collaborating to improve services for competency-involved individuals with behavioral health needs; traumatic brain injuries; and neurocognitive, developmental and intellectual disabilities. The Regional Care Rings will focus on the gaps inhibiting successful transition and re-entry into the community, thus interrupting the cycle of entry into the criminal justice system.