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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.

Sept. 24, 2021: Invest in Kids is an OBH sub-contractor receiving High-Risk Families Cash Funds to implement Child First—a national, evidence-based, two-generation, trauma-informed, home-visiting model that works with young children and their caregivers who are most impacted by systemic and structural inequities through intensive, home-based services. In this blog post, Child First Program Director Marisa A. Guillicksrud, LCSW, offers a glimpse into her team’s efforts to roll out the program’s first cohort.

​ Update Sept 1, 2022:  A FFY2022/2023 grant application is now available for submission. Sept. 1, 2021: The Office of Behavioral Health is seeking public comment on Colorado’s combined mental health and substance use federal block grant application for Federal Fiscal Year 2022-23. The deadline to submit comments is Oct. 1, 2021.

July 20, 2021: July is Black, Indigenous and People of Color Mental Health Awareness Month. To learn more about culturally-responsive care, we spoke to Neva Martinez Ortega, MA, LPCC, and Anaisa Lua, MA, LPCC, two providers with Servicios de La Raza. Servicios de La Raza is an Office of Behavioral Health grantee and a Community Mental Health Clinic. 

June 24, 2021: As we amplify voices from Colorado’s LGBTQIA+ communities this Pride Month, we must also affirm and address individuals’ behavioral health needs.

Behavioral health was front of mind throughout the 2021 Legislative Session with the creation of several new behavioral health programs and increases to funding for current behavioral health services across Colorado for years to come.

Many people use their identification cards every day without much thought, but for those leaving Colorado’s jails, an ID is a ticket back into the community. Learn how the Colorado Department of Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health and the Department of Revenue are teaming up to bring identification services directly to jails.