Introduced with bipartisan support, this bill would offer a free mental health assessment and as many as three mental health sessions with a licensed professional for all children under 18, which the state would pay for. These services would also be offered to people 21 and younger who are enrolled…
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Network Hub in development
Funded by stakeholder organizations, the Network Hub will serve as a community of practice for consultants across the field. Once complete, the Network Hub will improve coordination, professional development, and technical assistance to consultants working within a variety of settings, including early care and education, home visiting, and primary care.
HB 21-1097: Establishment of Behavioral Health Administration passes
This legislation addresses multiple recommendations included in the Behavioral Health Blueprint related to the creation of a behavioral health administration (BHA). The BHA will be a single state agency to lead, promote, and administer the state’s behavioral health priorities. Learn More
Maternal Mental Health Framework created
A group of public health, health care, academic research, and community leaders developed a guiding framework for all Coloradans to support improved maternal mental health. This framework is designed to strengthen the case for funding for perinatal mental health, inform policy efforts, guide tracking of outcomes, and streamline stakeholder efforts.…
Mental Health Colorado creates ECMH Toolkit
This toolkit was to help families, community advocates, Early Childhood Councils, early childhood professionals, and local leaders evaluate and fund ECMH supports. Learn More
Colorado Health Institute (CHI) publishes “Risk, Reach, and Resources”
This report, commissioned by the OEC and conducted by CHI, researched and analyzed more than a dozen initiatives, programs and organizations promoting ECMH across Colorado and compared those efforts with the risks they were mitigating (i.e., poverty and maternal depression) to identify gaps and opportunities. Learn More
Colorado receives funding through the Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five
A $5.8 million initial PDG B-5 grant allowed for completion of the Colorado Shines Brighter statewide needs assessment and strategic plan. The state received further funding in 2019 for implementation of the strategic plan. The plan includes multiple elements related to the integration and strengthening of ECMH within Colorado’s early…
Children’s Subcommittee of Colorado Behavioral Health Task Force created
The mission of the overall task force was to evaluate and set the roadmap to improve the state’s behavioral health system. One of three subcommittees of the Task Force, the Children’s Behavioral Health subcommittee was charged with improving outcomes by developing a plan to address delivery and management of children’s…
Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families formed
Colorado was selected to participate in a national effort to rethink child welfare by creating the conditions for strong, thriving families where children are free from harm. The Partnership is focusing on three key priority areas: 1) aligning funding streams, programs, and outcomes within state systems; 2) strengthening services and…
Behavioral Health Blueprint published
After more than a year of research and convening, the Behavioral Health Task Force released a Blueprint that outlines a vision for reform in Colorado. Learn More
