May marks Mental Health Awareness Month, and like the rest of the nation, Colorado continues to struggle with an ongoing mental health crisis. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health, one in five U.S. adults experience mental illness each year, and only half of them receive treatment. Mental Health America data shows that the percentage of people at risk for suicide in El Paso and Park counties peaked in 2022 at 49% and 92% respectively. Teller County peaked in 2020 at 40% and dropped by half in 2021 to 20%. While the percentages also decreased for El Paso and Park counties in 2023, behavioral health and access to providers and community resources remain a top issue in Colorado Springs and the surrounding areas. Colorado Community Health Alliance (CCHA) is working hard to continue to lower these percentages by connecting members with the care, support and services they need to build better lives.

CCHA is the regional organization that administers physical and behavioral health benefits and coordinates care for more than 270,000 Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid program) members in Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, El Paso, Gilpin, Jefferson, Park and Teller counties. Our team members are deeply ingrained in the communities we serve because we live and work there, too. This allows us to work closely with local trusted community partners, physical and behavioral health care providers and government agencies to create a sustainable and accessible network of care for our members.

On the behavioral health front, we’ve expanded our network of local providers in El Paso, Park and Teller counties by more than 300% over the last five years to increase access and better serve our members. Our growing behavioral health care network includes community mental health centers as well as independent providers and practices, which gives members additional access and provider choice. CCHA’s network includes providers ranging from psychiatrists to licensed clinical social workers to certified addiction specialists. Each provider, practice and center is an important and trusted CCHA partner. We collaborate with providers, as needed, to help with care coordination and wrap-around services for members. We also offer provider training and coaching to ensure efficient payments and workflows, practice integration, and strategies to reduce appointment no-shows.

We invest in programs that address behavioral health while eliminating barriers to care. For example, CCHA awarded Bloom Wellness $92,000 to facilitate the launch of a new behavioral health practice in Teller County, serving youth and families through individual, group, and family therapy sessions. Given Teller County’s rural location, residents may experience an increased risk of geographic isolation and a higher risk of suicide. They may also face barriers in accessing mental health services including transportation, stigma and lack of qualified behavioral health providers. Bloom Wellness opened in August 2023 to fill a need when Woodland Park School District reduced and, in some cases, eliminated behavioral health services for students and families. The practice serves an average of 100 clients a week and served a total of 83 Health First Colorado members in its first eight months.

Additionally, CCHA granted Conifer Counseling $300,000 to open new offices in Bailey and Fairplay, both located in Park County, while expanding its services in Conifer. This funding infusion enabled the practice to extend its reach and also enhance its offerings by recruiting additional behavioral health staff and clinicians, and providing specialized training for advanced treatment modalities. The expansion began in the second half of 2023. Since opening these news programs have served 66 members, signifying a proactive step toward meeting the increasing mental health needs within the community while ensuring greater accessibility and quality of care.

At CCHA, we are dedicated to flexibility and accessibility. We strive to meet and serve our members where they are. We recognize the need to provide members with access to care in a variety of ways due to personal preference, individual challenges such as mobility, and social drivers such as access to transportation or childcare. We are on the forefront of innovative health care solutions, notably introducing telehealth and digital kiosks through our Digital Solutions Program. This initiative solution enhances access to telehealth services, breaks down barriers to care, and promotes health equity among multicultural members. With the deployment of ten digital kiosks in Jefferson, Park and Teller counties, including strategic partnerships with community-based organizations like Teller Community Partnerships, Park Counseling Services, Aspen Mine Center, and Conifer Counseling Services, the impact has been significant. Feedback from these community partners and behavioral health providers highlights the kiosks’ effectiveness in aiding members in accessing specialized behavioral and physical health services, marking a tangible step forward in health care accessibility and inclusivity.

Through these collaborative efforts, CCHA will continue to improve mental health for its members in Colorado Springs and beyond. CCHA’s commitment to collaboration, innovation and expanding access to medical and behavioral health care services also extends to community resources such as food, housing, transportation and childcare. This commitment paves the way for a brighter future in which every member of our community has the opportunity to access the care and resources they deserve despite the challenges they face. To learn more about CCHA and our behavioral health resources, please visit CCHAcares.com/behavioralhealth.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Together, Amy Yutzy, Plan President, Behavioral Health; and Colleen Daywalt, Vice President of Government Programs, lead the Colorado Community Health Alliance.