Colorado Announces Statewide Strategy for Children’s Behavioral Health System
Following years of stakeholder meetings, gathering hundreds of testimonies and input, system review, launching a new state department, and boldly auditing the behavioral health system, Colorado has released the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Implementation Plan.
This plan lays out the pathway to access behavioral health care for children and youth in Colorado. The vision for the children and youth behavioral health system in the state is to be a comprehensive, equitable, effective continuum of behavioral health services that meets the needs of children and youth in the right place, at the right time, to achieve whole-person health and wellbeing. This means Colorado's children and youth receive the services they need to thrive in their community, making long-lasting, positive impacts on their lives.
To achieve this vision, state agencies will work in unison and support efforts to:
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promote the well-being of children and youth;
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establish a comprehensive continuum of behavioral health services;
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create the foundation for a system of care framework unique to Colorado;
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reduce barriers to access and affordability of care;
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support a competent and adequate workforce; and
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have accountability and oversight to ensure a quality behavioral health system.
The summary with immediate priorities and action items can be found here.
The full implementation plan can be found here.
This plan was put together by the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration, the Department of Human Services’ Office of Children, Youth, and Families; the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing; the Division of Insurance in the Department of Regulatory Agencies; the Department of Early Childhood; the Department of Education; and the Department of Public Health and Environment.
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