The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Reauthorization and Improvement Act, S. 2304 on September 29th.  It is now on its way to the President’s desk and, if signed, will reauthorize the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act (MIOTCRA) for an additional five years. 

Read more..

The Colorado Healthcare Task Force met on Thursday, September 25 to vote on what proposed legislation will be carried during the 2009 Legislative Session.  Those  approved for introductions include:

Bill 1 - Behavioral Health Commission                     

Bill 3 - Oral Health Care Coverage

Bill 4 - Complaint Process CICP                            

Bill 5 - E-Prescribing         

Bill 9 - Peer Review Health Care Providers              

Bill 10 - Report Hospital Infection Rates Criteria

Click here to see drafts of ALL LEGISLATION PROPOSED TO THE HEALTHCARE TASK FORCE

In just 18 months, the Court to Community program has already achieved remarkable results in cost savings and decreasing recidivism  in Denver.   Read the report published by the Mental Health Center of Denver to learn more about this impressive effort.

Click here to read the report.

The CBHC 2008 Annual Training Conference has now been approved for Continuing Education Credit by the following:

NASW - National Association of Social Workers                                                            

NBCC - National Board of Certified Counselors

NAADAC - National Association for Addiction Professionals

Make sure your organization is registering to take advantage of the wonderful learning opportunities at this year’s Conference!

Doyle Forrestal, Director of Public Policy for CBHC, recently had an article published in The National Council Magazine, Volume 3, July 2008. The article highlights the Civilians For Veterans Fund, an effort to make mental health services available for all returning veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and their families.  Click here to read the article on page 22 and read the rest of the magazine edition dedicated to veterans mental health.

Congratulations to Southeast Mental Health Center and other health organizations in Southeast Colorado for the earning grant awards through the Colorado Rural Healthcare Grant Council.  Read the article from the La Junta Tribune-Democrat to learn more.