A Guest Commentary in the Denver Post by Megan Ferland, discusses how Colorado is addressing important issues for children.  Read the article. 

Click here to read the recent article from the Denver Post discussing the national UPenn Collaborative on Community Integration, and an effort to decrease existing stigma concerning mental health issues. 

Sunday, June 22, 2008 article from the Greeley Tribune highlighting an alternative drug treatment program in Weld County that is proving to be a success.  Read the full article here.

"New Weld County program gives addicts another chance to turn around their lives."  Read the inspirational article from Greeley Tribune.

Sharon Raggio has a Toyota 4Runner, and she has been stuck on the wrong side of Vail Pass in blizzard conditions. She has seen elk on the sides of rural Colorado highways.

In other words, Raggio feels as thought she has officially moved to the Western Slope.

Raggio is the new chief executive officer for Colorado West Mental Health Center, which serves 10 counties in western Colorado and has 14 offices across the Western Slope.

Raggio came to Colorado West in March from Pikes Peak Behavior Health Group in the Colorado Springs area where she was the chief operations officer. Raggio is a licensed family and marriage therapist and also has a business degree.

http://www.gjsentinel.com/hp/content/features/stories/2008/04/30/042908_HW3_Colo_West_CEO.html to read the entire GJSentinel article.

Fifty years ago on April 29, Jefferson Center for Mental Health began serving the community from the basement of the Jefferson County Courthouse. Since then, it has helped nearly a half million individuals facing mental health challenges.

More than 500 community and business leaders recently showed their appreciation for the Center’s first 50 years of service and the thousands of lives that have been changed. "Destinations and Dreams," Jefferson Center’s 50th Anniversary Gala was held on April 17th at the Arvada Center with Honorary Chair First Lady Jeannie Ritter.

Click here to read the entire article.

A local nonprofit that works to ensure mental health services are always available for people who can’t afford them won recognition Wednesday for its efforts.

The Larimer Center for Mental Health received the Agency of Distinction Award from the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado at its annual luncheon in Fort Collins.

The mental health agency was honored for its focus on the future and excellence in management.

Click here to read the full Reporter Herald article.

One of every five inmates jailed in the seven- county Denver metro area has a serious mental illness, and housing them takes a $34.4 million annual bite out of the counties’ tight budgets, according to a new report by a Metro Area County Commissioners’ task force.

Seriously ill inmates spend 5 1/2 times longer in jail than average inmates and cost $8.28 more per day because they receive more services and may be housed in special units, the report found.

"If we could reduce the number of mentally ill people in jail by one-third, we could cut the jail population in half," said Jefferson County Commissioner Kathy Hartman, chairwoman of the metro group. Mentally ill inmates also revolve in and out of jail more frequently.

Click here to read the full Denver Post article.