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​The Really big Deal --

​gOV. pOLIS' bEHAVIORAL hEALTH tASK fORCE
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​A Message from CDHS Executive Director Michelle Barnes
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Re: Membership of the Governor's Behavioral Health Task Force

April 19, 2019

Dear Stakeholders:

On April 8, 2019, Governor Jared Polis directed the Department of Human Services to spearhead the Governor’s Behavioral Health Task Force. Today, I am happy to announce the creation of this task force, which will author a statewide, strategic plan to transform Colorado’s behavioral health system with the goal of enabling every Coloradan with a behavioral health condition or in crisis to receive the services and support they need in order to live safe, productive lives in their own communities.

Specifically, the Governor has requested that the task force:

  1. Work with the legislature and relevant agencies to evaluate current funding streams and to recommend financing, administrative changes and savings measures and changes to ensure the behavioral health system is transformed into an integrated, accessible, accountable, efficient and high-quality behavioral health care system;

  2. Identify systemic gaps and enhancements in access to behavioral health services, especially for vulnerable or underserved populations, including those experiencing intellectual and developmental disabilities; and

  3. Evaluate, recommend, and adopt proven strategies to drive efficiency and desired results.

The task force will develop Colorado's "Behavioral Health Blueprint" by June 2020, which will outline detailed steps to ensure the goals established by the task force are clearly communicated to relevant stakeholders, service providers, and individuals.

Additionally, the Blueprint will include an implementation timeline for the desired system changes anticipating implementation of the recommendations starting in July 2020.

Equally important, this task force is chartered with creating a plan for improving timelines for competency restoration by January 1, 2020.

The task force will have the power to create subcommittees as it sees fit. Three subcommittees will be immediately created to address the:
* state behavioral health safety net system,
*children’s behavioral health, and
*the long-term plan to address competency evaluations and restorations.

Membership of Task Force
As per the direction of the Governor, the behavioral health task force will work with individuals who represent diverse and balanced perspectives with respect to these issues such as consumers/families dealing with behavioral health issues, key executive agencies representing state and local government, criminal justice experts, advocacy groups, behavioral health experts, and care providers.

Task force membership will be capped at 25 individuals. Membership is not compensated and is anticipated to require consistent participation over the next year. To apply to participate in this task force, please go to https://bit.ly/2IwDugL. Applications will be accepted through May 5.

Competency Subcommittee
In the interest of time, a subcommittee to create a long-term competency plan will be created immediately and will consist of members representing the groups listed below. In addition, the committee will be consistent with the mandates of a Consent Decree captioned Center for Legal Advocacy, d/b/a Disability Law Colorado v. Barnes and Marshall that states the Department shall develop a comprehensive plan. Disability Law Colorado, along with the Department, will co-chair this subcommittee. Interested parties to participate on this subcommittee should apply athttps://bit.ly/2IwDugL by May 5.

The Governor requested this subcommittee focus on the following:

  • *Develop a comprehensive picture of the system of services and resources available for individuals in the criminal justice system who have been found incompetent to proceed;

  • *Develop a framework of a statewide strategic blueprint for competency and the first set of recommendations that aligns with the department’s consent decree, to include: 

    • *A priority emphasis on prevention and diversion efforts;

    • *Recommendations on restoration services specifically designed for persons with an intellectual or developmental disability; 

    • *Recommendations for short-term and long-term solutions, with an emphasis on expanding community-based solutions first, when appropriate;

    • *Projections of competency evaluation and restoration need over the next 20 years, and an understanding of the trends that impact need;

    • *Legislative recommendations (if needed) to implement the plan, along with removing barriers or providing support to aspects of the plan;

    • *Costs associated with implementation; and,

    • *Possible funding mechanisms, including leveraging non-state dollars.
    • ​
In addition to CDHS and Disability Law Colorado, the following stakeholders will be invited to participate on the subcommittee:
  • An individual or individuals who received behavioral health services in Colorado;
  • The Colorado Department of Corrections;
  • The Colorado Department of Public Safety;
  • The Colorado Judicial Department;
  • A representative from a Colorado urban county;
  • A representative from a Colorado rural county;
  • A representative from a Colorado mountain county;
  • A representative from the public education system;
  • A representative from a provider or administrative organization for substance use prevention or treatment;
  • A representative from Law Enforcement;
  • A representative from the Colorado District Attorney’s Council;
  • A representative from the Office of the Public Defender;
  • A representative from the Court Liaison Program established in Senate Bill 18-251;
  • A representative from a membership organization representing community mental health providers;
  • A representative from a regional accountable entity;
  • A representative from a behavioral health provider with familiarity with the state system; and,
  • A forensic psychiatrist or psychologist who has experience with competency evaluations and restoration.

Consistent with the Consent Decree, this subcommittee will, by January 2020, produce an initial plan resulting from a long-term visioning process carried out by CDHS, Disability Law Colorado, the Special Master in the lawsuit, and appropriate stakeholders participating in the subcommittee.

The plan will consolidate pieces of the Department’s current plan to improve competency services, along with legislative initiatives, in a cohesive package for courts, administrators, service providers, and legislators to consider.

The subcommittee will review national best practices and programs in other states have adopted as part of their discussions and recommendations.

The subcommittees for children’s behavioral health and state safety net system will be created after the main task force convenes. Applications for these subcommittees must be submitted by May 5.

I look forward to working with you to tackle these issues in the coming year. Coloradans deserve a better behavioral health system, and I’m excited to lead this effort.

Sincerely,

Michelle Barnes