Barbara Mattison

Mental Health Colorado is pleased to honor Barbara Mattison as Individual of the Year. Barbara has demonstrated extraordinary leadership to identifying the gaps in Colorado’s mental health system, rallying statewide support for reform, and bringing national attention to the cause.

Since 2015, Barbara has served as president of the League of Women Voters of Colorado. In 2013, she convened and chaired the League’s Behavioral Health Task Force, directed a statewide effort to analyze current practices in the prevention and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders, and led the charge not only to adopt a comprehensive platform for Colorado but also to make that platform a priority for the League of Women Voters of the United States.

From 1997 to 2004, Barbara served as executive director of Colorado CASA, the state coordinating body for Court Appointed Special Advocates. She strengthened CASA’s advocacy work, developed new CASA agencies, and helped provide critical training and support to 600 volunteers across the state. Thanks in large measure to Barbara’s leadership, CASA’s 16 programs now benefit more than 2,000 abused and neglected children each year.