This is undoubtedly one of the most stressful times imaginable for some of us. This crisis drives the message home that our physical health and our mental health are not separate. We believe that at a time when millions are being forced into isolation and society’s anxiety is high due to the economic and health impacts of COVID-19, the state must be prepared to deal with a secondary pandemic of mental health and substance use concerns. Many are predicting the curve of infections precedes a curve of mental health needs. With a revised 2020 policy platform addressing pandemic response and recovery, Mental Health Colorado aims to flatten the latter curve.
Icons indicate primary Mental Health Colorado bills
- Strong start for all children
We develop brains and behaviors at a rapid pace, not fully maturing until as late as our mid-20s. Preventative care and healthy learning environments are central to ensuring healthy minds and bright futures.
Children will be deeply affected by the trauma of the pandemic. HB–1006 will make sure our early childhood educators are fully supported to deal with these secondary health issues, and HB–1312 will prepare teachers to support their students’ ongoing mental health needs so we can provide a strong start for all of Colorado’s children.
HB20-1005 Enhance Safe2tell – Clarifies that the Safe2tell program does not have to provide information about a call to law enforcement and school personnel if the call was forwarded to the statewide crisis response system. It also devises a process and procedures for routing calls appropriately.
HB20-1006 Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants – Improves a statewide program of early childhood mental health consultation to support mental health care across the state in early childhood settings and practices.
HB20-1011 Helping Others Manage Early Childhood Act – Creates a public awareness campaign and a series of workshops focused on increasing the number of early childhood workers. Also raises awareness about what young children need to know when entering kindergarten.
HB20-1012 Child Welfare Program Children Developmental Disabilities – Improves consistency and quality of child welfare service programs for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
HB20-1016 Increase Quality in Early Childhood Education Programs – Supports early childhood education program efforts to increase ratings for quality.
HB20-1053 Supports for Early Childhood Educator Workforce – Supports growth and development of the early childhood educator workforce, increases consistency and quality of child care.
HB20-1238 Safe and Healthy Learning Environments For Students – Promotes developmentally appropriate strategies to ensure healthy learning environments for students.
HB20-1312 Behavioral Health Training Requirements Educator License – Requires that 10 out of the 90 hours required for teacher re-certification include some form of behavioral health training that is culturally responsive and trauma- and evidence-informed.SB20-001 Expand Behavioral Health Training For K-12 Educators – Expands behavioral health training for kindergarten through twelfth grade educators.
SB20-014 Excused Absences in Public Schools for Behavioral Health – Requires that school attendance policy must allow excuses for an absence to include behavioral health disorders or concerns.
SB20-187 DYS Therapeutic Group Treatment Pilot Program – Extends a program for therapeutic group treatment for youth.
- Support for families
Strong, healthy families are vitally important to strong, healthy individuals. Education, childcare, stable housing, meaningful employment, and access to health care are all essential to family well being.
Children will be deeply affected by the trauma of the pandemic. HB–1006 will make sure our early childhood educators are fully supported to deal with these secondary health issues so we can provide support for families.
HB20-1006 Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants – Improves a statewide program of early childhood mental health consultation to support mental health care across the state in early childhood settings and practices.HB20-1009 Suppressing Court Records of Eviction Proceedings – Requires a court to suppress court records related to an eviction proceeding in process, or a denied eviction proceeding, so that the records are not publicly available.
HB20-1011 Helping Others Manage Early Childhood Act – Creates a public awareness campaign and a series of workshops focused on increasing the number of early childhood workers. Also raises awareness about what young children need to know when entering kindergarten.
HB20-1012 Child Welfare Program Children Developmental Disabilities – Improves consistency and quality of child welfare service programs for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
HB20-1016 Increase Quality in Early Childhood Education Programs – Supports early childhood education program efforts to increase ratings for quality.
HB20-1053 Supports for Early Childhood Educator Workforce – Supports growth and development of the early childhood educator workforce, increases consistency and quality of child care.
HB20-1236 Health Care Coverage Easy Enrollment Program – Aids uninsured people in obtaining health care coverage.
HB20-1238 Safe and Healthy Learning Environments For Students – Promotes developmentally appropriate strategies to ensure healthy learning environments for students.
HB20-1263 Eliminate Sub-minimum Wage Employment – Phases out below-minimum wage employment so that employers must pay standard minimum wage or more regardless of a person’s health condition.
- Access to housing, supports, and services
Having a place to call home is an essential element of good mental health across the lifespan. Access to supports and services prolongs life and enhances mental health outcomes.
We must be sure that all Coloradans have access to care because of the consequential mental health needs from COVID-19. HB–1139 engages an alternative and effective mental health workforce to ensure Coloradans aren’t going without care.
All Coloradans are doing their part to slow the spread of COVID-19 and ensure our emergency rooms aren’t overcrowded. HB–1284 will help the strain on our health care system by providing a transportation alternative for people in a mental health crisis. This transportation alternative will free up ambulances and emergency room beds currently used for individuals a mental health crisis so that resources can be used for other health care needs.
These times of high stress and isolation can also leave us vulnerable to the potential harm of drugs and alcohol. HB–1085 and SB–007 reduce the risk of harmful addiction and increase access to care for recovering from harmful substance use.
HB20-1009 Suppressing Court Records of Eviction Proceedings – Requires a court to suppress court records related to an eviction proceeding in process, or a denied eviction proceeding, so that the records are not publicly available.
HB20-1012 Child Welfare Program Children Developmental Disabilities – Improves consistency and quality of child welfare service programs for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
HB20-1035 Programs to Develop Housing Support Services – Builds statewide capacity to create supportive housing, improving health outcomes and addressing homelessness.
HB20-1053 Supports for Early Childhood Educator Workforce – Supports growth and development of the early childhood educator workforce, increases consistency and quality of child care.
HB20-1085 Prevention of Substance Use Disorders – Prevents substance use disorders.HB20-1086 Insurance Coverage Mental Health Wellness Exam – Requires health insurance coverage for an annual mental health wellness examination.
HB20-1113 Mental Health Educational Resources – Creates a website with information and links to available mental health care services in each geographic region and encourages health care professionals to take a course in mental health education.
HB20-1236 Health Care Coverage Easy Enrollment Program – Aids uninsured people in obtaining health care coverage.
HB20-1139 Peer Support Professionals Behavioral Health – Improves how peer support services are billed and creates a peer tax credit, increasing access to care and promoting workforce development.HB20-1284 Secure Transportation Behavioral Health Crisis – Creates a new transportation alternative for people in a mental health crisis so that people are not transported by law enforcement to a health care facility.HB20-1236 Health Care Coverage and Easy Enrollment Program – Create an easy enrollment program to aid uninsured individuals in obtaining health care coverage.
HB20-1332 Prohibit Housing Discrimination Source Of Income: Prohibits discrimination based on source of income. A landlord with more than 3 rental units will not be able to refuse rent, lease, show for rent or lease, or transmit an offer to rent or lease housing based on a person’s income.
SB20-007 Treatment Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders – Improves insurance coverage and increases access to care for substance use disorders.SB20-026 Workers’ Compensation for Audible Psychological Trauma – Expands workers’ compensation benefits for workers, such as 911 dispatchers and first responders, who are exposed to psychologically traumatic events.
SB20-028 Substance Use Disorder Recovery – Increases health care workforce, protects women and families, and other measures designed to assist an individual’s recovery from a substance use disorder.
SB20-033 Allow Medicaid Buy-in Program After Age 65 – Increases access to the Medicaid buy-in program for certain working adults with disabilities who have become ineligible for the program due to age.
SB20-187 DYS Therapeutic Group Treatment Pilot Program – Extends a program for therapeutic group treatment for youth.
- Wellness in aging
From childhood to old age, the quality of our lives depends on our mental health. Every phase of life brings its own challenges and opportunities for continuing mental growth and development.
SB20-033 Allow Medicaid Buy-in Program After Age 65 – Increases access to the Medicaid buy-in program for certain working adults with disabilities who have become ineligible for the program due to age.
- Reduced potential harm from drugs and alcohol
Drugs and alcohol have been a part of our landscape throughout history. From childhood onward, we thrive if we can reap their benefits while reducing their potential for great harm.
These times of high stress and isolation can also leave us vulnerable to the potential harm of drugs and alcohol. HB–1085 and SB–007 reduce the risk of harmful addiction and increase access to care for recovering from harmful substance use.
We must be sure that all Coloradans have access to care because of the consequential mental health needs from COVID-19. HB–1139 engages an alternative and effective mental health workforce to ensure Coloradans aren’t going without care.
HB20-1001 Nicotine Product Regulation – Raises the minimum age of a person to whom cigarettes, tobacco products, and nicotine products may be sold from 18 years of age to 21 years of age.
HB20-1017 Substance Use Disorder Treatment in Criminal Justice System – Improves outcomes for individuals with substance use disorders who come into contact with the criminal justice system.
HB20-1065 Harm Reduction Substance Use Disorders – Reduces the potential harm caused by substance use disorders.
HB20-1085 Prevention of Substance Use Disorders – Prevents substance use disorders.SB20-007 Treatment Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders – Improves insurance coverage and increases access to care for substance use disorders.SB20-028 Substance Use Disorder Recovery – Increases health care workforce, protects women and families, and other measures designed to assist an individual’s recovery from a substance use disorder.
HB20-1139 Peer Support Professionals Behavioral Health – Improves how peer support services are billed and creates a peer tax credit, increasing access to care and promoting workforce development. - Decriminalize mental health
As many of those working in law enforcement understand more clearly than most, the criminal justice system is our first and only—and completely inappropriate, ineffective, and costly—response to people’s need for mental health and substance use care. Building health care capacity and supportive housing so that we can disentangle mental health and criminal justice will improve health outcomes, save taxpayer dollars, and enhance community wellbeing
All Coloradans are doing their part to slow the spread of COVID-19 and ensure our emergency rooms aren’t overcrowded. HB–1284 will help the strain on our health care system by providing a transportation alternative for people in a mental health crisis. This transportation alternative will free up ambulances and emergency room beds currently used for individuals a mental health crisis so that resources can be used for other health care needs.
HB20-1017 Substance Use Disorder Treatment in Criminal Justice System – Improves outcomes for individuals with substance use disorders who come into contact with the criminal justice system.
HB20-1035 Programs to Develop Housing Support Services – Builds statewide capacity to create supportive housing, improving health outcomes and addressing homelessness.
HB20-1284 Secure Transportation Behavioral Health Crisis – Creates a new transportation alternative for people in a mental health crisis so that people are not transported by law enforcement to a health care facility.SB20-181 Measures on Incompetent to Proceed – Reform the criminal justice system for individuals who are languishing in jail awaiting competency restoration and create a work group to look at how enhanced sentencing laws disproportionately impact individuals with specific health conditions. - End shame and discrimination
Mental health—like physical health—is part of who we are. We need to be increasingly understanding and compassionate with ourselves and others.
All Coloradans are doing their part to slow the spread of COVID-19 and ensure our emergency rooms aren’t overcrowded. HB–1284 will help the strain on our health care system by providing a transportation alternative for people in a mental health crisis. This transportation alternative will free up ambulances and emergency room beds currently used for individuals a mental health crisis so that resources can be used for other health care needs.
These times of high stress and isolation can also leave us vulnerable to the potential harm of drugs and alcohol. HB–1085 and SB–007 reduce the risk of harmful addiction and increase access to care for recovering from harmful substance use.
HB20-1009 Suppressing Court Records of Eviction Proceedings – Requires a court to suppress court records related to an eviction proceeding in process, or a denied eviction proceeding, so that the records are not publicly available.
HB20-1035 Programs to Develop Housing Support Services – Builds statewide capacity to create supportive housing, improving health outcomes and addressing homelessness.
HB20-1065 Harm Reduction Substance Use Disorders – Reduces the potential harm caused by substance use disorders.
HB20-1086 Insurance Coverage Mental Health Wellness Exam – Requires health insurance coverage for an annual mental health wellness examination.
HB20-1263 Eliminate Sub-minimum Wage Employment – Phases out below-minimum wage employment so that employers must pay standard minimum wage or more regardless of a person’s health condition.
HB20-1284 Secure Transportation Behavioral Health Crisis – Creates a new transportation alternative for people in a mental health crisis so that people are not transported by law enforcement to a health care facility.HB20-1332 Prohibit Housing Discrimination Source Of Income: Prohibits discrimination based on source of income. A landlord with more than 3 rental units will not be able to refuse rent, lease, show for rent or lease, or transmit an offer to rent or lease housing based on a person’s income.
SB20-007 Treatment Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders – Improves insurance coverage and increases access to care for substance use disorders.SB20-014 Excused Absences in Public Schools for Behavioral Health – Requires that school attendance policy must allow excuses for an absence to include behavioral health disorders or concerns.
SB20-026 Workers’ Compensation for Audible Psychological Trauma – Expands workers’ compensation benefits for workers, such as 911 dispatchers and first responders, who are exposed to psychologically traumatic events.
SB20-028 Substance Use Disorder Recovery – Increases health care workforce, protects women and families, and other measures designed to assist an individual’s recovery from a substance use disorder.
