Strong Future Initiative
Community Solutions for Behavioral Health
Community Solutions for Behavioral Health
In November of 2018, Summit County voters passed Referred Measure 1A Strong Future with five separate funding components: wildfire prevention programs, mental health and suicide prevention services, recycling and waste diversion services, necesary repairs and improvements to extend the uselful life and accessibility of public buildings and community facilities, and affordable early childhood care and learning for local families and workers.
Building Hope facilitates, organizes, and oversees the Strong Future Behavioral Health Citizens Advisory Committee, which ensures funding and services are focused on mental health across Summit County.
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The behavioral health portion of 1A Strong Future can range between two and five million dollars annually for ten years.
- The Strong Future Mental Health Citizen Committee ensures funding and services are focused on the mental health continuum across Summit County.
- Roughly, $200,000 of the earmarked funds will go directly to Building Hope to assist with the coordination and administration of a comprehensive mental health system in Summit County.
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The remainder of the 1A Strong Future mental health funds will be distributed through a request for proposal process.
Do you care about Mental Health?
Do you want to make a difference in your community? We are seeking applicants for positions on the Strong Future Mental Health Committee.
Funding At Work
2024 Strong Future Funded Program Impacts
Family & Intercultural Resource Center
Peer Mental Health Program For Spanish Speakers
Many local families face barriers such as limited income, unstable housing, few social supports, and unfamiliarity with U.S. systems and language.
ALMA and ACCIÓN serve Spanish speakers ages 15 and older, offering one-on-one peer support and group conversations for people experiencing isolation, teaching stress reduction, coping skills, goal setting, and connection.
Because Spanish speaking therapists are limited in our community, these programs serve as an important bridge, providing a safe space for support while connecting participants to community resources through FIRC’s services in health navigation, food access, financial empowerment, and housing. We also collaborate with local nonprofits and public programs to provide culturally responsive, wraparound assistance.
ALMA Program
The Program
Contracted: $350,761
Funds Spent: 100%
Prevention Program
Bilingual Access
Vulnerable Population
The Data
Unique Individuals Served through one-on-one visits
Unique group participants
Individual Service deliveries 1:1 visits
Alma Groups/events
The Why
Expanded Community
Outreach, Education and Support
Peer-to-Peer Support Model
Vulnerable population Support
ACCION Program
The Program
Contracted: $36,017
Funds Spent: 100%
Prevention Program
Bilingual Access
Vulnerable Population
The Data
Unique Individuals Served through one-on-one visits
Unique group participants
Individual Service deliveries 1:1 visits
Accion Groups/events
The Why
Expanded Community
Outreach, Education and Support
Peer-to-Peer Support Model
Vulnerable population Support
Building Hope Summit County
Improving Access and Capacity for Mental Health
It is reported that 4 in 10 adults in Summit County have expressed symptoms of anxiety and depression since March 2020, a significant jump from 1 in 10 adults reported in January 2019.
Building Hope Summit County is a community-wide initiative designed to create a more coordinated, effective and responsive mental health system that promotes emotional well-being, reduces stigma and improves access to care and support for everyone in Summit County.
- Residents served through Free Community Connectedness Events
- Mental Health Navigation and Therapy Scholarship Program
- Mental Health Training for community members and local workplaces
- Professional Development and other incentives to therapists to increase capacity
- The HYPE youth programming
- Community Support Groups
SUICIDE PREVENTION
The Program
Contracted: $100,000
Funds Spent: 100%
Prevention Program
Suicide Prevention
All Summit County Residents and Employees
The Data
Individuals trained in 34 mental health trainings
We Care packages distributed
Major Marketing Campaigns
Inaugural "Walk with Hope"
The Why
Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Effort
Implementation of evidence-based training and interventions designed to reduce suicide risk
Conduct outreach to expand capacity, screening, and stigma reduction.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUPS
The Program
Contracted: $20,000
Funds Spent: 99%
Treatment Program
Serves all Summit County Residents and Employees
The Data
Groups created
Individuals served across all 2024 support groups
%
of participants strongly agreed the support groups they attended benefitted their mental health
%
Acknowledged gaining skills and tools to enhance their well-being and manage life’s stressors more effectively.
The Why
Professional Development
Capacity Building
Increased access to treatment and clinical services
Offer incentives to therapists to increase capacity
Fostering a supportive community and improving mental health outcomes
PROVIDER SUPPORT
The Program
Contracted: $192,080
Spent: 86%
Treatment Program
Serves all Building Hope Scholarship network mental health providers
The Data
Professional development grants.
Intern Stipends
Clinical Supervision & Assistance Grants
Providers engaged in Billing and Credentialing
The Why
Professional Development
Capacity Building
Provide training opportunities for therapist to improve skill levels
Offer supervision opportunities for interns and recent grads
Offer incentives to therapists to increase capacity
SCHOLARSHIPS and NAVIGATION SERVICES
The Program
Contracted: $545,588
Spent: 100%
Treatment Program
Serves all Summit County residents and workers
The Data
Scholarships Applicants
Navigated to other local supports and resources
Applicants diverted to other payment sources.
Therapy Sessions
The Why
Treatment and Clinical Services Resource Navigation
Expand use of mental health navigators
Develop effective and affordable, therapy programs for youth and adults; Programs need to be locally based, affordable and accessible to all residents
IMMEDIATE ACCESS SLOTS
The Program
Contracted: $14,315
Funds Spent: 91%
Crisis Intervention Program
Serves all Summit residents and employees
The Data
Clients served between JAN-JULY 2024
Total client sessions completed
Program Sunset in June 2024 with the start of Paragon Behavioral Health’s Crisis Stabilization Program
The Why
Treatment and Clinical Services
Community recovery and reintegration services post hospitalization
Develop Support Program for Individuals with Persistent Mental Illness
Recovery Resources
Summit County Clinical Withdrawal Management
Substance and alcohol abuse is prevalent in Summit County. Making the decision to live a sober life and enter recovery can be extremely difficult. Recovery Resources offers clinical withdrawal management services to Summit County, also known as Detox, offering compassion and support for individuals looking to end their substance use and overcome the struggles of physical and psychological withdrawal.
- 24 hours/7 days a week support for individuals looking to end their substance use.
- Provide a seamless transition to outpatient programs and residential treatment following withdrawal management.
3.2 WITHDRAWAL MANAGEMENT
The Program
Contracted: $331,242
Funds Spent: 100%
Intervention Program
Serves all adult client who meet criteria for 3.2 Withdrawal Management
The Data
Unique participants
%
of clients continue ongoing treatment
%
of patients engaged in MAT services with Porch Light Health
The Why
Enhanced Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Services
Build strong care management program that allow for step-up and step-down services that ensures transitions of care are successfully coordinated for Summit County Residents
Implement same day access model
Summit County Sheriff’s Office
STARR: Strategies to Avoid Relapse and Recidivism
At the Summit County jail, inmates often show signs of substance abuse and poor behavioral health. While it is imperative to provide the proper punishment for inmates, it is also vital for the long-term sustainability of the community to offer treatment and opportunities for rehabilitation-proven to decrease the chance of another crime in the future. The Summit County Sheriff’s Office has established the Strategies to Avoid Relapse and Recidivism (STARR) program, which provides substance use and mental health treatment services within the facility.
- Focuses on behavioral health, utilizing a variety of treatments for trauma and other disorders.
- Testing is provided for overall behavioral health, suicide potential, and traumatic brain injury.
- Provides group and individual therapy sessions.
- Upon release, participants are provided a connection to free or low-cost community services, including re-entry coordinator services.
STARR Program
The Program
Contracted: $77,000
Funds Spent: 49%
Intervention Program
Providing mental health services in the Summit County Detention Services Division
The Data
Participants
Individual service deliveries
The Why
Expanded supports for individuals with persistent mental illness.
Build strong care management programs that allow for step-up and step-down services that ensures transitions of care are successfully coordinated for Summit County Residents.
SMART: System-wide Mental Assessment Response Team
Nationwide interactions with law enforcement and citizens in mental health crises have prompted the demand for introducing mental-health training to our local law enforcement to prevent escalating situations in our community. SMART conducts full mental health assessments of community members in crisis, stabilizing them in-home and connecting them with appropriate follow-up care.
- De-escalate in place, allowing individuals to connect with their support system and stabilize vs. going to the emergency department, saving local first responder resources.
- Connects individuals with therapeutic support, coaching, and connection with local resources – ensuring safe re-entry after crisis events.
- Reduces criminal recidivism for participants and diverts appropriate cases from the criminal justice system.
SMART TEAM
CO-RESPONSE Program
The Program
Contracted: $349,656
Spent: 98%
Crisis Intervention Program
Serves all Summit residents and employees
The Data
Active calls for service
Case management interactions.
Total contacts
Service deliveries
The Why
Crisis Intervention
Develop and implement public safety response team
Establish community based crisis response team made up of mental health workers and trained law enforcement officers. Team responds quickly to any call that comes in with resident experiencing mental health crisis
Elevated Community Health
(Formerly the Summit Community Care Clinic)
School Based Health Center (SBHC) Behavioral Health Services
Adolescents have increased levels of depression, stress, anxiety, and suicidal ideation than in years past. The School Based Health Center (SBHC) provides high quality, easily accessible behavioral health (BH) services to students in all Summit School District Schools – with the goal of helping them stay in school, stay in their home, and proactively work through a crisis with a trusted adult. Our goal is to provide the youth of Summit County with the resources they need to thrive emotionally and physically.
- Provides behavioral health assessments and crisis response.
- Programs include substance use education with topics such as vaping and tobacco use.
- Offers individual and group counseling.
- Connects students to outside providers and social services, including behavioral health providers.
- Successfully connects patients to Behavioral Health services. Creates seamless access to care, education, and resources. Improves health outcomes and provides high-quality and comprehensive support. This program also increases mental health literacy around behavioral healthcare.
SCHOOL BASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
The Program
Contracted: $415,625
Spent: 100%
Treatment Program
Available at all Public Summit School District locations for students who have SBHC consent
The Data
Unique clients
Service deliveries or client sessions
The Why
Expanded School-based Mental Health Services
Additional school-based mental health and substance use professionals to provide wellness and prevention activities, short-term treatment and referral as needed
IN CLINIC IMMEDIATE ACCESS
The Program
Contracted: $350,761
Funds Spent: 99%
Intervention Program
Serves all Summit Community Care Clinic clients
The Data
Unique Participants
Individual service deliveries/sessions
The Why
Ensure coordinated and comprehensive approaches that connect individuals and provide care management may mitigate negative outcomes
CommonSpirit St. Anthony Summit Hospital
CommonSpirit – Emergency Department Behavioral Health Specialist
Specialists are utilized to provide expert mental health support within the Emergency Department, offering timely assessments, consultations, and interventions for patients experiencing behavioral health crises. Their expertise helps improve patient outcomes, reduce length of stay, and optimize resource allocation within the Emergency Department.
- They provide rapid evaluations and recommendations for patients.
- They are trained to de-escalate situations and provide crisis intervention.
- They work closely with other Emergency Department personnel to ensure a coordinated approach to patient care.
- By providing specialized care within the Emergency Department, they help to reduce the time patients spend waiting for mental health consults.
- Their expertise in mental health can lead to better outcomes for patients.
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPECIALIST
The Program
Contracted: $30,000
Funds Spent: 100%
Intervention Program
Serves all Emergency Department patients in Summit County
The Data
Unique participants
Individual service deliveries
The Why
Ensure coordinated and comprehensive approaches that connect individuals and provide care management that may mitigate negative outcomes
Build strong care management programs that allow for step-up and step-down services that ensures transitions of care are successfully coordinated for Summit County Residents.
Mile High Behavioral Healthcare
Adolescent Enhanced Outpatient Program
The Mile High Behavioral Healthcare Adolescent Enhanced Outpatient Program is a flexible and supportive option for teens struggling with mental health or substance use issues, offering a structured, community-based treatment approach that integrates individual therapy, group therapy, and other evidence-based practices.
It allows adolescents to receive treatment while maintaining their daily lives and responsibilities. The program aims to foster healthy relationships, encourage authentic expression, build support systems, and promote a sense of community.
- The program is designed to be accessible and convenient, allowing teens to receive treatment while living at home or in the community.
- The program fosters a sense of community through activities and initiatives that encourage connection.
- The Summit Wellness Hub offers services through two organizations- Mile High Behavioral Healthcare and Porch Light Health. Services include: Outpatient behavioral health services, Case management, Peer support, Medication Assisted Treatment, Psychiatric medication management, Harm reduction- syringe access program, and food pantry access.
ADOLESCENT PROGRAM
The Program
Contracted: $55,835
Spent: 97%
Treatment Program
Serves Summit County Adolescents; High acuity population
The Data
Unique Participants
Sessions completed
The Why
Treatment and Clinical Services
Expanded availability of outpatient intensive treatment programs to address serious mental health and substance use disorders. Separate programs for adults and youth
Enhanced outpatient services that includes intensive care management services
WELLNESS HUB OPERATIONS
The Program
Contracted: $350,000
Spent: 99%
Treatment Program
Serves all ages and demographics and specialise with vulnerable populations of youth, LGBTQ+, and substance use
The Data
Unique Participants
Sessions completed
The Why
Treatment and Clinical Services
Community recovery and reintegration services post hospitalisation
Creating services that address both mental health and substance use
Enhanced outpatient services that includes intensive care management services
Porch Light Health
Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
At Porch Light Health, the focus is on providing compassionate, evidence-based care to help individuals break free from the grip of addiction. They understand that each person’s journey is unique, and they tailor their treatment approach to meet the specific needs and goals of each individual.
For individuals seeking addiction treatment in Colorado, Porch Light Health offers comprehensive MAT services. Their team of experienced healthcare professionals provides personalized treatment plans that include medication management, counseling, and support for individuals on their recovery journey.
MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT
The Program
Contracted: $24,408
Spent: 100%
Treatment Program
Specialization in substance use services
The Data
Unique participants
Individual service deliveries
The Why
Treatment and Clinical Services
Enhanced Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Services
Creating services that address both mental health and substance use
Wild Nature Wellness
Wild Youth Passages
Wild Youth Passages (WYP), a program offered by Wild Nature Wellness, utilizes nature-based experiential therapy to help teens with mental health challenges. The program focuses on fostering emotional regulation, social skills, healthy communication, and resilience through outdoor activities and retreats. It also aims to deepen the participants’ connection with nature, believing that this relationship is crucial for healing and building resilience.
- The program leverages the therapeutic benefits of being in nature.
- Participants engage in hands-on activities like hiking, gardening, and nature retreats.
- The program helps teens develop resilience by encouraging them to face challenges, build self-esteem, and connect with the natural world.
- Group activities and retreats provide opportunities for teens to connect with peers.
Women’s Resiliency Dialectical Behavior Therapy Group
- Weekly therapy support group where women and non-binary individuals receive DBT skills and concepts as well as group support and coaching for application of the skills/concepts to their specific life challenges.
- Free transportation from local bus stops is provided when needed to increase accessibility of programming for all as this can be a barrier for some low-income individuals in the county. This group tends to serve individuals with complex trauma and personality disorder challenges. These women do not have other places to go to receive weekly high-level evidence-based group support.
WILD YOUTH PASSAGES
The Program
Contracted: $44,949
Spent: 81%
Treatment Program
Serving high risk teens ages 13-18 years old in Summit County
The Data
Unique participants
Sessions - ranging from 2 to 15 hour retreat days in duration
The Why
Treatment and Clinical Services
Expanded availability of outpatient intensive treatment programs to address serious mental health and substance use disorders. Separate programs for adults and youth.
Implement effective series of suicide prevention programs to support existing continuum of services in community and school.
WOMEN’S RESILIENCY DIALECTICAL BEHAVIOR THERAPY GROUP
The Program
Contracted: $44,949
Spent: 81%
Treatment Program
Serving high risk teens ages 13-18 years old in Summit County
The Data
Unique participants
Service deliveries
Group Sessions
Intakes completed
The Why
Treatment and Clinical Services
Expanded availability of outpatient intensive treatment programs to address serious mental health and substance use disorders. Separate programs for adults and youth.
Develop Support Program for Individuals with Persistent Mental Illness
To find more information about the Strong Future Initiative from Summit County Government
Application information to come for 2026 funding.
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