Colorado JR07-1050 Behavioral Health Task Force
Client
The Colorado Legislature
Funder
The Colorado Health Foundation, The Colorado Department of Human Services, Behavioral Health Services, and Peer Assistance Services, Inc.
Stakeholders
Policy-Makers; Mental Health Providers; State and County Departments of Health, Human Services, Health Care Policy and Financing; Health & Mental Health Advocacy Organizations; Family Organizations
Description
In 2007, the Colorado Legislature passed a resolution requiring a taskforce to examine and make recommendations on how to increase coordination, streamline, and maximization of funding for the behavioral health system. The Center for Systems Integration coordinated this high visibility Task Force's presentations, and engaged in the research for and writing of the report and recommendations.
Task Force members include a representative of the Governor's Office, three members of the Colorado House of Representatives, three members of the Colorado State Senate, and representatives from key departments of state government. These departments are: Human Services; Health Care Policy and Financing; Public Health and Environment; Corrections; Public Safety; Education; and Law. In addition, the Task Force has created three subcommittees to assist it in meeting its charge. They are: Program; Budget and Funding; and Streamline and Coordinate Services.
A final report was presented to the Health and Human Services Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives by January 31st, 2008, regarding any findings and legislative recommendations.
Task Force Members:
- Representative Anne McGihon, Chair; House of Representatives
- Senator Betty Boyd, Vice-Chair; Senate
- Senator Bob Hagedorn, Vice-Chair; Senate
- Senator Tom Wiens; Senate
- Representative Debbie Stafford; House of Representatives
- Representative Jeanne Labuda; House of Representatives
- Cynthia Honssinger Coffman; Office of the Attorney General
- Tom Dillingham; Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health ~ Colorado Chapter
- Joan Henneberry / Ginny Brown; Health Care Policy and Financing
- Leslie Herod; Office of the Governor
- Joanie Shoemaker, Department of Corrections
- Jeanne Smith; Department of Public Safety
- Ed Steinberg; Department of Education
- Karen Trierweiler; Department of Public Health and Environment
- Janet Wood; Department of Human Services
Products
Prepared by CSI and NPM Consulting, the JR07-1050 Behavioral Health Task Force Report is the culmination of the legislative Task Force’s look at the behavioral health system in Colorado’s state government, including recommendations to the legislature to coordinate and streamline the system.

