This piece was co-authored by Jessica Casebolt and Mindy Klowden
Denver Health was established in 1860 in Denver, Colorado, to meet community health care needs. Since then, it has become the state’s primary safety-net health system, delivering billions of dollars in uncompensated care and serving as a national model for other safety-net systems. In 2023, Denver Health provided over $140 million in uncompensated care alone.
Denver Health’s Behavioral Health Services (BHS) includes mental health and addiction teams that specialize in treating a broad range of behavioral, emotional, and substance use disorders across all age groups. Denver Health BHS offers comprehensive therapy and programs for mental health challenges in both inpatient and outpatient settings, as well as community-based programs. The BHS department consists of about 750 employees who care for approximately 80,000 patients. The mission of Denver Health BHS is to provide care regardless of ability to pay, educate the next generation of clinicians, and promote scholarship that immediately benefits the community. Denver Health also provides correctional care and behavioral health services for justice-involved patients, as well as forensic psychiatry services.
Third Horizon Strategies (THS) has collaborated with the Denver Health BHS leadership team over the last three years to support several important initiatives. In 2022 and 2023, THS advised Denver Health in seeking to obtain a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) Planning, Development, and Implementation Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and provided individualized coaching on CCBHC implementation. THS also offered tailored coaching to support Denver Health throughout the CCBHC implementation process. Additionally, Denver Health engaged in a collaborative learning effort led by THS, aimed at enhancing CCBHC implementation practices across participating organizations.
More recently, Denver Health BHS engaged THS for strategic consultation services to assess opportunities and define priorities for addressing the behavioral health needs of Denver residents. THS conducted a comprehensive review of behavioral health planning documents from the City and County of Denver, complemented by key informant interviews with Denver Health leaders. These efforts provided qualitative insights into navigating the regulatory and political landscape and understanding the evolving behavioral health environment. THS also surveyed over 700 staff members at Denver Health to gather their perspectives on strategic priorities and opportunities to align BHS initiatives with the larger Denver Health strategic plan.
THS convened a strategic planning retreat for behavioral health leaders at Denver Health, presented the firm’s research findings, and facilitated a SWOT Analysis and prioritization exercises to determine strategies and goals. THS worked closely with the Denver Health BHS leadership team to develop a strategic plan aligned with Denver Health’s broader organizational goals. The plan outlines specific objectives, timelines, persons responsible, and an approach to community engagement, and incorporates equity considerations to ensure inclusive service delivery across Denver’s diverse populations. The work continues as THS supports BHS with ongoing advisory services to implement the strategic plan and navigate changes in the behavioral health landscape.
Working with THS has helped us be intentionally pro-active about what we do – as opposed to reacting to the problem of the day. With all the changes in health care financing and regulation post-COVID, it’s helpful to have this strategic plan to keep us on course.
THS is proud to work with mission-aligned organizations like Denver Health, who are improving access to high-quality behavioral health care. To learn more about Denver Health’s BHS visit https://www.denverhealth.org/services/behavioral-health.