Five things to know:
1. Launched on July 1, the behavioral health administration is a state agency within the Colorado Department of Human Services. It is led by Morgan Medlock, MD, as well as deputy commissioners Summer Gathercole and Jaimie Shaff.
2. The agency’s workforce development strategy officer, Wendy Simmerman, aims to release a plan to improve the mental health worker pipeline by Sept. 1, according to the report. The plan is expected to be ready for immediate implementation. The agency will release a strategic vision by December.
3. Dr. Medlock’s initial priorities include partnering with the division of insurance to set the bar for behavioral health services quality standards in the workplace and launch a program to help businesses introduce or expand employee behavioral health access and services.
4. The behavioral health administration also aims to partner with community mental health centers, primary care centers, managed service organizations and consumers in communities that are often demographically excluded from mental wellbeing services, according to the report.
5. The behavioral health administration plans to hire up to 350 full-time employees by June 2024, Dr. Medlock told the Journal. It will soon announce additional positions including chief data officer, division director of statewide programs and division director of strategy.
