The Colorado Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) is initiating a comprehensive effort to understand and make recommendations to enhance the state’s behavioral health crisis response system following the passage of Senate Bill 25-042, the "Behavioral Health Crisis Response Recommendations". Signed into law in March 2025, this legislation aims to identify model programs in crisis responses and close critical funding gaps to , increasing access to care, and improve public safety.
Central to this work is a mandate for the DCJ to collaborate with stakeholders to identify and publicize "model programs" at all region types (i.e., rural, urban, and suburban)—. This data collection effort seeks to better understand how communities address behavioral health crises while identifying successful frameworks and the resources needed to sustain them.
To ensure every voice is heard and every community is represented, the DCJ will host virtual focus groups. These sessions are designed to pinpoint what is working for communities, reimbursement shortages and discover new funding opportunities for programs serving individuals with behavioral health needs. The data collected will contribute to creating a map of successful models for other communities to replicate, test, and grow.
Completion of the Behavioral Health Crisis Response Collaboration Form will assist the DCJ in identifying participants for focus groups and understanding the unique roles of different stakeholders.
Input is essential from the following partners:
- Communities with existing resources and programs
- Comprehensive community behavioral health providers
- Essential behavioral health safety net providers that provide crisis services
- Local programs relevant to communities including family resource centers, domestic violence programs, substance use treatment providers, and independent clinicians or qualified unlicensed professionals
- Pediatric health care provider
- Law enforcement
- Fire protection
- EMS/State Emergency Medical and Trauma Services Advisory Council
- Anyone else involved in providing services to those with behavioral health needs
To participate, direct interest and inquiries to crisisresponsedata@state.co.us