Director's Corner
It feels as though the rate of change is accelerating for all of us. We face an exciting year ahead as we launch an outpatient office in Windsor, enhance our residential substance use disorder programs, work with Northeast Health Partners to implement the Regional Accountable Entity Region 2 for Health First (Medicaid) members, and look for more opportunities to integrate behavioral healthcare with physical health providers. This issue of our newsletter highlights our current integrated care partnerships, which are critical to providing care when and where people need it.
The new year is off to a great start: we are already realizing our hope of a deeper involvement with law enforcement and other first responders to decriminalize mental health and get people to the right level of care more quickly. Read below for more information on this great opportunity.
2018 promises to be full of change, challenges, and opportunities. In the midst of that change, I’m proud of the day-in, day-out work done by our staff who keep their eyes on the goal of providing quality, compassionate care to our clients and the communities we serve.
Happy New Year,
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- 68% of adults with a mental illness have one or more chronic physical conditions.
- More than 1 in 5 adults with a mental illness have a co-occurring substance use disorder.
- Adults with serious mental illness live 25 years less on average than the general population — a rate often attributed to high mortality from preventable conditions.
- Primary care settings (like a doctor's office) provide about half of all mental health care for common psychiatric disorders.
(Center for Integrated Health Care Solutions)
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Upcoming Events
District 6 8th Grade Career Fair
February 22nd
Mental Health First Aid
Click below to contact us and learn more.
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People with physical health problems may experience stress and emotional challenges. Those who experience emotional issues may develop physical illnesses, and it can be difficult to separate one from the other. These challenges are common, and can be difficult to handle on your own. Integrated physical and behavioral healthcare can help you lead a healthier, more satisfying life.
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"For far too long, we have separated physical and behavioral health. We have essentially separated the head from the body. By providing integrated care, we are treating the whole person, meeting all of their primary healthcare needs in one setting."
-Kendall Alexander, Administrative Director, North Range
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At North Range, we understand that physical and behavioral health are intertwined. With Sunrise Community Health, we were one of the first in the state to integrate physical and behavioral health. Our integrated care staff work here at North Range, in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in Weld County, as well as in a Greeley medical clinic. By providing access to behavioral healthcare in primary care settings (and vice versa), we provide quality care to individuals of all ages and their unique needs. We provide services to young children, new moms, pregnant women, people struggling with substance use disorder, and individuals who have common behavioral health challenges.
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North Range and Sunrise - Working Together to Improve and Deliver High-Quality Service and Lower Costs:
"Sunrise patients and team members are ever so grateful for our partnership with North Range Behavioral Health. Our collaborative integrated care model is unique and links medical, dental, and behavioral health services in the most efficient way possible. By leveraging each partner's skills, strengths, and resources, patients are better able to access a wide breadth and depth of services. No matter the entry point, a patient will be linked with the full spectrum of North Range or Sunrise services via this partnership. This significantly increases a patient's ability to get the right care at the right time and place for the right cost."
-Mitzi Moran, CEO, Sunrise Community Health
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"Salud's collaboration with North Range has been very solid, and the value of our integrated care is multifaceted. A patient experiencing a behavioral health concern is most likely to present to their primary care doctor. They may be anxious and not know where to turn, they may confuse symptoms of behavioral health issues for physical ailments, or they may be able to recognize a behavioral health issue for what it is and need more help to manage it. Real-time access and referral helps reduce wait times and meets their needs quickly. Our work in integrated care also helps combat stigma. By introducing ourselves as a part of a patient's care team, we can help normalize behavioral health as a part of one's overall care."
-Jonathan Muther, Ph.D., Director of Behavioral Health and Psychology, Salud
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Integrated care in Weld County is a collaboration between a local Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and North Range Behavioral Health, the Community Mental Health Center. FQHCs are community-based healthcare providers that provide primary care services in underserved areas, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program. The requirements for an FQHC are rigorous and involve regulations about charging for care and patient representation on a governing board, to name a few.
Sunrise and Salud are both FQHCs, and North Range is proud to have excellent relationships with both. In North Range buildings, you will find Sunrise medical staff, and in Sunrise and Salud locations, it is easy to access behavioral health in tandem with the physical health services provided by these centers.
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Learn more about Health Centers here.
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It's hard to get through a day without getting advice about health and wellness. Every time we turn on our morning news shows, open the newspaper, or check out our Facebook newsfeed, we get tips and tricks to keep our diets or exercis e plan on track. And, when we're at the doctor, we hear about the importance of lowering our blood pressure and cholesterol and scheduling regular screenings. But, more often than not, these moments reflect concerns about physical health, and we rarely recognize or discuss the importance of staying mentally fit as well as physically fit.
The mind and the body regulate each other. When we exercise, our minds benefit from a release of chemicals that help ease sadness and anxiety. Similarly, when we experience depression, we often feel aches and fatigue in our bodies. Most people know that they should see a doctor when they are experiencing physical ailments, but they may not know that there could be a correlation between their physical conditions and their mental health. Men in particular often miss this connection.
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North Range is proud to be a part of a recent grant awarded to 12 communities in Colorado by the Department of Human Services. These grants will allow local law enforcement teams to work with behavioral health professionals to de-escalate situations. Law enforcement and behavioral health professions will respond as a team to intervene when a call is related to mental health. This effort will complement our work as part of the North Colorado Health Alliance Community Action Collaborative.
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Read the story in the Greeley Tribune and the press release from the Colorado Department of Human Services.
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 In November, Shawna Cranmer, one of our Respite Peer Specialists, joined five other brave local storytellers in an annual Greeley event called “Do Tell.” She spoke to a packed house at the UCCC (Union Colony Civic Center) Hensel Phelps theater about her recovery journey through teenage motherhood, domestic violence, the justice system, and substance use disorder – and, ultimately, how she has found herself through helping others. Her poise and strength was evident and touching to all.
Thank you, Shawna, for sharing your story so bravely. We are proud to have you on our team.
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 The International Center for Clubhouse Development (ICCD) sanctions clubhouse model programs all over the world. Frontier House recently underwent a certification review – a thorough assessment of how well a Clubhouse meets evidenced-based standards for the model. Frontier House did so well, they had no recommendations for improvement. Way to go, Frontier House!
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Weld County recently implemented Text-To-911 services. This provides an alternative way to contact 911 in an emergency when calling is not the safest form of communication or is not an option. Learn more about the program and how to use it here.
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