In a statement called Colorado Course Corrections, The Equitas Project has called for an urgent and immediate shift in awareness, and rebalancing of effort and investment across multiple stakeholders who share accountability for the health and safety of all Coloradans.
The statement was signed by legal and mental health professionals from across the state including ColoradoSPH's Jenn Leiferman, director the Population Mental Health and Wellbeing program and associate professor of community and behavioral health.
The list of priorities for Colorado Course Corrections 2019 features:
- Investing in early childhood mental health awareness and support in schools
- Implementing a world-class addiction, pain management, and mental health treatment system
- Increasing access to medication assisted treatment programs for addiction
- Expanding the use of psychiatric advance directives
- Redirecting people toward health care and minimizing arrests
- Ending the use of jails for drug and alcohol detox
The list of other organizations who joined ColoradoSPH in signing includes:
Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council
Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Division of Housing
Colorado Mental Wellness Network
Denver District Attorney’s Office
Denver FIRST
Disability Law Colorado
Drug Policy Alliance
Healthier Colorado
Jefferson Center for Mental Health
Mental Health Center of Denver
Mental Health Colorado
Mind Springs Health
Office of the Colorado State Public Defender
Second Chance Center
Southeast Health Group
Read the entire statement on the The Equitas Project website.
February 27, 2024