SUMMARY
Providing a continuum of housing and services for behavioral health treatment and recovery to clients in western Colorado, referred by the Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health, Bridges of Colorado, and competency dockets for out-of-custody competency restoration.
BACKGROUND
The lack of residential beds for programming to support behavioral health treatment and recovery presents a significant challenge to out-of-custody competency evaluation and restoration. Many defendants remain in custody during the competency process because releasing them, without a stable place to live, would not be conducive to positive restoration outcomes, and may exacerbate behavioral health conditions. Temporary, or transitional housing, of the type that would benefit a justice-involved population, is a resource gap statewide but particularly on the western slope. Ava Health presents an opportunity to meet this need.
ELEMENTS
Providing residential-based treatment and recovery services along a continuum of care, including: sub-acute stabilization and detox, partial hospitalization, residential competency restoration, intensive outpatient treatment, case management, and peer recovery support coaching.
PROGRAM STAFF
Fines Committee funding supports several staff positions to provide the program elements listed above.
CAPACITY
124 clients at a time when full capacity is reached, including 48 transitional housing beds
ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES
Increase in access to residential behavioral healthcare on the western slope; decrease in individuals who require admittance to the state hospital for competency restoration; decrease in time to reach competency outcome.
STANDOUT ASPECTS
This program is establishing a co-located integrated program serving clients along a continuum of care in a rural area of the state. Ava Health's philosophy is redefining what it means to work in and provide behavioral healthcare, with the intent of transforming the system by being trauma-informed, outcomes-driven, and human-first.
FUNDING
$5,774,934 for five years