SUMMIT COUNTY, Colorado — Since its inception nearly a decade ago, the Summit County mental health nonprofit, Building Hope, has made a significant impact by providing scholarships for therapy sessions to those who couldn’t afford them, totaling over 5,000 therapy sessions. The organization has been focused on supporting adolescents and adults, but Building Hope’s executive director, Kellyn Ender, announced plans to pivot and place more attention on the mental health needs of young children.
At a Breckenridge Town Council meeting on February 25, Ender shared the results of an internal analysis that highlighted a gap in services for younger children. She noted that while Building Hope has effectively assisted middle and high school students, there is a need to enhance support for younger age groups. “We need more play therapists, and we need more family support, parenting support, things like that for those younger folks … we have gaps in that sort of system,” Ender explained.
Plans for Expansion: Identifying Needs and Filling Gaps
The next steps for Building Hope involve a collaborative approach with Summit County and other local organizations. The group plans to put out a request for information to better understand what mental health programs are already available for young children, as well as to assess the funding opportunities for these programs. One of the key elements in strengthening local mental health services will be financial support for small, local mental health providers, who make up the majority of mental health professionals in the area.
Building Hope has already taken steps to bolster the local mental health infrastructure. The nonprofit distributed 119 grants to local therapists and peer professionals, which have gone toward professional development, licensing supervision, paid internships, and peer-led support groups. These efforts are designed to improve the capacity of providers and address issues like insurance access—a significant challenge for local providers.
“We’ve worked with credentialing programs and third-party billing services to help providers not only accept insurance but also streamline their billing practices,” Ender said, noting that these changes have led to improvements in care accessibility and provider capacity.
Addressing Gaps in Bilingual Mental Health Care
Despite these successes, there remain significant gaps in mental health care, particularly bilingual services. To address this, Building Hope is working to attract more providers to the area and expand telehealth options. These efforts are aimed at ensuring that everyone in the community, regardless of their language or location, has access to the mental health support they need.
Success in Middle and High School Services
While the focus is shifting toward younger children, Building Hope has already had positive outcomes in supporting middle and high schoolers. Through partnerships with organizations like Mile High Behavioral Healthcare, Vail Health Behavioral Health, and Summit Community Care Clinic, the nonprofit has been able to provide peer support and substance abuse services.
A survey conducted over the past few years showed a significant decrease in emotional distress among Summit High School students. The percentage of students reporting extended periods of sadness or hopelessness dropped from 30% to 20% between 2019 and 2023. Furthermore, excessive alcohol use among students also declined by about 20% during that time.
However, Ender acknowledged that while the data showed progress in these areas, more work is needed to understand substance use patterns, particularly regarding any potential shifts in the types of substances being used by the youth.
New Partnership with Paragon Behavioral Health Connections
In addition to its local efforts, Building Hope has partnered with Paragon Behavioral Health Connections, a mobile crisis response program that provides immediate support to individuals in need. Unlike Summit County’s SMART (System-wide Mental Assessment Response Team), which often involves law enforcement, Paragon’s program focuses on providing support without necessarily involving police.
Ender explained that Paragon operates using an integrated technology platform to offer urgent assistance to individuals across the state, both in rural and urban areas. Paragon’s team works in tandem with fire departments or paramedics when needed, responding to crises that come through the national 988 crisis hotline.
One of the most beneficial aspects of Paragon’s approach is its community stabilization program, which allows the organization to continue working with clients for two to three weeks after a crisis, providing ongoing care and wraparound services, particularly for adolescents.
Moving Forward
As Building Hope looks ahead, its shift in focus towards supporting younger children is a critical part of its mission to provide comprehensive mental health services across all age groups. With continued community support and strategic partnerships, the organization aims to address the mental health needs of Summit County’s most vulnerable populations, ensuring that no one is left behind in receiving the care they need.
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