Our Story (Behavioral Health)

Welcome to Behavioral Health Services! The goal of our department is to facilitate quality mental health care to meet the needs of our community members through access to affordable and appropriate behavioral health care.

In 2018, Larimer County voters passed a sales tax increase of .25% dedicated to Larimer County Behavioral Health Services. The ballot language presented a 2-pronged, local solution:

Expanded & enriched local behavioral health services across the County.
Construction of a behavioral health facility to help coordinate integrated services.

Funding Pathways

BHS reinvests funding back into the community through two funding pathways:

Behavioral Health Services at Longview Campus - Construction was completed in September 2023 on the new behavioral health facility, ACUTE CARE, located on the NW corner of Trilby Road and Taft Hill Road. Services are provided by SummitStone Health Partners.
Impact Fund Grant Program - An annual grant program that funds behavioral health services and programs serving Larimer County community members.

2022 Financials

The 2022 revenue for Larimer County Behavioral Health Services is the direct result of the ballot initiative. Revenue generated also funded the grant program and the planning and design of the new behavioral health facility. The department holds a cumulative fund balance that will be directed to the construction of the facility and will allow the County to build the facility without incurring debt.

Shall Larimer County taxes be increased $19,000,000 dollars annually (estimated first fiscal year dollar increase in 2019) and by whatever additional amount as may be raised annually thereafter, for a period of 20 years by the imposition of a .25% (25 cents on $100 dollars) sales and use tax with all revenue from such tax to be used in accordance with the Board of County Commissioners Resolution # 07242018R013 for the following Mental/Behavioral Health care purposes:

Provide preventative, early identification, intervention, support, and treatment services for youth, adults, families and senior citizens, either directly or indirectly, who are residents of Larimer County including Berthoud, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Johnstown, Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, Windsor and rural communities of Larimer County through in-person and other delivery methods, which may include tele-services, community based services and other service options and;
Acquire, construct, improve, maintain, lease, remodel, staff, equip, and operate new and/or existing mental/behavioral health facilities;

Further provided that an annual report shall be published and provided to the Board of County Commissioners on the designation or use of the revenues from the tax increase in the preceding calendar year consistent with its approved purposes.

Larimer County is a community that values and promotes behavioral health with a comprehensive and sustainable continuum of behavioral health care.

Responsibly investing in community-driven work to increase access to behavioral health services and improve outcomes for all Larimer County community members.

Enhance community-based services to shift from an acute- care model to a recovery-based model of care
Improve access to behavioral health services in both rural and urban areas
Promote emotional health and well-being
Reduce substance abuse
Reduce attempted and completed suicides
Reduce recidivism for individuals with unmet behavioral health issues

The Community Master Plan (CMP) for Behavioral Health is a five-year strategic plan for creating opportunities that address behavioral health needs and improve the quality of life for community members.

2018 Community Master Plan for Behavioral Health

This second iteration of the Community Master Plan builds off the progress from the 2018 report which identified priorities for behavioral health, with a new acute care facility being the most crucial missing need in Larimer County.

This report highlights the opportunity for cross-sector partnerships and collaboration to address the complex behavioral health needs across the continuum of care. We encourage you to share this plan with your networks and to build relationships to address the gaps in care identified in this report.

Community Master Plan 2.0: Executive Summary

Community Master Plan 2.0: Full Report

Plan maestro comunitario para la salud conductual: Resumen Ejecutivo

Plan maestro comunitario para la salud conductual