DENVER (July 10, 2023) — The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) announced the first Mental Health Transitional Living (MHTL) Homes will open in September 2023. Fifty-two beds will open in four phases at the Sequoia Cares Partners, LLC facilities in Denver.
This partnership is a result of House Bill 22-1303, which tasked CDHS with developing transitional homes where Coloradans with mental health conditions who don’t meet the criteria for inpatient hospitalization and may not be able to live independently in the community, can receive treatment at an appropriate level of care. Clients may stay as long as necessary for stabilization with an ultimate goal of reintegrating clients successfully in the community.
"These homes will fill a necessary gap and provide more Coloradans the support they need in the right setting," said Bonnie Wright, director of the Mental Health Transitional Living Homes. “We are creating a system that supports treatment and care in the community."
These homes provide an added layer of services within CDHS's behavioral health continuum of care. In September, the first 12 beds will open, with more coming online in November 2023 and March and May of next year. This is one part of a two-pronged strategy where the department will work with private facilities awarded through a competitive solicitation, like Sequoia Cares Partners, LLC, to operate some of the homes. The state will operate additional homes in Pueblo and Westminster, for a total of 125 beds.
"Our team has tremendous experience and is very vested in helping Colorado residents with mental health needs to succeed in the community," notes Chirag Shah, CEO of Sequoia Cares. "We look forward to partnering with Bonnie and her team to assure that the MHTL program and our shared clients are successful in the coming months."
To learn more about the homes and stay up-to-date on openings and other news, visit the Mental Health Transitional Living Homes web page.
Mental Health Transitional Living (MHTL) Homes are part of a new program that will provide an added layer of services within the Colorado Department of Human Services' behavioral health continuum of care. These homes, which are run by the Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health, will be used as a transition to a less restrictive setting for individuals with severe mental health conditions. Clients may stay as long as necessary for stabilization with an ultimate goal of reintegrating clients successfully in the community. The focus is to provide continued support with social and life skills development, as well as assistance with other daily life activities based on the client’s individual needs.
Media contact:
Jordan Saenz (Johnson)
Communications Manager
jordan.johnson@state.co.us
720.355.3657