DENVER (Oct. 22, 2024) — The Colorado Department of Human Services is marking a milestone birthday for the Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo this week. This celebration will highlight staff commitment and recent successes at the hospital, as well as mark 145 years of service to the State of Colorado.
The hospital opened Oct. 23, 1879, serving 11 patients with fewer than 50 employees; today, it is the fourth-largest hospital in the state. It is also one of the largest psychiatric hospitals in the country, with almost 1,100 employees — including doctors, nurses, health care techs, social workers, nutrition services staff, housekeeping, maintenance, public safety, administrators and more.
“I am extremely proud of the high-quality, people-first care that administrators and staff provide at the state mental health hospital,” said CDHS Executive Director Michelle Barnes. “Thanks to their dedication and compassion, CDHS is able to fulfill its mission to support the whole person, family and community.”
On Wednesday, CDHS will celebrate that commitment to care during a special 145th anniversary event, honoring staff and administrators at the hospital in Pueblo.
“Our important work caring for and treating people with severe mental illness would not be possible without the dedication of our amazing staff,” said Leora Joseph, director of the Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health, which oversees the hospital. “Many of our staff come from a long line of generational employees whose family members also worked at the hospital. We are so proud of the strong connection the hospital has with the city of Pueblo and surrounding neighborhoods.”
Today, more than 130 staff have at least 20 years of service dedicated to the hospital. That includes Herb Brockman (pictured), who will be recognized during the celebration. Brockman has worked at the hospital for 51 years, making him the longest-serving State of Colorado employee. Currently, he works in the Quality Management Department, which oversees the quality of care provided to patients.
Seven employees in the hospital’s kitchen have more than 20 years of service. The kitchen serves nearly 1.7 million meals a year, with 110,000 meals being donated to the Pueblo Community Soup Kitchen in 2023. These employees represent consistent dedication and compassion to their patients, as well as the community of Pueblo.
Wednesday’s event will also celebrate how staff contributed to the hospital’s recent accomplishments. In August, the Joint Commission awarded the Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo the Gold Seal of Approval and stated: “It really does take a team to work with that population, and you have a great team. Every different discipline is involved in care. All of the staff we interacted with were impressive.”
To learn more about the Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo, visit the hospital’s museum, which is one of the last original buildings on campus. At the request of Bob and Nell Mitchell, work on the museum began in 1984 and gained National Register of Historic Places status in 1985. The Mitchells, with the help of volunteers, have been dedicated to the historic preservation of the building and the hospital’s history since its opening in 1998.
Learn more about the hospital and explore current job opportunities.
The Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo (CMHHIP) is a 516-bed acute care psychiatric hospital that provides inpatient behavioral health services for adults, adolescents and geriatric patients. CMHHIP is a forensic hospital that serves individuals with pending criminal charges who require evaluations of competency, individuals who have been found to be incompetent to proceed (restoration treatment) and individuals found to be not guilty by reason of insanity by Colorado's criminal courts.
Media contact:
Stephanie Fredrickson, Communications Manager
719.320.2266
stephanie.fredrickson@state.co.us