Public health seeks regional funding to launch Credible Mind behavioral-health platform for West Central Public Health Partnership

Public Health Director Kristen Kelly urged the Board to support a regional behavioral-health outreach and prevention platform based on the Credible Mind product (branded locally) and proposed that Ouray County lead a West Central Public Health Partnership effort covering six counties.

Kelly said Credible Mind’s platform (described to the BOCC as “Behavioral Health 360”) provides vetted, evidence-based self-help tools, anonymous or account-based assessments, and the ability to highlight local resources and events through a community calendar. She said the platform is already used by larger jurisdictions; El Paso County (Colorado) and Denton County (Texas) were cited as examples of local customization and partnership approaches the county could emulate.

Kelly told the board the quoted initial cost for licensing and customization was $17,500 for the first year (a $2,000 one-time customization fee, $13,000 annual licensing fee and $2,500 for Spanish translation). She also stated later in the presentation that a two-year cost estimate in her working spreadsheet came to $115,800; staff acknowledged that figure in the meeting and the discrepancy remains to be clarified. Kelly said Credible Mind can be customized and launched in about three weeks, and the platform would provide anonymized usage data to guide future outreach priorities.

Kelly said the West Central Public Health Partnership (Hinsdale, Ouray, San Miguel, Montrose, Delta and Gunnison counties) signaled willingness to back the project provided Ouray County take the lead. She asked the BOCC for direction and noted the grant application (for Work funding) deadline was imminent (the grant application due the week of the meeting, with one comment that it was due on Friday). Commissioners and staff discussed procurement requirements, the desirability of including consultant or contractor funding to stand up the platform and perform outreach, and the risks of hiring a grant-funded part-time county employee in a rural labor market.

Commissioners recommended applying for grant funding while remaining flexible on procurement: either submit the grant with platform cost estimates and perform procurement if awarded, or complete a front-end informal bid for procurement before applying. County attorney and procurement staff advised that purchases above county procurement thresholds may require written quotes or formal RFPs and that grant applications should avoid sole-source commitments unless the procurement rules support sole-source justification.

On governance and operations, Kelly recommended the platform be housed in public health to provide broad population coverage and allow cross-sector partners (hospitals, behavioral-health providers, peer groups, RSA/Cedar Point Health, Tri-County, ACCESS and faith/community groups) to highlight services and events. Commissioners suggested phasing (trial period/contractor-led setup followed by potential staff hire if sustained), exploring Region 10 or other regional partners for capacity building, and using a consultant or contractor to set up the platform and perform outreach for an initial two-year trial period if grant funding allows.

Kelly said West Central partners indicated interest in co-developing a shared platform and that other regions using Credible Mind report positive uptake when tied to local outreach. No formal funding decision or contract award took place; Kelly will proceed with the grant submission and follow procurement rules if awarded.

Ending: Staff recommended applying for the grant with flexible procurement language, exploring contractor support if funding is awarded, and returning to the BOCC with a procurement plan and any required budget or staffing implications if the grant is successful.