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Public health director reports new food-manager testing, expanded behavioral-health coverage and peer recovery coaching
Summary
San Juan County public-health staff reported they are proctoring state-certified food-manager exams locally, have expanded behavioral-health visits through salaried and per‑diem counselors, and hired a peer recovery coach using SWORD grant funds to connect residents to treatment.
San Juan County public-health staff told commissioners on June 11 that the county is now offering in-person, proctored food‑manager certification tests to save local restaurant operators travel time and expense, and that the county has expanded behavioral-health and substance‑use services using a mix of grant and county funds.
The public-health representative said the county began proctoring the state exam in May after training provided by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The proctored test is offered in English and Spanish, costs the state test fee rather than a higher commercial fee, and can be retaken on site. Staff estimate the local service has saved area restaurant owners roughly $1,500 so far by avoiding out‑of‑town travel and fees.
On clinical services, staff described a multi‑provider arrangement at the Silverton Clinic and a small, locally based practice staffed by two clinicians serving primary‑care and urgent needs. The county funds several behavioral‑health contractors on a per‑session basis and currently employs one full‑time counselor whose work is grant‑backed; that counselor reported about 60 client visits in a recent month and has handled crisis calls outside normal hours, officials said.
Substance‑use work: using a regional SWORD grant, public health preserved roughly $30,000 of a $41,300 award for direct treatment assistance and hired Mariah Reeves, a certified peer‑recovery coach who owns Pathways, on a part‑time contract. Staff reported Ms. Reeves is promoting peer recovery supports, has fielded several client contacts and is arranging stipend and voucher options modeled on other counties to help residents access out‑of‑area treatment.
County staff also discussed coordination with regional providers. Officials said Access (the regional behavioral‑health provider) has informed the county it will not provide direct services in San Juan County at this time, leaving the county to develop local alternatives and peer‑based support. Public-health staff said they will continue to network with other agencies and seek state or federal support if possible.
Public-health staff also briefed the board on measles surveillance and travel‑related risk: Colorado has recorded a recent cluster of cases, and county staff advised residents to confirm vaccination status and to rely on regional hospitals for testing because the county does not currently maintain testing supplies on site.
Staff raised construction and facilities topics related to an electrical system installation at the county hospital that could affect future utility costs. They asked the board to monitor utility expenses and compare them against coal or propane operations in coming months.
Why this matters: the county’s shift to local proctoring and the hiring of a peer recovery coach both aim to reduce barriers to services for residents — from compliance costs for small businesses to treatment access for people with substance‑use challenges. Commissioners asked staff to continue reporting service data and funding projections in coming months.
Next steps: staff will provide usage statistics for the food‑manager testing, continue to document behavioral‑health caseloads and follow up about potential regional funding partnerships.
