Behavioral Health Solutions panel reviews 2024 grants, proposes 2025 allocations; panel recommends Tri County contract be finalized and published

The San Miguel County Behavioral Health Solutions Advisory Panel presented its 2024 activity and the panel’s proposed 2025 budget to the Board of Commissioners Dec. 5, summarizing grants, provider contracts and community programs funded by the county mill levy that supports mental‑health and substance‑use services.

What was presented • Program mix: Panel administrator Carrie (Tri County) summarized grants and contracts that fund clinic positions (Telluride Regional Medical Center, Uncompahgre/Access Health), school‑based counseling, community nonprofit grants (victim services, grief groups, community conversations) and the Behavioral Health Fund — a scholarship program that reduces therapy costs for people who live or work in the county. • Behavioral Health Fund: The fund’s 2024 allocation was $230,000; demand has been high and the panel closed applications once promised commitments hit that amount. Tri County said unused 2024 promise money will be rolled to 2025 to boost next year’s balance. • Youth Fund: The panel launched a youth‑specific fund in 2024; in 2024 the youth program briefly offered unlimited sessions but the panel said unlimited sessions are unlikely to be sustainable and 2025 will likely limit scholarships (six‑ or 12‑session packages). • Grants: 2024 recipients included Telluride Regional Medical Center (integrated behavioral health hires and supervision), Telluride School District (MTSS/behavior coordinator), the Mountain School (school counselor), Raíces y Fronteras (bilingual outreach), Samuel (victim services), Gathering Grief and Tri County Health Network (trainings and navigators). A Katz Amsterdam Foundation award of roughly $100,000 was announced for local mental‑health programming.

RFP and administration • Consolidated contract: The panel and staff ran a request for proposals that combined three previous administrative contracts; the panel recommended Tri County Health Network for the consolidated contract covering panel administration, the Behavioral Health Fund and navigation services. The board did not sign the contract that day; staff and Tri County will finalize language and bring the contract to the next regular consent agenda for formal signature.

Commissioner questions and next steps • Commissioners asked for clearer tracking of unmet demand when the Behavioral Health Fund (or the youth fund) closes so the board and funders can see how many applicants were turned away. • Panel leaders said they would return with final contract language, the reconciled 2024 fund balance, and a proposed 2025 grant list for the commissioners’ review.

Ending: Commissioners thanked the panel and Tri County staff for convening partners and asked finance and panel staff to publish a brief budget brochure and an explanation of the year’s methodological changes in the county budget documents.