Facilitators and working‑group members spent substantial time reflecting on the Ag Behavioral Health Summit and planning next steps for statewide outreach. Clinton Wilson and other members described positive feedback on networking and roundtables and proposed adjustments to increase producer participation, including rotating the summit across regions, hosting farmer socials at the summit venue, adding optional farm tours for providers, and partnering with county commissioners and Farm Bureau chapters to recruit champions in local communities.
Robert Secada (Colorado Department of Agriculture) told the group that the enabling legislation (SB) allocated $7,400 for a single in‑person summit this year and recommended that the work group consider outside funding if members want additional events. "The legislation only allocated $7,400 for a single in person summit," Secada said, noting the constraint and the possibility of supplementing that amount with outside support.
Rosie Scovern (CDA) briefed attendees on housekeeping changes: the group's charter now includes attendance stipulations and the team asked members to email proxy information 24 hours before meetings to ensure continuity. Members agreed to keep the monthly meeting time on the fourth Tuesday and Rosie said the dates would be posted on the group's calendar and website.
Regarding policy guidance, Scovern and Secada said the group's first legislative report had been finalized and sent to the governor's office; they also said future policy recommendations will require a more formal review process and documented votes before being included in official submissions.
What was decided and next steps: the working group agreed to continue the summit planning process, explore rotating locations and more aggressive outreach (CCI, county commissioners, FFA, extension and USDA field offices), and the communications subcommittee will meet to draft outreach plans. Rosie said the legislative report will be circulated to the full group during the follow‑up email so members can review what was submitted to the governor's office.