Rural treatment provider Hope in the Valley outlines continuum of care and scholarship fund to reduce access barriers

Tammy Valentine, clinical director of Hope in the Valley, told the Agriculture Behavioral Health Working Group on Jan. 27 that the Alamosa‑based nonprofit offers a full continuum of care — medically assisted detox and 24/7 withdrawal management, a 30‑day residential program, partial hospitalization (about 20 hours per week), an intensive outpatient program (three hours a day, three days a week) and outpatient counseling — and that most step‑down services are available by telehealth.

"Wetreat people, and we're working with them from wherever they come from," Valentine said, describing a trauma‑informed, culturally responsive approach targeted to agricultural communities. She emphasized that resilience alone does not replace access to mental‑health care and stressed that rural isolation, seasonal work and financial pressures raise suicide and substance‑use risks.

Why it matters: rural counties in Colorado face higher suicide and substance‑use burdens and limited local services, the presenters said. Valentine told the group that suicide rates in some rural areas have risen "nearly 46 percent over two decades," and that migrant and seasonal farmworkers face added language, cultural and transportation barriers that make accessing care harder.

Valentine outlined practical steps Hope in the Valley is taking to reduce barriers. The center is building bilingual clinical capacity, offering telehealth options for PHP, IOP and outpatient counseling, and developing a scholarship fund to cover treatment‑cost gaps for people with high deductibles or no insurance. "If they don't have insurance, we can pull from the scholarship fund," she said.

The provider said it sources most food locally through Valley Meat for its residential programs, is working to add a nutrition‑education group to outpatient programming, and plans volunteer placements and community partnerships so clients can engage in local agriculture as part of recovery. Valentine said the facility maintains an active alumni program and evening community meetings to support long‑term recovery.

Panel members asked operational questions: Sonia (Colorado Department of Agriculture) asked what to search for online; Valentine said Hope in the Valley can be found at hopeincolorado.org. Richard Harland (Ute Mountain Ute Tribe) reported earlier referrals to the center had been processed quickly and praised its transportation assistance.

Valentine also described efforts to make scheduling flexible around agricultural seasons, noting that spring and harvest periods require adapted appointment times and outreach. She asked agricultural leaders to support stigma reduction, local partnerships and small contributions to the scholarship fund.

Next steps: Hope in the Valley is hosting a community symposium on March 27 in Monte Vista and will circulate registration and promotional materials to working‑group members. The provider asked the group to share referrals and local contacts to help extend outreach into rural counties.

Contact information provided during the meeting: hopeincolorado.org and follow‑up via the meeting chat.