Behavioral Health Solutions Center

Behavioral Health Solutions Center

About

The Behavioral Health Solutions Center provides an innovative, treatment-focused, voluntary safe haven for adults experiencing a behavioral health crisis. Not open to the public, this 24/7 facility offers crisis stabilization services, temporary housing and ongoing assistance for mental health and substance misuse issues, as well as assistance in transitioning to community living.

Nearly one in six (15.3%) Colorado residents has reported needing mental health care, while in Denver, a 2019 survey showed that more than 94,000 residents, or 12.6% of the city’s population, reported not receiving help or counseling for mental health issues.

Denver’s response to these alarming insights was to commission a clear path forward for improving behavioral health outcomes, bringing together resources for all residents and creating systems and communities where people can be supported in their pursuit of optimal health. In January 2020, the City released Road to Wellness: A Strategic Framework to Improve Behavioral Health in Denver, a direct result of Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock’s call to action for a group of experts to be convened to review Denver's behavioral health needs.

The Road to Wellness inspired Empower Denver(PDF, 6MB), a behavioral health plan that builds on Denver’s large existing network of services, systems and providers to deliver the services needed for comprehensive care. Empower Denver outlines the major objectives that Denver has addressed, including the Wellness Winnie and the newly opened Behavioral Health Solutions Center, a groundbreaking crisis stabilization and temporary housing facility that specifically addresses the City and County of Denver’s stated goal of making resources supporting behavioral health easily accessible to those in need, all under one roof.

Operated by the Mental Health Center of Denver, under contract to the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment, the Behavioral Health Solutions Center – a 28,741-square-foot facility centrally located in West Denver – provides critical short-term care and treatment for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis, diverting them from unwarranted and unnecessary stays in inappropriate facilities, such as the emergency room or jail.

The Behavioral Health Solutions Center offers the following menu of services:

  • A Crisis Stabilization Clinic with a capacity of 16 individuals, providing up to a 5-day stay, including private bedrooms, meals, inpatient treatment, coordination of outpatient treatment, group counseling, engagement activities, transportation and assistance with transitioning to community living
  • A Transitional Shelter with a capacity of 30 individuals, providing up to a 30-day stay, including private bedrooms, meals, inpatient treatment, coordination of outpatient treatment, group counseling, engagement activities, transportation and assistance with transitioning to community living
  • Behavioral and physical health assessment and subsequent treatment plan, overseen by onsite medical staff
  • Active coordination of and referral to, as well as transportation and accompaniment to, outpatient mental health and substance misuse treatment
  • Assistance by on-site social workers to identify and secure housing, jobs, further treatment and other resources necessary to transition to community living

Location & hours

Please note: The Behavioral Health Solutions Center is not open to the public. Admission to this 24/7 facility is only by referral from first responders and mental health organizations.

Behavioral Health Solutions Center
2929 West 10th Avenue
D
enver, CO 80204

303-504-6500

Contact

To report a mental health or substance misuse emergency, please call 9-1-1. 

COVID-19 testing will not be provided at this site for the general public, only for those referred by first responders or mental health organizations. For information on COVID-19 testing, please visit our Testing Information page.

Good Neighbor Agreement

In 2019, the Mental Health Center of Denver (MHCD) and the Sun Valley Community Coalition signed a Good Neighbor Agreement(PDF, 743KB) (GNA) outlining clear expectations and strong channels of communication to promote a positive quality of life, mutual respect and a combined mission of strengthening the community, including ensuring that the operations of the Behavioral Health Solutions Center (BHSC) will support a safe and hospitable neighborhood.

While the GNA is not a legally binding document, it defines the intent and agreement of all parties represented by laying out and defining expectations for how BHSC will be operated in ways that ensure minimal impact on the neighborhood while meeting the needs of its clients and the contract requirements of the City and County of Denver.

In addition, the GNA fostered the establishment of a Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC) comprising more than 20 community organizations and representatives, including neighborhood residents, local schools, area businesses, emergency and health services, and members of Denver City Council. The NCA will ensure communication around and implementation of the GNA.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the mission of the Behavioral Health Solutions Center?

The Behavioral Health Solutions Center exists to provide comprehensive 24/7 assessment and assistance, including crisis stabilization treatment and temporary shelter for those experiencing a behavioral health crisis, through referral from first responders and mental health organizations.

What are the goals of the Behavioral Health Solutions Center?

The goals of the Behavioral Health Solutions Center are to be available around the clock offering intake; mental and physical health assessments; treatment plans; temporary shelter coordination of care on an inpatient and/or outpatient basis; coordination of transportation to treatments and services; and ongoing assistance with housing and other needs to support transitioning to community living – all under one roof.

Why provide this type of facility?

Ongoing behavioral health surveys in Colorado and the City and County of Denver have made it clear that there is a tremendous need for an all-encompassing combination of assessment, treatment coordination and temporary housing that would directly and efficiently focus on the multiple facets of behavioral health crises in the City and County of Denver. By offering a comprehensive treatment approach that helps adults experiencing a behavioral health crisis regain stability and access a wide range of treatment options while also addressing the critical component of temporary and transitional housing, the Solutions Center diverts those it serves from unnecessary and unwarranted time in inappropriate facilities, such as the emergency room or jail.

In addition, by providing or coordinating the treatments and resources under one roof, the Solutions Center alleviates the additional burden for those experiencing homelessness of trying to find transportation to multiple treatment facilities.