Special Honoree: Governor John Hickenlooper

Governor John Hickenlooper has worked throughout his time in office to bring quality mental health and substance use services to Coloradans. He helped create the Colorado State Innovation Model to help integrate physical and mental health and substance use services into primary care settings. The governor also started a housing program initiative. It provides wrap-around services like mental health care and job training to reduce incarceration, hospitalization, and homelessness for many of Colorado’s most vulnerable citizens.

Hickenlooper was instrumental in starting the Man Therapy web campaign, expanding Medicaid benefits to cover inpatient and residential treatment for substance use disorders, and getting Americorps members to help local communities combat the opioid crisis.

Having run on his history of collaboration for community good, Hickenlooper became the first Denver mayor to be elected governor in 150 years. He also became the first geologist to become a governor in the history of the nation, and the first brewer since Sam Adams in 1792. He has recruited talent from all quarters and is redefining the relationship between a state government and its business and civic communities.