Tribute 2017 Nominees
Justin Kruger
Founder, Project Helping & KyndHub
Justin founded Project Helping, a platform for Coloradans to improve their mental wellness by contributing to their community. In Justin’s words: “Like many people living with a mental health challenge, no one close to me knew I was struggling. I had a great job. I was successful. But privately, I was struggling. Then I was invited to volunteer. Volunteering immediately provided an outlet for me. The more I volunteered, the better I felt. The better I felt, the more I started to realize that volunteering was helping me improve my ...
Paul Reich
Behavioral Health Program Manager, Tri-County Health Network
Paul works to expand access to mental health care and educate the public in Montrose, Ouray, and San Miguel counties. He has implemented a series of new initiatives, including teletherapy, bilingual options, and the Tri-County Health Network’s Behavioral Health Strategic Plan. Paul coordinated Telluride’s Communities That Care prevention plan to reduce teen substance use and improve health outcomes. He also teaches Youth Mental Health First Aid free of charge. Paul is a member of the Telluride R-1 School ...
Haline Grublak
Director of Peer & Advocacy Services, Solvista Health
Haline has dedicated her life to ensuring that peers are represented in all areas of the behavioral health care delivery system, as providers, consultants, managers, and policymakers. Haline was a key player in creating the Core Competencies for Peer Specialists, which allows peer services to be reimbursed by Medicaid. She also served on the Peer and Family Subcommittee of the Governor’s Behavioral Health Transformation Council, which brought the Peer and Family Peer Specialist Credential to Colorado. In her ...
Lifetime Achievement: Therese Michels
Former President, Colorado Association of Psychotherapists
A psychotherapist, Therese Michels is still counseling clients in Durango at the age of 91. Two of her specialties are couples counseling and dream work. Known for her generosity and compassion, she does not accept payment for her current work. As one client put it, Therese used to accept alternative forms of compensation: “My sister paid Therese by painting a mural in her house. I paid her, in part, by doing gardening, but I will never be able to fully repay her. I am a much more confident, healthy, and happy ...
Margaret Roath
Former Director of Clinical Services, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
Margaret is the only social worker designated as an associate professor at CU. She has served as a field supervisor and member of the Board of Visitors at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work. She headed the board of Social Work Examiners, Parenting After Divorce, and Mental Health Colorado. Among other honors, she has earned recognition as a Master Scholar and a visiting scholar at DU, the Alumna of the Year Award at GSSW, and the Eli Lilly Award for Reintegration ...
Organization of the Year: Rocky Mountain Crisis Partners
Launched as a community project in metropolitan Denver a decade ago, Rocky Mountain Crisis Partners now provides more than 100,000 Coloradans with a first and vital safety net via immediate 24/7 telephonic and chat assessment, triage, and follow-up services delivered by mental health professionals and trained peer specialists. As the gateway to Colorado’s Crisis Services program, RMCP coordinates closely with other Crisis Services components, including mobile crisis teams and walk-in centers. In addition, hundreds of agencies, mental health practices, and community ...
Jewish Family Service, Refugee Mental Health Program
The Refugee Mental Health Program began in 2006 to help those who had fled their countries because of war, oppression, religious persecution, or ethnic conflicts. These refugees struggle with acculturation, language barriers, unfamiliar surroundings, financial stressors, and loss of identities, homes, and professions. Many were victims of torture or gender-based violence. A team of six dedicated mental health professionals has worked with more than 200 clients in the past year. According to JFS, the clients “gain confidence and life skills, learn to smile, laugh, ...
Aspen Hope Center
The nonprofit Hope Center serves the Roaring Fork Valley through crisis prevention, including education and school-based programs; crisis response, in partnership with law enforcement and EMS; crisis intervention; crisis stabilization; and crisis recovery. The Center also operates a 24-hour HopeLine, answered locally by experienced and licensed clinicians. According to the Hope Center, “51 people in 2016 were saved from suicide. All 51 had a plan, means and intent to end their lives, but they trusted our staff and clinicians. None were sent to a facility outside of the ...
Individual of the Year: Mike Butler
Chief, Longmont Public Safety
Chief Butler has initiated several programs to address the mental health needs of his community. The Edge Program pairs mental health professionals with Longmont police to reduce ER visits and jail time. The Angel Program enables people with substance use disorders to relinquish drugs and/or paraphernalia to the Public Safety Center without fear of arrest or legal consequences. Angel volunteers help participants obtain shelter and connect them with treatment providers. Each Sunday, Chief Butler and his volunteer team walk local at-risk ...
