Romanoff Steps Down as Mental Health Colorado President and CEO
Romanoff Steps Down as Mental Health Colorado President and CEO
DENVER, Feb. 7—Mental Health Colorado, the state’s leading advocate for the prevention and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders, today announced the departure of President and CEO Andrew Romanoff.
“We are grateful to Andrew for his visionary leadership over the past four years,” said Aaron Hyatt, chair of the Mental Health Colorado Board of Directors. “During his tenure, we evolved from a program-based organization to a true champion for the 1 million Coloradans who experience a mental health or substance use disorder each year.”
Mental Health Colorado notched significant policy wins under Romanoff’s leadership, including the creation of a statewide behavioral health care ombudsperson; a program to assist high-risk individuals as they transition back into the community following an emergency hold; and a Children and Youth Mental Health Treatment Act reauthorization that expanded the number of children eligible for access to critical services. Beyond the Capitol, we stepped up our efforts in the classroom with the School Mental Health Toolkit, a free guide for teachers, counselors and other stakeholders on promoting school-based mental health and wellness programs that work.
Romanoff also expanded Mental Health Colorado’s reach across the state. He oversaw the creation of the Brain Wave, a network of nearly 800 grassroots advocates throughout Colorado whose lived experience helps inform the policymaking process and destigmatize mental illness. Additionally, the organization helped five localities secure voter support to create dedicated sources of funding for the prevention and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders—totaling as much as $68 million in new annual revenues.
“I’m proud of what we achieved, but we can’t rest until all Coloradans get the care they need,” Romanoff said. “I know the dedicated team at Mental Health Colorado will continue to advance this critical work.”
Mental Health Colorado has an ambitious policy agenda for 2019 and is already making progress on key bills, such as legislation passed by the House that would allow Coloradans to create a psychiatric advance directive. Other priorities include increased funding for the Zero Suicide framework; expanding access to mental health professionals in schools; strengthening enforcement of mental health parity and network adequacy requirements; and ensuring that pregnant and parenting women with substance use disorders can obtain treatment services for up to one year postpartum.
###
CONTACT:
202-288-2802
405-615-3845
