WellSTART

Promoting Behavioral and Physical Wellness while…

Developing and Supporting Behavioral and Physical Health Providers in our Communities

FEDC WellSTART

What is WellSTART?

FEDC WellSTART is a Fremont Economic Development Corporation initiative to promote mental and physical wellness in the region through the development of career pathways, professional recruitment and retention activities, job creation, business support, and advocacy.

About FEDC

Rural Behavioral
Health Services

FEDC WellSTART advocates for behavioral health businesses and providers:

• Monthly career pathways/services planning meetings

• Provider advocacy/representation in area/State planning meetings

Successfully supports startup businesses and services, such as:

A new billing/insurance credentialing business serving private practitioners

A therapist supervision business providing:

• Centralized student internship supervision

• Mentorship/support for therapists starting private practices

Private businesses offering shared services:

• Psychiatric services

• Groups

• Clothing/food support

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FEDC WellSTART provides area representation:

Merged with the Colorado Workforce Development Council Region 13 health sector partnership (Custer, Lake, Chaffee and Fremont counties

Did you know?

Colorado’s behavioral health workforce shortage is especially acute in rural areas, like the WellSTART/Region 13 Health Sector Partnership.

Why Do We Need Behavioral Health Professionals in Region 13?

21% of all US adults experienced a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder in 2020“

Over half of all Coloradans say the coronavirus has negatively impacted their mental health.

”Fremont county has a high rate of poverty (13.2%) in comparison to the state’s 9.8 % rate

Young adults aged 18-25 years had the highest prevalenceof any mentalillness (30.6%)

Impacts are worse for low incomes

Fremont County’s poverty rate is 13.2% vs the state’s 9.8% rate.

“Fremont county’s drug overdose death rate (32.9) and Pueblo’s (46.1) are substantially higher than the state average (28.3)

Fremont county’s drug overdose death rate (32.9) and Pueblo’s (46.1) are substantially higher than the state average (28.3)

Fremont county’s suicide mortality rate (32.95) is higher than the state average (20.68)

WellSTART Activities and Accomplishments

Local community college and university behavioral health career pathway development:

Pueblo Community College (PCC) developed a Behavioral Health Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree, that includes coursework for:

• Certiﬁed Addiction Technician (CAT)

• Peer Specialist Certiﬁcates

University of Colorado – Colorado Springs (UCCS) and Colorado State University -Pueblo (CSU-P) accept the PCC behavioral health AAS degree credits

DOWNLOAD WellSTART Brochure

WellSTART Storylines

Career Pathways

A new educational video interview series featuring WellSTART Health partners sharing about their careers and their career paths.

Our goal is to share heartfelt stories on each persons journey in health related careers, and offer prospective students information on opportunities in Behavioral Health.

WELLSTART CAREER PATHWAYS VIDEOS

See our new WellSTART video interview series featuring Fremont County Healthcare Workers. Use our inquiry form to receive updates or share ideas.

Colorado Behavioral Health Higher Education Programs

WellSTART / LEARNING

WellSTART Learning + Discussion
Documents of interest for learning and discussion
This section will be updated. Please share your ideas.

Colorado Peer Specialist Information

The WellSTART team is actively working on creating a Peer Specialist Training Program in Fremont County.

This would allow those interested to get accredited in Fremont County instead of having to commute to Denver, Colorado.

Colorado Behavioral Health Reform Blueprint

On April 8, 2019, Gov. Jared Polis directed the Colorado Department of Human Services to spearhead Colorado’s Behavioral Health Task Force. The mission of the task force was to evaluate and set the roadmap to improve the current behavioral health system in the state. In September 2020, the task force released its blueprint, as well as several other reports, that outline our vision for reform

More information

Behavioral Health Reform in Colorado: Putting People First

Click here to access the “full report on behavioral health reform”

Colorado Peer Specialist Information
Click on image to download

Colorado Behavioral Health Reform Blueprint
Click on the image to download the PDF

WellSTART Resources

FEDC WellSTART is creating an inclusive local resources links area on this website. Below are several categories to click on and we will be adding to this soon so please check back.