The Aspen Hope Center, a local nonprofit, has assisted countless people during the throes of a mental health crisis in the Valley for the past 14 years. The Hope Center provides a myriad of services, including: crisis intervention, suicide prevention, therapy, a 24-hour confidential “hope” line and mobile crisis response. Meeting the growing demand for crisis response in Colorado has become increasingly tasking, as has hiring qualified candidates. 

Over the last two years, Colorado’s Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) has been working to develop a 40-hour crisis education course, known as the Crisis Professional Curriculum (CPC), to meet rising demands for crisis responders. The no-cost program would be available for anyone, with no cap on enrollment. The intent is to enable organizations, like the Hope Center, to hire individuals for entry-level positions who do not hold a degree in a related field.

“This CPC is a first step in becoming a crisis professional and should be paired with practical on-the-job training, coaching, mentoring and supervision that occurs at crisis service agencies,” BHC’s media manager, Stefany Busch, told The Sopris Sun. “Furthermore, consultation with fellow crisis professionals and licensed professionals is also recommended.”  

Michelle Muething, the Hope Center’s outgoing executive director (Muething will move on from her role in approximately two months), has been involved since the organization’s inception. Concurrently, she’s continued her work as a licensed crisis clinician. As far as the CPC is concerned, Muething agreed that it could help fill in some gaps. 

“The whole point is to get people in crisis face-to-face assistance quicker,” Muething stated, “because even five minutes, to a person in crisis, can feel like a lifetime.”  

Colorado is one of only a few states that has mandated that a mobile crisis response team be operational in each county, 24/7. According to Muething, the work is demanding and can be taxing for even the most seasoned social workers. 

“Most crisis clinicians around the state are licensed at a master’s level,” acknowledged Muething. “Over the last few years, teams have expanded by adding different para-professionals … such as peers and case managers.”

Busch explained that the statewide curriculum is set to be introduced, at least in part, in mid-March, but additional details are being ironed out by the Crisis Professional Advisory Committee and the BHA. Classes will be held virtually, and pre-recorded content will be uploaded to a BHA learning management system. 

Participants will also learn how to complete Colorado’s crisis assessment. 

When considering the impact the CPC could have on the Hope Center, Muething said that hiring additional crisis clinicians through the initiative could be beneficial. During her time in the Valley, she has come across many individuals who have qualities the Hope Center hopes to find in its clinicians, but didn’t have the credentials to qualify for the position. This program could allow those folks to pursue a career in the field. 

“These people I’ve met have: the ability to read body language, good boundaries, compassion, empathy and good critical thinking skills. I always look at those people and think, ‘God, I’d give anything to hire you as a crisis clinician,’” Muething stated. “But, again, they’d have to go back to school for two years and get field supervision for two years. I think this allows folks with good abilities to work in this field … without the hoops of a degree.”

For more updates on CPC, visit www.bha.colorado.gov If you or someone you know are struggling with mental health, call the Aspen Hope Center at (970)-925-5858. In cases of emergency, call 911 or the national suicide hotline at 988.