All Pikes Peak Reads: Community Conversation on Mental Health

Join Pikes Peak Library District as we welcome several local behavioral health experts for a conversation on mental health. Hidden Valley Road, a 2021 APPR selection, tells the story of a local family who had six sons diagnosed with Schizophrenia. 

This panel conversation will unpack themes represented in the book, but also discuss the current state of mental health in Colorado, speak to local resources available for those needing help, and discuss alternatives to police intervention. 

Community Conversations at Pikes Peak Library District is a series of events that invites the public to discuss current events and issues impacting the Pikes Peak region. We want to promote civil dialogue and greater understanding of different perspectives. As things changed with COVID-19, we decided to shift our conversations online. 

After a facilitated discussion, audience Q&A will be welcome. 

This conversation will be hosted via Zoom. Please register with an email address and a Zoom link will be sent to you, or click here to access the event. 

Panelists include:

Roberta Renfro, Manager, Healthcare Transformation, Diversus Health

Roberta Renfro is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Lead for the Colorado Spirit COVID Response Team at Diversus Health. Roberta is passionate about whole-person, patient-centered healthcare, and believes an integrated healthcare team provides the most comprehensive care.  She has spent 10 years providing behavioral healthcare in primary and specialty care settings and managing a team of behavioral healthcare consultants. Prior to her work at Diversus Health, she provided trauma therapy and created group programs for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.   

Chris Richardson, Associate Director of Criminal Justice Services at Mental Health Center of Denver, Clinical Supervisor for the STAR Program

Chris Richardson is the Assoc. Director of Criminal Justice Services at the Mental Health Center of Denver currently overseeing multiple criminal justice entry points withing the sequential intercept model. Most notably Denver’s Co-Responder Unit a program that pairs licensed mental health clinicians with Denver Police Officers, providing on scene support, crisis de escalation, service connection and follow up visits to individuals experiencing mental health crisis in the Denver area. More recently overseeing the Daily operations to Denvers STAR pilot that provides a civilian based response to low level 911 calls. With 14 years of direct clinical services in the field of mental health, the goal is to provide education, service connection and coordination to individuals needing behavioral health supports to sustainable, trauma informed community supports.

The STAR Program deploys Emergency Response Teams that include Emergency Medical Technicians and Behavioral Health Clinicians to engage individuals experiencing crises related to mental health issues, poverty, homelessness, and substance abuse. Learn more here.

Carey Boelter, El Paso County Sheriff's Office Behavioral Health Programs Manager

Carey Boelter is the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) Behavioral Health Programs Manager. She received her Bachelors in Psychology from the University of Colorado in Boulder and her Masters in Forensic Psychology from the University of Denver. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor extensively trained in providing behavioral health services to those involved in the criminal justice system. She has over 18 years of experience working with offenders to include working with adult sexual offenders in community and locked settings and juveniles with trauma histories and severe behavioral health disorders in secure youth services centers.

Carey is the Behavioral Health Programs Manager for the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In her role she is the CIT Coordinator for the office and is the supervisor for the EPSO co-responder program, Behavioral Health Connect (BHCON). The BHCON Unit responds to 911 calls that appear to be mental health related as well as takes referrals for follow up from patrol. Her team’s philosophy for helping individuals with behavioral health disorders is to provide immediate crisis intervention and link them to the least restrictive service appropriate for their risk and needs. As appropriate, the team will divert individuals from the criminal justice system as well as the local emergency departments. The BHCON team will attempt follow up services with individuals served to ensure individuals have connected with community supports as well as that their needs are being met to lower their risk for criminal justice or crisis involvement in the future.

Lori Jarvis-Steinwert, Executive Director, NAMI Colorado Springs

Lori joined NAMI Colorado Springs as its first paid executive director in 2012, after a 30-year corporate career as a marketing and public affairs professional.

She learned of NAMI when she took NAMI’s Family-to-Family education program in 2010, and began volunteering soon after, organizing fundraising and awareness initiatives.

Under Lori’s leadership, NAMI has grown its annual budget ten-fold; tripled its programs; and spearheaded half a dozen community education initiatives. NAMI now reaches about 3,000 individuals each year through its classes and support groups for those navigating mental illness; presentations to the community; and resource and referral services.

NAMI welcomes and supports those who live with mental illness, and the families and friends who love them. Through education, support and advocacy, NAMI reinforces that mental health conditions are treatable and that recovery is possible, and connects people with a community of support to help navigate the challenges and complexities of a mental health journey.

With a model built on peer support, NAMI recognizes and leverages the knowledge and wisdom of those who have lived experience with mental illness. Its footprint and effectiveness have grown largely because of the organization’s 100-plus volunteers, which includes a strong and accomplished governing board of directors.

In 2013, Lori was named a Hero of Mental Health by AspenPointe for her efforts to champion whole-person wellness and spearhead efforts to curb stigma and advance treatments. In 2014, she was named Outstanding Emerging Fundraising Professional by the Southern Colorado Association of Fundraising Professionals, and in 2017 the Independence Center honored NAMI with an Americans with Disabilities Act Progress Award for empowering people who live with mental illness. In September of this year, the Colorado Springs Leadership Institute recognized Lori with its first-time Cathy O. Robbins Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership.

Cheryl Baeza, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Cheryl Baeza is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and resident of Colorado Springs. Her interest in mental health became a part of her life when she was personally affected by mental illness in her family. Her brother was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder while Cheryl was attending the University of Southern California for her MSW degree.

Her 54-year old son has lived with schizophrenia since his teens, and schizophrenia has affected others in the family for generations now. Through her education, professional life, and lived experiences, Cheryl offers valuable insights on the struggles and successes of having family members with a serious mental illness.

Since 1969, Cheryl’s professional career has included working with children and adoptions, serving as project director for CASA, and educating in the social work field. She has been an active volunteer with the National Alliance on Mental Illness since 1995 and has served in a variety of leadership roles including President of the Board of Directors at NAMI Colorado Springs. Cheryl continues to volunteer her time at NAMI to serve people in our community who are affected by mental illness.