Larimer County presents full sequential‑intercept map; stakeholders call for expanded crisis response, housing and data sharing

Larimer County commissioners on Sept. 15 received a full sequential‑intercept mapping (SIM) briefing that maps how people with mental‑health and substance‑use needs move through crisis, policing, courts, jail, reentry and community supports — and lays out gaps and priorities for action.

The two‑day workshop that produced the map brought 53 participants from more than 35 agencies and was facilitated by Policy Research Associates. Emily Humphrey, director of Community Justice Alternatives, told the Board the county now has a signed data‑sharing business agreement and is near completion of a universal release‑of‑information form intended to support coordinated care across agencies.

Why it matters: The mapping is designed to reduce unnecessary criminal‑justice system involvement by improving crisis intervention, continuity of care and reentry supports. Presenters said addressing transportation, housing shortages, limited in‑custody behavioral‑health capacity and inconsistent information sharing are priorities that could reduce repeat arrests, hospitalizations and unmet treatment needs.

Workshop, scope and immediate findings

The SIM exercise reviewed five intercepts — from community crisis response (Intercept 0) through law enforcement response, initial detention and court (Intercepts 1–3) to reentry and community corrections (Intercepts 4–5). Brandy Odegard of Alternative Sentencing said Policy Research Associates limited attendance to preserve focused discussion; the event still included participants from law enforcement, courts, public defense and prosecution, treatment providers, peer specialists, community corrections, housing and homelessness programs.

Callie Toll, clinical director at Summit Stone Health Partners, described Intercept 0 as the range of crisis services that should keep people out of deeper system involvement: “In intercept 0, it really is about our crisis services,” she said, noting local resources such as Longview and mobile/co‑response teams.

Key gaps identified

• Data sharing and referrals: Humphrey said the county’s LINC data‑sharing Business Associate Agreement (BAA) is signed and a universal release‑of‑information is nearly complete. Presenters called better, privacy‑respecting information flows between crisis providers, law enforcement and courts a high priority to avoid duplication and to support continuity of care.

• Transportation: Multiple presenters and commissioners flagged rural and cross‑jurisdictional transport challenges, including access to Longview and to appointments outside remote communities such as Red Feather and Estes Park. Workshop participants recommended conducting a cost analysis of expanded transports and considering grants or MPO coordination.

• Housing and sheltering: Presenters noted high rental costs, exclusionary screening for people with justice involvement, limited recovery housing that allows medication‑assisted treatment, and shelter bed shortages following recent capacity losses. The report recommends expanding recovery housing and developing peer‑led respite options.

• In‑custody behavioral‑health capacity: Core Health and Summit Stone provide screening and some in‑custody services, but speakers said capacity is limited. Alexis Angley, director of Community Corrections, reported an average daily population of about 343 people in community corrections and estimated “about 65‑70%” arrive by direct sentence from the courts, underscoring demand for diversion and treatment alternatives.

• Crisis line geolocation and first‑responder training: Workshop participants cited problems with the national 988 line routing callers by phone number area code rather than actual location, causing delays. They also recommended expanded crisis‑intervention training (CIT) for law enforcement and adapted versions of CIT for non‑law‑enforcement agencies.

Recommendations and near‑term actions

Presenters pulled four priority areas for follow‑up: expanding mobile crisis and non‑law‑enforcement response options (including EMS and peers); conducting a transportation cost analysis and pursuing mobility grants; expanding peers across intercepts and piloting a peer‑led respite program; and enhancing cross‑system communication while protecting privacy and dignity.

Humphrey said the county and partners will reconvene the workshop cohort, invite additional agencies that could not attend the initial session, form subcommittees around the four priorities and develop action plans. She also said the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office funded the SIM workshop and that the county will share the report with statewide partners: “The special masters that do the competency work throughout the state called us and said, ‘Hey, do you happen to have a sequential intercept map? Because we'd really like to use it,’” Humphrey said.

Funding and sustainability

Presenters cited multiple funding sources and constraints: an impact grant will fund two clinicians to staff a 12‑week intensive outpatient bridge program intended to reduce waitlist gaps; Summit Stone and Core Health noted declining state funding for jail behavioral‑health teams; and staff said Medicaid billing is expected to sustain the new outpatient clinicians over time. Commissioners and county staff emphasized that resource constraints at city and county levels will affect implementation and recommended focusing initially on attainable, low‑cost “quick wins” while pursuing grants for larger initiatives.

Community input and equity considerations

Workshop participants emphasized that people are “in survival mode” and that stigma, cultural barriers and limited bilingual trauma‑informed services affect Latinx/Latine communities and rural residents differently. Presenters recommended targeted outreach, culturally informed training and inclusion of providers from smaller towns and campus systems (for example, Colorado State University) when reconvening the SIM workgroups.

Next steps and oversight

The presenters recommended that county staff and partners return to the Board with subcommittee charters, proposed metrics and funding asks. Commissioners asked for evaluation plans; presenters pointed to existing evaluation work for Intercept 3 and expressed interest in partnering with Colorado State University’s new institute for measurement and training, including adapting CIT curriculum for non‑law‑enforcement audiences.

Tone and timeline

No formal votes or ordinance actions were taken at the work session. The SIM report and map (a 93‑page report and an oversized map were distributed to commissioners) will be used to develop working groups and proposals; Humphrey said the team will return with progress updates and specific funding or staffing requests.

Ending

Commissioners and partner agencies praised the collaborative effort and agreed to continue the countywide work. The work session adjourned at 11:32 a.m.