The Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) announced that the Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health (OCFMH) is the new name for the former Office of Behavioral Health (OBH). This name change reflects renewed program efforts and continuous person-first care that is evidence-based and trauma-informed. 

The change is designed to align with the populations the office serves following the creation and separation of the Behavioral Health Administration and shows the emphasis CDHS is putting on decreasing waitlists for inpatient competency restoration services and best practice models of care. 

Additionally, the names of the mental health institutes will be changed to mental health hospitals. CDHS is focused on helping people heal and reach their full potential through person-first and trauma-informed care. The Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo will now be named the Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo (CMHHIP) and the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Fort Logan will now be known as the Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Fort Logan (CMHHIFL).

“This new name marks a new chapter for our office,” said Leora Joseph, director of OCFMH. “It’s important that our staff and partners feel as though their work is represented and respected. We will continue to rise to challenges together while providing excellent service to our patients. We plan to use the historic funding from the last legislative session to develop innovative solutions to problems that have plagued this office for years.”