2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 25 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT (§§ 25-1-101 — 25-59-106) › ADMINISTRATION (§§ 25-1-101 — 25-1.5-701) › Article 1.5 - POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT (§§ 25-1.5-101 — 25-1.5-701) › Part 1 - GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES (§§ 25-1.5-101 — 25-1.5-122) › Section 25-1.5-113.5 - Behavioral health first aid training program - creation - appropriation - report - rules - definitions - repeal

(1)
As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a)
"Behavioral health first aid training program" means the behavioral health first aid training program created in subsection (2) of this section.
(b)
"Candidate" means an individual who attends the behavioral health first aid training program to teach courses to adults and teens. Candidates may include, but are not limited to, educators and school staff; employees of community-based, youth-focused, or nonprofit organizations; employees of organizations that serve underserved populations; faith-based community members; law enforcement officers; first responders; and active duty or retired military personnel.
(c)
"Department" means the department of public health and environment created and existing pursuant to section 25-1-102.
(d)
"Local education provider" means a school district, a charter school authorized by a school district pursuant to part 1 of article 30.5 of title 22, a charter school authorized by the state charter school institute pursuant to part 5 of article 30.5 of title 22, a board of cooperative services created and operating pursuant to article 5 of title 22 that operates one or more public schools, or the Colorado school for the deaf and the blind.
(e)
"Office of suicide prevention" or "office" means the office of suicide prevention in the department, established pursuant to section 25-1.5-101 (1)(w).
(f)
"Organization" means an organization that applies to participate in the behavioral health first aid training program. Organizations may include local education providers, local public health agencies, community-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, organizations that serve underserved populations, faith-based organizations, law enforcement agencies, first responder organizations, and military forces.
(g)
"Third-party entity" means a Colorado-based nonprofit organization that has experience implementing evidence-based behavioral health first aid training programs statewide.
(2)
(a)
The behavioral health first aid training program is created in the office of suicide prevention within the department. The purpose of the behavioral health first aid training program is to:
(I)
Improve overall community climate and promote adult, teen, and youth behavioral health, mental health, and mental well-being;
(II)
Train candidates to recognize the warning signs and symptoms of mental illness and substance use among adults, teens, and youth;
(III)
Train candidates on how to respond to an adult, teen, or youth who is experiencing mental health or substance use challenges;
(IV)
Train candidates on crisis intervention strategies and best practices;
(V)
Prepare candidates to teach adults and teens how to recognize warning signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges;
(VI)
Prepare candidates to teach teens how to find a responsible and trusted adult for assistance when a peer is struggling with mental health or substance use challenges; and
(VII)
Prepare candidates to teach adults how to respond to a teen or youth struggling with a mental health or substance use challenge or crisis.
(b)
The behavioral health first aid training program must include train-the-trainer programs and associated curriculum to prepare candidates to teach certification training courses to:
(I)
Teens who are fifteen years of age or older but under nineteen years of age on how to identify the signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges, have conversations regarding mental health and substance use challenges, and seek the help of a responsible and trusted adult;
(II)
Adults who regularly interact with youth who are twelve years of age or older but under nineteen years of age on how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in youth who are twelve years of age or older but under nineteen years of age; and
(III)
Adults on how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in adults.
(3)
The office shall contract with a third-party entity to administer and offer the behavioral health first aid training program to organizations.
(4)
(a)
The office shall promulgate rules for the behavioral health first aid training program, including criteria for establishing an application process for organizations to apply to the behavioral health first aid training program.
(b)
The third-party entity shall create an application process and establish guidelines to administer the application process based on the rules promulgated pursuant to subsection (4)(a) of this section.
(c)
In selecting organizations to participate in the behavioral health first aid training program, the third-party entity shall prioritize the organization's:
(I)
Geographic diversity;
(II)
Existing resources and infrastructure; and
(III)
Plan to implement the behavioral health first aid training program and associated curriculum.
(d)
Subject to available appropriations, The third-party entity shall offer the behavioral health first aid training program at no cost to selected organizations.
(e)
The office and the third-party entity may collaborate with the department of education to offer mental health resources to local education providers.
(5)
(a)
The office shall use pre- and post-course surveys developed by a national mental and behavioral health organization to evaluate the effectiveness of the behavioral health first aid training program. The third-party entity shall administer the pre- and post-course surveys to collect evaluation data from organizations that participate in the behavioral health first aid training program. The third-party entity shall submit a report to the office summarizing the evaluation data and recommendations, if necessary, to improve the behavioral health first aid training program.
(b)
The office shall summarize the report described in subsection (5)(a) of this section in the office's annual report to the general assembly pursuant to section 25-1.5-101 (1)(w)(III)(A).
(6)
The office shall use at least fifty percent of the funds appropriated pursuant to subsection (7) of this section for behavioral health first aid trainings focused on youth, teens, and young adults.
(7)
On July 1, 2024, and each July 1 thereafter, the general assembly shall appropriate two hundred fifty thousand dollars from the general fund to the department for the administration of this section. The department may pay costs related to the administration of this section from the appropriation made pursuant to this subsection (7).
(8)
The office may seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public sources for the purposes of this section.
(9)
This section is repealed, effective September 1, 2033. Before the repeal, this section is scheduled for review in accordance with section 24-34-104.
Added by 2024 Ch. 401,§ 2, eff. 6/5/2024.