HB 22-1369 Summary

• Authorizes the Department of Early Childhood to contract with a Colorado-based nonprofit entity to provide evidence-based, home-based mental health programs for families with children from prenatal to age 6 experiencing chronic stress and trauma.

• Contracted entity must conduct community readiness assessments, provide training and coaching for program implementation, perform quality assessments, and submit annual outcome evaluations to the department and Behavioral Health Administration.

• Appropriates $2,000,000 from the Economic Recovery and Relief Cash Fund for the 2022-23 fiscal year, with authority to expend up to 5 percent for implementation costs including nonprofit contracting.

• Requires department to execute contract by November 1, 2022, with an entity that has prior successful implementation experience in Colorado using a curriculum combining intensive care coordination and psychotherapy for caregivers and children.

• Department and contracted entity must comply with federal American Rescue Plan Act requirements and spend or obligate funds by December 30, 2024, with all expenditures completed by December 31, 2026; appropriation authority repeals September 1, 2027.