Jefferson Center for Mental Health

What Jefferson Center for Mental Health does

Jefferson Center for Mental Health is a 501(c)(3) community mental health center founded in 1958 and headquartered at 4851 Independence St, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. It delivers an integrated continuum of behavioral health care, including outpatient counseling, psychiatry, substance use disorder treatment, residential recovery, withdrawal management, and 24/7 crisis intervention, to residents of Jefferson, Clear Creek, and Gilpin counties. The center serves approximately 24,000 clients annually with 200+ licensed therapists and practitioners, alongside specialized programs for children, youth and families, older adults, veterans, and individuals in crisis.

The center's operating model is built on a community-based, referral-driven go-to-market approach combining physical clinics, a walk-in crisis center, mobile crisis response (including a co-responder program with the Wheat Ridge Police Department since 2017), school and county partnerships, and digital touchpoints such as the DBT Online portal and Netsmart-hosted myHealthPointe client portal. Technology is conventional healthcare infrastructure (EHR, telehealth, digital training portals) with no proprietary AI/ML or data products.

Revenue is generated primarily through Colorado Medicaid (Health First Colorado) and CHP+ reimbursements, supplemented by federal SAMHSA grants, state Office of Suicide Prevention funding, county contracts, client fees on a sliding scale, self-pay, and philanthropic donations via the Hope Hero campaign and ColoradoGives.org. The organization operated with 501-1,000 employees as of the latest data and in October 2024 implemented a workforce reduction in response to a significant rise in uninsured patients and changes in Medicaid reimbursement. Leadership transitioned in 2023-2025 from long-tenured CEO Dr. Harriet Hall through Kiara Kuenzler to current President & CEO Sarah Alquist, with Lenya Robinson as COO.

Name

Jefferson Center for Mental Health

Legal name

Jefferson Center for Mental Health

Website

https://jcmh.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Jefferson Center for Mental Health is a 501(c)(3) community mental health center founded in 1958, providing integrated mental health, substance use, and crisis services to roughly 24,000 clients annually across Jefferson, Clear Creek, and Gilpin counties in Colorado.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Mental Health Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220), Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (621330)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) & Public Behavioral Health Providers (HLAFACAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Crisis Stabilization Units & Psychiatric Emergency Services (HLAFACAH), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Outpatient Mental Health & Counseling Clinics (HLAFABAC)

Keywords

• Community mental health services
• Behavioral health care
• Substance use treatment
• Crisis intervention services
• Psychiatric counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Wheat Ridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Medicaid / Health First Colorado: The majority of Jefferson Center's revenue comes from Medicaid-funded services through Health First Colorado and Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+). These government programs cover behavioral health care for low-income individuals in Colorado.
2. Colorado Medicaid Waiver Programs: Revenue from waiver programs including Community Mental Health Supports Waiver (CMHS), Elderly Blind and Disabled Waiver (EBD), and Developmental Disabilities Waiver (DD) serving Jefferson, Clear Creek, and Gilpin counties.
3. SAMHSA Grants: Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grant funding supporting substance use disorder treatment services. In 2023, SAMHSA helped treat over 67,000 Coloradans for substance use disorders.
4. Office of Suicide Prevention Grant: State grant funding supporting the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Jefferson, Clear Creek, and Gilpin County, operating under the Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention.
5. Self-Pay / Sliding Scale: Self-pay options available for clients without insurance coverage, with sliding scale fee arrangements established for eligible individuals. The center also offers navigation services to help clients apply for Medicaid.
6. Donations / Philanthropy: The Hope Hero campaign is a grassroots fundraising initiative where every dollar goes directly to frontline mental health services. The center also accepts donations through ColoradoGives.org.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Jefferson Center for Mental Health is a community mental health center providing integrated mental health, substance use disorder, and crisis intervention services across Jefferson, Clear Creek, and Gilpin counties in Colorado. Founded in 1958, the organization delivers outpatient counseling, psychiatric care, medication management, residential recovery, withdrawal management, mobile crisis response, 24/7 walk-in crisis services, and specialized programs for children, youth, families, veterans, and older adults, supported by an on-site pharmacy and navigation services.

Product overview

Jefferson Center for Mental Health operates as a community mental health center offering a comprehensive portfolio of behavioral health services organized into four main categories: Adult Services (including counseling, psychiatry, and substance use treatment), Child/Youth & Family Services (with programs like Trauma Systems Therapy, Ascent, and Family FlexCare), Emergency & Crisis Services (24/7 hotline, walk-in centers, and mobile crisis), and Other Services (including Blue Spruce Pharmacy, Integrated Care, Navigation Services, and Psychological Assessment). The center also provides specialized programs for veterans, older adults, and pregnant individuals with substance use needs. Additional offerings include training programs (QPR Suicide Prevention, Mental Health First Aid, QMAP), digital services (DBT Online portal, myHealthPointe client portal), and residential recovery programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Adult Services Mental health counseling and psychiatric services for adults including therapy, medication management, and substance use treatment.
• Child, Youth & Family Services
• Emergency & Crisis Services 24/7 crisis intervention including hotline, walk-in crisis centers, and mobile crisis services throughout the state.
• Blue Spruce Pharmacy On-site pharmacy services providing medications to clients receiving care at Jefferson Center.
• Older Adult Services Mental health services specifically designed for seniors including counseling, medication management, and dementia support.
• Veteran and Military Family Programs Specialized mental health services for veterans, active-duty military, and their families including trauma-focused therapy.
• Ascent Program Specialized program for youth and young adults transitioning to independence with mental health support.
• Family FlexCare Team Family-centered services providing support and intervention for families with children experiencing mental health challenges.
• Trauma Systems Therapy (TST) Evidence-based therapy approach specifically designed for children and adolescents who have experienced trauma.
• Prenatal Care & Substance Use Services Integrated services for pregnant individuals dealing with substance use disorders, combining prenatal care with addiction treatment.
• Residential Recovery Program 24/7 residential treatment program providing intensive recovery support for individuals with substance use disorders.
• Youth Residential Recovery (YRR) Specialized residential recovery services for adolescents dealing with substance use and mental health challenges.
• Withdrawal Management Medically supervised detoxification services for individuals withdrawing from substances.
• Mobile Medication-Assisted Treatment Mobile services providing medication-assisted treatment for opioid and substance use disorders in community settings.
• Crisis Stabilization for Youth Emergency mental health intervention services specifically designed for young people in crisis.
• Collaborative Care Clinic Integrated behavioral health services co-located with primary care to address mental health needs in a primary care setting.
• Integrated Care Coordinated physical and behavioral health services addressing whole-person wellness.
• Navigation Services Case management and care coordination helping clients access resources, benefits, and services.
• Psychological Assessment Services Comprehensive psychological testing and evaluation services for diagnostic purposes and treatment planning.
• QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training 90-minute gatekeeper training teaching Question, Persuade, and Refer techniques to help save lives from suicide.
• Mental Health First Aid Certification course teaching participants to identify signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders and respond appropriately.
• Qualified Medication Administration Personnel (QMAP) Training Certificate program teaching unlicensed staff to safely administer medications in authorized settings.
• DBT Online Online portal for Dialectical Behavior Therapy resources and skills training for clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• 24,000+ people helped in a single year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Solid Ground Housing ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Solid Ground is an apartment building in Lakewood designed for people transitioning from housing insecurity. More than 40 residents have been welcomed, with 24/7 on-site staff support provided through Jefferson Center's services. Residents receive job training and support services. The project won the Lakewood Mayor's Inspiration Award in September 2024.
• Wheat Ridge Police DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Since 2017, Wheat Ridge Police Department has partnered with Jefferson Center for co-response on 911 calls involving mental health crises. Officers are paired with police-based co-responders from Jefferson Center to better serve individuals in mental health crisis situations. This partnership has been recognized by CBS News and KDVR as a model for bridging gaps in mental health crisis response.
• Suicide Prevention Coalition of Jefferson, Clear Creek, and Gilpin CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA coalition of mental and public health professionals, educators, activists, and people with lived experience dedicated to preventing suicide through data review, workgroups, and trainings. Operates under a grant from the Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention. Workgroups focus on postvention, youth, economic stability, and faith-based initiatives.
• Jefferson County Dept. of Human ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated at 900 Jefferson County Parkway, Suite 170, Golden, CO 80401. Serves as a Single Entry Point for Medicaid waivers including Brain Injury Waiver, Children's Home and Community Based Services Waiver, Community Mental Health Supports Waiver, Elderly Blind and Disabled Waiver, and others.
• Developmental Disabilities Resource Center (DDRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated at 11177 W. 8th Avenue, Lakewood, CO 80215. Serves as a Single Entry Point for Developmental Disabilities Waiver, Children's Extensive Support Waiver, Supported Living Services Waiver, and other programs serving Jefferson County residents.
• Adult Care Management, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated at 1455 Dixon Avenue, Suite 105, Lafayette, CO 80026. Single Entry Point serving Clear Creek and Gilpin Counties for Developmental Disabilities Waiver, Children's Extensive Support Waiver, Supported Living Services Waiver, and other programs.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• WellPower (formerly Mental Health Center of Denver): Denver-based nonprofit community mental health center providing the same integrated outpatient, crisis, residential, and substance use services across a comparable urban Colorado catchment. Operates as a designated CMHC with comparable Medicaid funding model and service mix, making it the closest head-to-head peer.
• AllHealth Network: Colorado nonprofit community mental health center serving Arapahoe and Douglas counties with outpatient mental health, substance use, crisis, and psychiatric services. Operates on the same CMHC/Medicaid-funded model with similar service line breadth, directly comparable in mission and funding structure.
• Mental Health Partners: Boulder County-based nonprofit community mental health center delivering integrated behavioral health, substance use, and crisis services under the same CMHC designation framework. Comparable size, service portfolio, and reliance on Health First Colorado funding.
• AspenPointe (now Diversus Health): Colorado Springs-based nonprofit behavioral health provider offering outpatient, crisis, substance use, and residential services across El Paso County. Same CMHC-style integrated model serving Medicaid populations with a comparable crisis-services footprint.
• North Range Behavioral Health: Weld County Colorado community mental health center operating integrated outpatient, crisis, residential, and substance use programs on the same designated-provider model. Similar rural-adjacent catchment profile and Medicaid revenue concentration.
• Aurora Mental Health Center: Colorado community mental health center serving Aurora and Arapahoe County with integrated outpatient, crisis, residential, and substance use services. Same CMHC funding model, overlapping Denver-metro referral geography, and comparable scale.

Regional players

• Centennial Mental Health Center: Northeastern Colorado community mental health center serving a largely rural 10-county catchment. Comparable CMHC designation and integrated service line, but geographically distant from Jefferson Center's Denver-metro footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Centerstone: One of the largest U.S. nonprofit behavioral health providers operating community mental health, substance use, and crisis services across multiple states. Useful scale and operational benchmark for a CMHC of Jefferson Center's size and scope.
• Mental Health America: National nonprofit focused on mental health advocacy, public education, and community-based program delivery. Comparable mission footprint around community mental health access and destigmatization, though operating at the advocacy and affiliate-network level rather than direct service.

Emerging players

• Sanvello (Optum): Digital mental health platform offering on-demand therapy, coaching, and self-care tools — increasingly competing for the same behavioral health demand, especially among commercially insured populations that Jefferson Center does not primarily serve. Relevant as the tech-enabled competitor reshaping referral patterns.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UClGjKZc193p5Ad36--6bRhQ
• Xx.com/JeffCtrMH

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Jefferson Center for Mental Health