Health System with 2 hospitals across 1 state
| Health System | Colorado Department of Human Service |
|---|---|
| Total Hospitals | 2 |
| Commercial/Acute Hospitals | 0 |
| Total Beds | 632 |
| Commercial/Acute Beds | 0 |
| Headquarters | Pueblo, CO |
| Website | cdhs.colorado.gov |
| Hospital | Type | Beds | Teaching | Recently Joined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo | Psychiatric | 516 | Yes | No |
| Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Fort Logan | Psychiatric | 116 | No | No |
Over her career, Michelle Barnes has championed bold change with her ability to motivate and inspire individuals to identify their highest potential. Today, Michelle can be found maximizing the lives of her fellow Coloradans as the executive director of the Colorado Department of Human Services. As a result of what she does, millions of Coloradans receive support and services that help them to thrive. Earlier in her career, Michelle spent a decade in the technology sector before transitioning to the nonprofit sector. She subsequently served as an interim executive for organizations in transition before accepting her current role as a public servant. She holds an MBA from UCLA and a BA from William & Mary.
Perry May has dedicated his 30-year career to supporting individuals with behavioral health needs and intellectual disabilities. After a 25-year career in the private sector serving these individuals, first as a therapist and eventually as a leader, Perry joined the Colorado Department of Human Services as the deputy executive director of Health Facilities. As a social worker, Perry describes being a public servant for CDHS as “one of the great joys of his life.
Since 2017, Minna Castillo has directed the operations of programs and facilities that improve the safety, independence and well-being of Colorado’s children, youth and families. Her work at the Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) demonstrates her dedication and commitment to helping families have what they need to thrive. That work includes a commitment to people-centered practices, elevating family and youth voices, and collecting and leveraging data to expand evidence-based prevention services. Minna oversees the OCYF divisions of Child Welfare, Youth Services, and Community Programs — which includes the Colorado Sexual Health Initiative, Domestic Violence Program, Juvenile Parole Board, Tony Grampsas Youth Services Program, and Collaborative Management Program.
Christina Beisel is the Deputy Executive Director, Financial Services at the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). She is described as a relationship-builder and people person who ensures programs are funded to provide quality services to Coloradans. Prior to joining CDHS, she spent over six years at the Colorado General Assembly as a legislative budget and policy analyst with the Joint Budget Committee. Before that, she worked for a small nonprofit and started her career at the City and County of Denver. Christina grew up in southwest Colorado and moved to Boulder to attend the University of Colorado. She holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Illinois Wesleyan University and a Master of Professional Studies degree in human resources and employment relations from Pennsylvania State University. She was also involved as a lead editor for the Sustainable Event Planning Guide for the 2008 Denver Convention Greening Initiative.
Leora Joseph is the Director of the Office of Civil and Forensic Mental Health at the Colorado Department of Human Services. She is an attorney with extensive leadership experience in the criminal justice system, advocating for vulnerable populations and working to connect the justice system with mental health services. Joseph holds a bachelor's degree from Barnard College and a law degree from McGill University. Her prior roles include serving as chief of the Child Protection Unit in the Boston District Attorney's Office, chief of the Special Victims Unit in Colorado's 18th Judicial District, chief of staff for the Colorado Attorney General, and general counsel and chief administrative officer at the Auraria Higher Education Center. She was recognized as Colorado Woman Lawyer of the Year in 2016 and Ralph Martin Prosecutor of the Year in 2008 and has lectured at universities including Harvard Law. She began her tenure as director in July 2022.
Shelley Banker is the Director of the Office of Economic Security at the Colorado Department of Human Services. She is described as a visionary leader focused on addressing inequities, disrupting social injustice, and empowering communities to eradicate poverty. Shelley Banker has over 15 years of experience across the nonprofit, private, and public sectors, where she has promoted educational equity and access within Colorado's postsecondary systems. Her work includes the implementation and expansion of the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI), and the establishment of the Colorado Department of Higher Education's Educational Equity Office and Equity Champions Coalition. She previously served as the Director of the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative, managing a significant reserve fund and annual appropriation to provide scholarships to students across Colorado. Prior to her graduate studies, she specialized in marketing within the higher education technology and e-learning sectors. She holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Denver's Graduate School of Social Work, with a focus on community and social change, emphasizing stable housing, education, and workforce development for underserved communities. She also earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Colorado Denver. Shelley is a second-generation Coloradan and serves on the Denver CASA Board of Directors.
Erin Wester is the Director of the Office of Adult, Aging and Disability Services at the Colorado Department of Human Services. She is recognized for her collaborative leadership and innovative approach to complex problems, aiming to help Coloradans thrive. Prior to this role, she served as the deputy commissioner of Colorado's Behavioral Health Administration (BHA), where she focused on improving access to affordable behavioral healthcare. Wester's background includes over a decade in community mental health, beginning her career as a family therapist. She later transitioned to operational roles, utilizing both her clinical and business expertise. She holds a Master's degree in healthcare administration from Colorado State University Global, a Master of Science in marriage and family therapy from Seattle Pacific University, and a Bachelor of Science in human development and family studies.
Throughout her career, she has used her knowledge, skills and expertise to create communications that inform and engage communities. As the director of communications for CDHS, AnneMarie is responsible for overseeing all internal and external communications. Prior to joining CDHS in 2024, she served as the communications director for the Division of Disease Control and Public Health and Environment, where she was instrumental in managing Colorado’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and mpox. She has also served as public relations director for Girl Scouts of Colorado and was a news producer at television stations across the country.
Misgana Tesfaye’s passion for public service led him to his role as the director of Business Innovation, Technology and Security (BITS) at the Colorado Department of Human Services. This division manages CDHS technology projects and initiatives in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Information Technology. Misgana joined CDHS from the Colorado Department of Revenue, where he was the deputy director of the Business Innovation Group. Misgana served at the Department of Revenue for 17 years before joining CDHS.
Eduardo D. Lucero is the Director of the Division of Facilities Management at the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). He is also an AIA, which signifies he is a licensed architect. Mr. Lucero has been involved in discussions regarding the department's capital budget requests.
Christina Mohler is the Chief Human Resources Officer at the Colorado Department of Human Services. She is passionate about developing individuals to their highest potential and approaches her work with a learning mindset, leading with integrity and a focus on building relationships. With over 20 years of HR experience, she is skilled in all facets of HR, excelling at managing teams, developing leaders, and driving organizational change. Christina utilizes a strategic approach and strong problem-solving skills to achieve results in complex, fast-paced organizations. She holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Illinois Wesleyan University and a Master of Professional Studies degree in human resources and employment relations from Pennsylvania State University.
Lauren Ingalls is the Director of Contracts and Procurement at the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). She is involved in the procurement process for CDHS, including handling protests related to solicitations and assisting vendors with the Vendor Self Service (VSS) website. Lauren Ingalls is also a licensed attorney.
Based on the search results, while Abbey Frazier is listed as the Director, Budget at the Colorado Department of Human Services, there is no readily available public information detailing her specific professional background, education, or previous roles within the search results obtained. Information found for other individuals named Abby or Abbey Frazier pertains to different professions or locations.Therefore, I cannot provide a short bio of Abbey Frazier based on the search results. .
Dr. Sandy Ho is the Chief Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer (also referred to as Chief Access Officer) at the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), having started in this role on September 19, 2022. They have over two decades of experience in championing transformational equity, diversity, and inclusion work at the regional and state levels. Prior to this role, Dr. Ho served as the director of the division of community programs within the CDHS Office of Children Youth and Families. Dr. Ho's expertise includes leadership development, community engagement, and accountability. They hold a Bachelor of Arts in communication, a Master of Arts in leadership, and a Ph.D. in educational leadership, research and policy from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Dr. Ho is committed to embedding EDI throughout CDHS and is involved in implementing the department's five-year EDI action plan and leading the CDHS FAIR Action Plan.
Val Cassano is the Director of Organizational Performance Management at the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), where she contributes to the implementation of the Results-Driven Management System. She has been with CDHS for ten years, moving into her current role in 2020. In addition to her work, Val enjoys family time, friends, travel, and exploring new restaurants. She also graduated from the Anti-Defamation League's 2023 Robert B. Sturm Mountain States Leadership Fellows Program.
Debbie Oldenettel is the Director of the Office of Children, Youth, and Families at the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). She brings over two decades of experience in human services, criminal justice, and public health to this role. Prior to joining CDHS, Oldenettel served as the deputy director at the Division of Criminal Justice at the Colorado Department of Public Safety, where she oversaw various programs related to crime prevention, juvenile diversion, community corrections, and victim services. Before that, she was the director of Broomfield Health and Human Services, managing a range of services including child welfare, public health, workforce development, and senior services. Her accomplishments include designing and managing a new child welfare agency in Broomfield and drafting legislation for statewide crime prevention and intervention. Earlier in her career, a Debra Oldenettel, M.P.A., was a Program Manager with OJJDP's Special Emphasis Division, focusing on identifying and intervening with at-risk juveniles. Oldenettel holds a Master of Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Arts in public affairs and sociology from the University of Denver. She is noted for her strategic vision, collaborative approach, and passion for supporting underserved populations.
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Ian McMahon is the Director of the Division of Economic and Workforce Support at the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). He was noted in October 2022 in relation to the renaming of the former Employment and Benefits Division, stating the new name better reflects the focus on income stability and creating job opportunities. In 2021, while the division was still the Employment and Benefits Division, he was listed as a contact for information on an operation memo concerning the Colorado Works and Colorado Child Care Assistance Programs. He has also participated in discussions regarding collaboration between workforce development and youth human services systems.