Head of Colorado’s new Behavioral Health Administration out after one year

Colorado’s Behavioral Health Administration has a new interim commissioner less than a year after it officially launched.

The administration opened shop in July under the Colorado Department of Human Services, and is meant to coordinate and improve the state’s mental health and addiction programs.

Its first commissioner, Dr. Morgan Medlock, was chief medical officer and director of crisis and emergency services for the Washington, D.C., Department of Behavioral Health before being recruited to Colorado in January 2022.

Michelle Barnes, executive director of the Colorado Department of Human Services, will take over as interim head of the administration. While she’s in that role, a six-person team will make top decisions for the Department of Human Services.

Gov. Jared Polis’ office didn’t specify the reason for the leadership change in a news release Monday evening.

Most of the administration’s first year was spent settings its priorities, in consultation with people living with behavioral health conditions, and laying out a plan to implement them through 2025.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox.