Larimer County officials cut ribbon on new behavioral health center

After years of work, Larimer County officials gathered in southwest Fort Collins Friday morning to officially cut the ribbon on the Larimer County Behavioral Health Services at Longview Campus building.

The multi-level building that sits on a 40-acre lot at the northwest corner of Trilby and Taft Hill Roads serves as the culmination of a mental health initiative led by the county and funded by a 2018 sales tax of 0.25%.

Larimer County Commissioner John Kefalas, left, participates in a Native American sweet grass blessing with Zach Rockwell, right, at the opening ceremony for the new Larimer County Behavioral Health at Longview Campus in south Fort Collins. (Jenny Sparks/Loveland Reporter-Herald)

Jody Shadduck-McNally, Larimer County commissioner, welcomed the large group of county and other local officials Friday morning, starting off by asking if anyone there had been themselves or had family impacted by mental health issues; many of those gathered raised their hands.

“It (is) important to know that this impacts our community more than people may know,” she said.

The facility, which will be operated by SummitStone Health Partners who will work in collaboration with area hospitals and outpatient behavioral health providers, is meant to serve as a single location for a variety of mental health crises, according to previous reporting. The building houses its own pharmacy, therapy rooms, a full withdrawal management — or detox — wing, a full-service kitchen and a docking bay for ambulances and law enforcement dropping patients off.

Patients are expected to be accepted into the center by early December.

Shadduck-McNally spent several minutes thanking the large group of individuals who helped make the building possible, from those who were with the county years ago to those who are still there today. She also thanked the SummitStone team, who she described as a “cornerstone” partner, as well as the county voters who “overwhelmingly” supported it, adding this creation of this facility may not have been possible in other communities but was in Larimer County because of how everyone worked together.

People walk through the lobby of the new Larimer County Behavioral Health Services at Longview Campus Friday. (Jenny Sparks/Loveland Reporter-Herald)

“This took a community,” she said. “This took a village. And this took an entire county.”

Michael Allen, CEO of SummitStone, also thanked the many people who made the project possible and who came to celebrate Friday. He said that as of now, the facility has hired 75% of the staff that will be needed to run it.

“We will be ready for you when we open in December,” he said.

Friday’s event also included a land acknowledgement, which featured a sweet grass blessing to a large portion of the crowd and several dances by the Iron Family, a third-generation group of Native American performers; each dance represented different stories and ideals such as love for the earth and relief from grief and mourning, among others.

Jan Iron, in speaking to the crowd, said that being able to come and be part of land acknowledgements and being able to perform like this helps continue the memory of those who came before them and and celebrate their lives.

She added she appreciates those who will work to save and help those in need no matter what.

An official ribbon-cutting on the building and self-guided tours followed, allowing those who came to go inside and see what there is to offer.

Allen said getting to see the building after the years it took to get it finished was surreal but important, saying that it is going to change the Larimer County community.

“This facility is one more tool in our arsenal to (lower) suicide rates,” he said. “Because one suicide is too many.”

Shadduck-McNally said the campus was named both for the literal view around the facility and its proximity to the Long View Trail, but also for its connection to how the building will approach mental and behavioral health care, focusing on the long view of helping those in need. She said the center will show compassion, equity and a belief that mental health is a “fundamental right for all.”

“This is only the beginning of our journey for mental health and behavioral health (services) in our county,” she said.

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