The Health Partnership is launching a two-year pilot program called the HOPE Initiative, which is designed to fill critical gaps in mental health support across Routt County.

The HOPE Initiative, which stands for Helping Others Through Peer Engagement, was created in response to the growing need for accessible, localized mental health resources for people who are struggling but not in immediate crisis, states a news release from The Health Partnership.

The program will provide a 24/7 HOPE Line staffed by trained peer support specialists, resource referral and navigation for community members, in-person peer connection and respite support, a Community Safety Team to expand mental health awareness and response, and marketing and outreach efforts to ensure broad community awareness and engagement around behavioral and mental health.

“We are proud to be the organization bringing this much-needed resource to our community,” said Brittney Wilburn, executive director at The Health Partnership, in a statement. “When a broad coalition of community partners and concerned community members identified this important gap in mental health resources in the Yampa Valley, our staff and board stepped up and embraced managing the effort.”

Community partners include Yampa Valley Medical Center, Northwest Colorado Health, Health Solutions West, REPS, WarHorse Ranch and the Yampa Valley Community Foundation.

“REPS is honored to collaborate on a program that strengthens the behavioral health safety net across the Yampa Valley,” said Mindy Marriott, executive director of REPS, in a statement. “The HOPE Initiative represents the kind of coordinated, community-driven support our region has been calling for, and we are grateful for every partner helping to bring this vision to life.”

To learn more about the HOPE Initiative or to make a donation, reach out to Wilburn at bwilburn@ncchealthpartnership.org or Traci Hiatt at traci@yvcf.org.