Colorado Abuse & Neglect Scandals Involving People with Disabilities--
Orchid Has a Zero Tolerance Policy:
What Does Colorado Have?
So do we think the State of Colorado is in favor or abuse and neglect of people with disabilities? No. We think the State is not committed to the resources necessary to prevent abuse and neglect of people with disabilities, and the State has and will violate the LAW in the name of pragmatism & on the backs of vulnerable people with disabilities as long as they think they can get away with it.
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Channel 7 News
raises troubling issues regarding Johnstown Heights Behavioral Health --- the new incarnation of Clear View Behavioral that was closed by the State. 
Channel 7 News:
Colorado shuts down Clear View Behavioral Health, will seek to revoke license permanently Mental health facility has been subject of more than a dozen Denver7 Investigates stories |
Val's Take: STAFFING was a big issue throughout the society even before COVID and most critically in HEALTHCARE. I don't think Johnstown Behavioral is the only Healthcare entity, facility or practitioner with questionable practices --- BUT when we're holding people against their will UNDER COLOR OF LAW --- that's a Constitutional Issue and/or the TORT of FALSE IMPRISONMENT, INTENTIONAL or NEGLIGENT INFLICTION of EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, etc.
STAFFING --- we have known that STAFFING is in ISSUE in HEALTHCARE FACILITIES for DECADES --- WE NEED STAFFING STANDARDS and that is likely to impact FEDERAL & STATE REIMBURSEMENT. When our analysis is limited to INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE or ENTITIES ----- we generally DON'T SOLVE SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS. Further, there's been an unfortunate incentive for us to ignore COMPENSATION SCHEMES that UNJUSTLY ENRICH HIGHER UPS --- because as ridiculous as some of those salaries are (Carl Clark at MHCD -- I'm talkin' 'bout you) ---- PAYING FOR ADEQUATE STAFFING is probably in many if not most cases more expensive. This is a big issue in HEALTHCARE and throughout the SOCIETY. |
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Denver Channel 7 Allegations of police excessive force against a 73-year-old woman with dementia. |
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Riot at Troubled Lookout Mountain
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Ryan Partridge
CMS Investigation of the Colorado Mental Health Institute @ Pueblo found severe staffing problems.
Abuse of people with developmental disabilities @ the Pueblo Regional Center documented in a CMS investigation
Abusive Practices in Youth Corrections
The Death of Christopher Lopez @ San Carlos prison while being restrained in isolation was a horrible tragedy. Initially, the State did not inform family members of the tragedy and it was only after they got sued that they began to do the "right thing." Colorado did ultimately ban Administrative Segregation in Colorado Prisons for people with mental illness -- and that's a wonderful thing. BUT when the State is taking its bows across the nation on this really wonderful policy --- somehow Christopher Lopez is rarely if ever mentioned. |
Denver Post
Colorado a “poster child” for mental health care failings that can lead to deadly outcomes, advocates say Recent fatal shooting of young, unarmed Broomfield man who had a mental breakdown hours before being killed by police, brings issue to forefront National Treatment Advocacy Center gives CO's Mental Health System D+ [that's generous in our opinion] https://www.denverpost.com/2018/09/20/mentally-ill-16-times-more-likely-to-be-killed-by-police/ 
Denver Detention Center Photo Credit: Denver Post
Colorado Public Radio
Colorado Increasingly In Contempt As More Judges Recognize That Jail Isn’t A Mental Health Answer https://www.cpr.org/news/story/colorado-increasingly-in-contempt-as-judges-begin-to-agree-that-jail-isn-t-a-mental Westword Ten-Year Fight to Stop Mentially Ill from being Warehoused in Colorado Jails https://www.westword.com/news/ten-year-fight-to-stop-mentally-ill-from-being-warehoused-in-colorado-jails-10476376 
Why is Michael Marshall dead? We believe there are a lot of valid answers including the State's failure to provide adequate housing and services for people with invisible cognitive disabilities, in this case "mental illness."
53-year-old Montrose Man commits Suicide in Jail
https://www.gjsentinel.com/news/western_colorado/montrose-jail-inmate-dies-by-suicide/article_a508b3b8-29a0-11e8-a8e6-10604b9ffe60.html |