Mental Health/Substance Abuse Services

Clear Creek Health Assistance Team (CCHAT)

The Clear Creek Health Assistance Team, or CCHAT is a coordinated effort with Clear Creek EMS, the Clear Creek County Department of Human Services, Board of County Commissioners and law enforcement including the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office. The CCHAT is overseen by Clear Creek EMS and housed at Station 1A in Dumont. 

The types of calls that CCHAT handles are:

• Disturbances
• Indecent exposure
• Intoxicated persons
• Safe2Tell
• Suicidal persons
• Psychiatric calls
• Trespassing
• Unwanted parties
• Welfare checks

The goal is to reduce arrests and contact with law enforcement when a community member is experiencing a nonviolent crisis, reduce ER visits, connect at-risk community members with services, and reduce costs. Click here for more information.

Clear Creek County Public Health Harm Reduction Services

Clear Creek County Public Health is now offering free Opioid and Naloxone Training. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist – it binds to opioid receptors and blocks or reverses the effects of the overdose agent. It works from 30-90 minutes after administration. A full dose can be given every two-to-three minutes until the person is awake. You cannot overdose someone on Naloxone. 

Below are signs an symptoms of an opioid overdose: 

• Blue lips or nails
• Dizziness and confusion 
• Can’t be woken up 
•  Choking, gurgling, snoring sounds
• Slow, weak, or no breathing
• Drowsiness or difficulty staying awake 

How to Administer Naloxone

To respond to an opioid overdose, first, yell the person's name, give hard sternum a rub to check for responsiveness. Then, administer Naloxone into nostril – you may administer one dose every two-to-three minutes if person is unresponsive. Next, call 911 – give location, situation, and stay on the phone until help arrives. Finally, provide rescue breathing by placing the person on their back, tilt their chin, and give one breath every five seconds. If you must leave, place person in the rescue position--which is on their side. 

Fentanyl Test Strips

Public Health is also offering free Fentanyl test strips. Fentanyl is synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine.  According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), it is the single deadliest drug threat our nation has ever encountered. Synthetic opioids caused 71,000 deaths in the United States and 1,258 deaths in Colorado alone in 2021. For more information or to pick up these resources, call 303-670-7528 and leave a message.

Jefferson Center for Mental Health

Local non-profit counseling, mental health, and substance abuse services are provided by Jefferson Center for Mental Health at the Health and Wellness Center in Idaho Springs (1969 Miner Street). Counselors include certified addiction specialists. Rates are on a sliding scale and scholarship programs for the uninsured are available. For more information, call 303-425-0300 or click here.

Mobile MAT Bus (located at Health and Wellness Center on Wednesdays)

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) has proven to be the most effective treatment for opioid addiction, combining medication to stave off the physical symptoms, withdrawal, and cravings, with counseling to help patients address their emotional and behavioral issues associated with addiction.

As an expansion of Jefferson Center’s existing substance use disorder services, the new Mobile MAT program will provide access to MAT for treating opioid use disorders for people who are unable to get to a traditional brick-and-mortar treatment facility. In addition, it will help provide connections to Jefferson Center services including senior services, wellness services, and community outreach programs such as suicide prevention trainings and Mental Health First Aid. Click here for more information.

988 Suicide and Crisis Line

Resilience1220

Resilience1220 provides services in the form of FREE counseling sessions and support groups for young people (ages 12-20), community outreach, and events that increase awareness of mental health issues.

Counseling sessions with Resilience1220 teach stress-reduction techniques, tools to ask for and provide help, validation, a place to sort through belief systems, and a non-judgmental place to share their feelings.

Past group sessions have included lectures, discussions, and educational seminars. There are also many different kinds of groups. Resilience1220 works with peer groups, interest groups, organizations, and schools.

Resilience1220 fosters an environment of mutual respect in which staff, clients, and volunteers can feel valued. Resilience1220 seeks to serve all members of our community, without regard to gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation/identity, abilities, political affiliation, or education. We are open to all and see diversity as a source of strength.

Click here to contact Resilience1220,  or call 720-282-1164. You can also email the organization by clicking here. What you share is confidential. 

I Matter - Free Mental Health Support for Colorado Youth

The I Matter program can connect you with a therapist for up to six free virtual counseling sessions (some in-person appointments available, too) that are completely confidential. Talking with someone can make you feel better. To start, click visit https://imattercolorado.org to take a short survey. Be as honest as possible: your answers will help match you with the right therapist.

If you’re 11 or younger, your parent or guardian must fill out the survey with you.

Parents, seeking support for your child is not a sign of failure—it’s a sign of strength. 

Support Groups

Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step Programs are available throughout the region and several grief support groups meet in the area frequently. This information is included in the Resource Directory. To locate an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) group near you, view the Denver Area Central Committee of Alcoholics Anonymous website.