WellPower

TODAY is Colorado Gives Day – 24 hours when the philanthropic community comes together to strengthen Colorado nonprofits. One day. Exponential impact. What if one strategic investment could create measurable impact across multiple social determinants of health? Comprehensive Care One NextChapter participant, Steph, found art classes, trauma-informed yoga, career workshops, meals and community – all under one roof after facing homelessness and long COVID. Their experience demonstrates how comprehensive mental health services create cascading benefits. But Steph is one of 20,000+ people WellPower serves annually across Denver – individuals facing homelessness, mental health crises, substance use challenges and systemic barriers to care. What collective support makes possible: 🏠 Trauma-Informed Housing $1.20 saved for every $1 invested through reduced emergency services and healthcare costs 🎨 Psychiatric Rehabilitation Programs 58% employment achievement rate, 84% reduction in hospital days 🚨 Crisis Response Innovation Programs like STAR (Support Team Assisted Response) prevent unnecessary hospitalizations and justice system involvement 💊 Integrated Healthcare Co-located mental health and physical health services improve outcomes and reduce costs Why This Matters for All of Us Strong mental health infrastructure benefits entire communities: reduced strain on emergency services, decreased justice system costs, improved workforce participation, better population health outcomes and stronger social cohesion. Making Giving Accessible Every gift strengthens mental health infrastructure in our community. For those able to give $200+, Colorado offers two 25% tax credits: → NextChapter (Enterprise Zone tax credit) – keeping psychiatric rehabilitation services accessible → Solutions to Homelessness (Homeless Contribution Tax Credit) – funding trauma-informed housing that saves lives Combined with federal charitable deductions, giving becomes more accessible and more impactful. Double Your Impact – Today and Beyond Today: Colorado Gives Day incentive funds boost every donation Through Dec. 31: A generous community partner and former CEO Dr. Carl Clark match all gifts up to $10,000 Give on Colorado Gives Day and benefit from both opportunities. Make your Colorado Gives Day contribution: https://bit.ly/4oLNnHk Powering Healing. Transforming Lives. #ColoradoGivesDay #SocialImpact #MentalHealthInnovation #CommunityInvestment #DenverNonprofit #StrategicPhilanthropy #MeasurableOutcomes

Tomorrow, every gift gets doubled. Colorado Gives Day brings together the philanthropic community to strengthen nonprofits across our state. This year, WellPower donors have a special opportunity: every single donation – regardless of size – goes further. Your Gift, Multiplied We're thrilled to announce that WellPower's former president and CEO, Carl Clark MD, along with a generous community partner, are matching all donations through Dec. 31 – up to $10,000 total. That means your $25 becomes $50. Your $100 becomes $200. Every dollar doubled. Tomorrow's donations also receive a proportional boost from Colorado Gives Day's statewide $1.4 million incentive fund. Why This Matters Programs like NextChapter face funding uncertainty from state and federal budget pressures. Your support – at any level – keeps evidence-based services accessible. Services that helped Steph go from facing homelessness to leading professional development workshops. Services that achieve 58% employment rates and 84% reductions in hospital days for participants. For Those Able to Give $200+ Colorado offers two 25% state tax credits for larger gifts: •NextChapter (Enterprise Zone credit) – supporting psychiatric rehabilitation •Solutions to Homelessness (Homeless Contribution Tax Credit) – funding trauma-informed housing But here's what matters most: the collective power of our community coming together. Every gift – $10 or $1,000 – strengthens mental health infrastructure in Denver. For more than 30 years, WellPower has offered more than therapy. Tomorrow, help us keep that legacy alive. Mark your calendar: Colorado Gives Day opens at midnight tonight. Donate tomorrow: https://bit.ly/49TysHg Powering Healing. Transforming Lives. #ColoradoGivesDay #COGives #MentalHealthInnovation #DenverNonprofit #StrategicPhilanthropy #CommunityInvestment

When Eddie lost his sister Lizzie to alcohol withdrawal, everything changed. "She didn't have access to Medicaid or quality healthcare, and I believe not having those resources led to her death," Eddie said. "Being the first to find her when she died let me know that I had a problem. I was determined that this couldn't kill me too. I had to be here for my son, for my loved ones and for myself." Today, Eddie celebrates 500+ days of sobriety. He's rebuilt his life, strengthened his relationships and rediscovered purpose. But this transformation didn't happen overnight—and it didn't happen alone. Through Medicaid-covered services at WellPower, Eddie has accessed integrated mental health and substance use support: therapy for bipolar disorder, psychiatric services, medication management, case management and recovery support. This care model addresses what Eddie articulates clearly: "Mental health issues and addiction can be cause-and-effect for one another, and dealing with them must be mutually inclusive." The path wasn't linear. After a near-fatal car accident caused by a withdrawal seizure while driving his son home from football practice, Eddie suffered broken knees and an ankle, and had to learn to walk again. But the continuity of care—the same team knowing his story, his strengths and his son's name—created what he calls his "safety net." And Eddie did the hard work. He showed up. He accepted help. He made the daily choice to pursue recovery even when it was difficult. His resilience and determination transformed access to care into meaningful change. "My primary motivations for improving my well-being are three things: my life, my son and my freedom," Eddie explains. "I wake up grateful to drink a cup of coffee and talk to my mom. I didn't have these feelings of awareness around how precious freedom and life are when I was drinking heavily." "Without WellPower, and without Medicaid, I wouldn't be where I am now. Being enrolled in Medicaid has been crucial in my ability to keep accessing the services and medications I need." Eddie's story demonstrates why comprehensive Medicaid coverage for mental health and substance use services matters. When people have consistent access to integrated care, recovery becomes possible. WellPower accepts all Medicaid plans and provides comprehensive mental health and substance use services across Denver. Healthcare providers: Contact us about referral pathways and care coordination at (303) 504-7900 or https://bit.ly/4phstQW #MentalHealthPolicy #MedicaidMatters #IntegratedCare #BehavioralHealth #WorkforceDevelopment #RecoveryIsPossible

"NextChapter isn't just a program. It's a puzzle piece." That's how Steph describes WellPower's psychiatric rehabilitation services – and it's an apt metaphor for effective mental health care. The Puzzle Piece Approach After joining WellPower just over a year ago, Steph found every service they needed integrated in one location: nutritious meals through an onsite café, professional art studio access with instruction, trauma-informed yoga and adaptive physical wellness programs, access to therapeutic pools for rehabilitation, career development and vocational training, educational support for professional growth and a peer community with shared lived experience. "The hardest part," Steph explains, "is choosing between nutrition class and art class. That's a good problem to have." Why the Integrated Model Works Traditional mental health care often fragments services across multiple locations, providers and systems – creating barriers for the very people who need support most. Psychiatric rehabilitation eliminates those barriers by co-locating services and coordinating care. According to research from the National Institutes of Health and studies published in The Lancet, the outcomes validate this approach: → 60% employment rate for IPS psychiatric rehabilitation participants vs. 24% in standard services → 18-21% reduction in psychiatric emergency admissions through community mental health services → $1.90 in medical cost savings for every $1 invested in behavioral health services → Significant improvements in employment tenure, earnings and community integration Beyond Statistics: Real People, Real Impact These numbers represent individuals: Steph. Tempestt. Kitty. Jahmon. Jesse. People who deserve the opportunity to contribute their talents, pursue their goals and live fulfilling lives in their communities. Make Your Tax-Advantaged Gift: Colorado residents who donate $200+ designated to our NextChapter program may qualify for a 25% state tax credit, reducing their state income tax burden while keeping NextChapter's doors open. Or designate your gift to Solutions to Homelessness to qualify for the Homeless Contribution Tax Credit, reducing your state income tax burden while funding trauma-informed housing that saves lives. Make your tax-advantaged gift: https://lnkd.in/g4g_Mhb3 Powering Healing. Transforming Lives. Keep an eye out: Starting Dec. 8, we'll be announcing an exciting matching gift opportunity from WellPower's former president & CEO, Dr. Carl Clark, and a generous community partner! #PsychiatricRehabilitation #IntegratedCare #MentalHealthInnovation #DenverNonprofit #EvidenceBasedPractice

The youth mental health crisis demands our collective response. A recent study by the National Alliance on Mental Illness found that 32.2% of young adults ages 18-25 experienced mental illness in 2024—that's 11.6 million young people. Nearly half of young adults with mental illness received treatment, leaving millions without the support they need. Here's what effective support looks like in practice: "I can talk to anybody at Emerson Street about anything without them judging me or making me feel less of a person. I met so many great, amazing, down-to-earth, loving people. You don't feel alone." – Zee, Emerson Street At WellPower's Emerson Street program, young adults ages 15-26 find comprehensive support that goes beyond traditional therapy. This includes peer community, skill-building groups and practical life support—all covered by Medicaid at no cost to them. According to the CDC's 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 40% of high school students report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, yet many don't know where to turn or believe that help is financially out of reach. For community partners: If you work with young adults who could benefit from comprehensive mental health support, we're here to collaborate. Our warm referral process makes it simple to connect youth with affirming, accessible care. Denver's young people deserve mental health services that honor their whole selves. Your referrals help make that possible. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4nw2Pqq or call (303) 504-7900 How is your organization addressing youth mental health needs? What barriers do you see in connecting young people to care? #YouthMentalHealth #CommunityPartnership #DenverNonprofits #MentalHealthMatters #WellPowerDenver