New Behavioral Health Division launches at Public Health

Mesa County Public Health (MCPH) launches a Behavioral Health Division to better align efforts in the community. The new division is the next step in our agency’s commitment to community well-being. 

Jennifer Daniels has been selected to lead the new division as the Behavioral Health Division Director. A licensed social worker with over 25 years of experience in education, suicide prevention, and mental health advocacy, she brings deep expertise and passionate leadership to the role.

Daniels holds a Master of Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake University, with an emphasis on Spanish-speaking populations, and a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from Colorado Mesa University. Daniels has led regional suicide prevention initiatives across health care, education, and nonprofit sectors and has delivered mental health training to thousands of youth and adults.

Her leadership includes coordinating Mesa County’s Suicide Prevention Coalition, launching the Zero Suicide initiative at St. Mary’s Medical Center, and guiding mental health programming in School District 51. She served as Program Administrator for the Colorado National Collaborative and continues to serve as a Commissioner for the Colorado Suicide Prevention Commission and Board Chair for the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado.

“Our goal is to reframe how we approach behavioral health—from crisis response to upstream prevention,” said Jennifer Daniels, Behavioral Health Division Director. “This division will allow us to address behavioral health the same way we approach other public health issues—by looking at data, promoting equity, and building systems that work for everyone.”

Under this new division, work will focus on data-informed planning and management of resources. MCPH is uniquely positioned to lead at the systems level, and this move builds on the foundational work the agency has already done in partnership with other organizations.

The goals for this new division include:

• Continued involvement in the Behavioral Health Steering Committee.
• Driving progress on the priorities identified at the Behavioral Health Summit, with a focus on collaboration, accountability, and measurable impact.
• Supporting and enhancing the local crisis continuum, with a focus on coordinated entry, stabilization, and diversion from emergency departments and the justice system.
• Strengthening the behavioral health workforce pipeline and capacity, through training, recruitment, and retention efforts.

“We are grateful for our ongoing partnerships in the community,” said Daniels. “This launch marks a significant milestone in MCPH’s broader effort to address the root causes of poor health outcomes and ensure every resident has the opportunity to thrive—mentally, emotionally, and physically.”

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