Rural Mental Health Development Project (RMHDP)

Rural Mental Health Development Project (RMHDP) is sponsored by Colorado Community College System (funded by SB22-181 Behavioral Health-Care Workforce Grant). This project strengthens the rural behavioral health workforce through on-campus support services and entry-level behavioral health work studies.

Rural Mental Health Development Project Rural Colorado communities face a serious shortage of behavioral health professionals. This gap makes it harder for students and families to get the support they need and adds pressure on local providers.

In 2023, five rural community colleges—Colorado Northwestern, Lamar, Northeastern Junior, Otero, and Trinidad State—launched the Rural Mental Health Development Project (RMHDP), with funding from the SB22-181 Behavioral Health-Care Workforce Grant, to help address this challenge. The project strengthens the rural behavioral health workforce through on-campus support services and entry-level behavioral health work studies.

RMHDP, together with programs at Morgan Community College and Pueblo Community College, is strengthening Colorado’s rural behavioral health workforce and addressing the unique challenges of rural communities. The RMHDP introduces students to behavioral health careers while expanding on-campus support services.

Each college places counselors and/or case managers on campus to deliver one or more of three core services: individual counseling, group counseling, and targeted psycho-educational programming and outreach. Students gain experience both as clients receiving services and through work-study options at select colleges. The project connects directly to the Colorado Community College System’s Behavioral Health Pathway.

Support services inform classroom learning, while coursework shows how to apply learning in practice, creating a sustainable feedback loop. A centralized rural mental healthcare lead oversees hiring, supervision, and program design across all five colleges.

How Students Gain Experience The Rural Mental Health Development Project (RMHDP) introduces students to behavioral health careers through direct support services and supervised work studies. Each college places counselors and/or case managers on campuses to provide counseling and wellness programming, giving students insight into the client experience.

At the same time, select colleges provide behavioral health work study opportunities that allow students to step into entry-level, non-therapeutic roles. Behavioral health work studies deliver provider-approved, evidence-based education and outreach to peers and the wider campus community, building foundational skills before pursuing behavioral health microcredentials or degrees.

Behavioral health work studies do not provide counseling, therapy, or social work. Impact on Rural Communities RMHDP counselors and case managers provide comprehensive support services designed to reach every student. This reach extends into surrounding communities by reinforcing a culture of wellness, increasing visibility of behavioral health resources, and reducing stigma around seeking care.

At the same time, the project prepares more students to enter the field and expands access to qualified practitioners—helping rural areas prioritize mental health while building and sustaining a stronger local behavioral health workforce. How Employers Can Get Involved Recruit graduates who have participated in RMHDP programs or earned CCCS behavioral health microcredentials, associates, and bachelor’s degrees.

Support your staff by covering the cost of CCCS’s Qualified Behavioral Health Assistant (QBHA) bootcamp , qualifying them to be on a Medicaid-reimbursable team. Work with local RMHDP case managers, behavioral health work studies, and campus teams to support community-wide psychoeducation and outreach.

To learn more about rural Behavioral Health programs, contact RMHDP Rural Mental Healthcare Lead Sarah Droege, MA, LPC, LAC, ACS, (720) 858-2439. Functional Functional Always active The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes.

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