Jefferson Center for Mental Health

About Jefferson Center

Jefferson Center Celebrating 50 years!

April 30, 1958. Three part time administrators and one-part time psychiatrist opened the doors to a community mental health clinic in the basement of the Jefferson County Court House. This was an innovative venture in a world where 75% of those diagnosed with a mental illness were sent to hospitals and those remaining were kept in their homes as embarrassing family secrets. This new center provided an alternative -- affordable, outpatient treatment close to home. On a budget of 29¢ per capita from the state of Colorado, Jefferson Center for Mental Health began helping people with mental illness and children with severe emotional problems get out of institutions and back into the community where they could be healthy, productive citizens.

Beginning its 50th year, the Jefferson Center now serves over 6,000 clients a year. Earlier this year, Jefferson Center relocated its administrative services and one of its larger outpatient offices to a significantly larger facility in Wheat Ridge at 4851 Independence (I-70 and Kipling). The new location includes Adult Outpatient services and the new Wellness programs.

Jefferson Center is the not for profit community mental health center for Jefferson, Gilpin, & Clear Creek counties and:

serves about 6,000 people a year, from young children to senior citizens,
is governed by an 18 member Board of Directors representative of the communities we serve,
is experienced in managing outpatient programs and residential facilities,
provides services in over 20 locations throughout Jefferson, Gilpin and Clear Creak counties, in addition to working in schools, nursing homes, senior centers and other locations,
employs nearly 300 staff, 75% of whom are experienced mental health professionals who have expertise in specialty areas such as children and family issues, adults with mental illness, suicide prevention, early intervention, crisis management and trauma treatment.