Denver Health’s school-based health centers are set to expand behavioral health services for Denver Public School students and their siblings, following a philanthropic gift from The Anschutz Foundation.
Historically, donations have played an important role in supporting Denver Health’s school-based centers. These resources have enabled the centers to provide care—including behavioral health support—to children facing mental health challenges. The new investment is intended to further develop these services by reaching students before they enter crisis situations.
“As the Heart of Denver, we are often the first place our community turns for care. For many students, our Denver Health school-based health centers are where they first connect with behavioral health services,” said Matthew Hoag, MA, AC, LPC, Director of Integrated Behavioral Health. “We are grateful to The Anschutz Foundation and Denver Public Schools for partnering with us to strengthen that connection. This grant expands integrated behavioral health services at our school-based locations, giving students earlier access to whole-person care in a setting they know and trust.”
Care teams at 19 school-based centers help manage common behavioral health conditions such as anxiety and depression among students and their families. They have also seen an increase in the number of crisis cases among students. According to Denver Health, integrating behavioral support into routine visits can help ensure timely interventions.
“I deeply believe in the school-based health care model because it meets students where they spend the majority of their day, ensuring they are both healthy and ready to learn,” said Sonja O’Leary, MD, chair of Pediatrics at Denver Health. “For many students, school is the only place they can access behavioral health care due to barriers like transportation, mental health stigmas, and lack of insurance or high deductibles. This grant will allow us to create a sustainable model that reaches even more children. With the Anschutz Foundation’s support, Denver Health’s nationally recognized school-based health centers can continue making a meaningful difference in the lives of students.”
In the 2024-2025 academic year, Denver Health’s 19 school-based centers served over 14,000 students and conducted more than 61,000 medical and mental health visits.
The Anschutz Foundation has previously supported behavioral health initiatives across Colorado institutions such as the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Children’s Hospital Colorado and UCHealth. The foundation aims for this donation to enable Denver Health to develop long-term strategies that extend beyond initial funding.
Denver Health Foundation works on behalf of patients and providers at Denver Health by collaborating with community partners dedicated to sustaining quality healthcare services for all residents.
