A Friendly Ear

in Blog
May 28, 2019

Sometimes, you just want to talk to someone who’s been through it. Someone who has grieved the loss of a friend, sibling or spouse. Someone who knows how difficult it is after retirement. Someone who understands both the bittersweet benefits of aging. The Peer Counseling Program at North Range Behavioral Health may be an answer….

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I’m not perfect by any means, not even close.

in Blog
May 9, 2019

There comes a point when the happiness and relief once felt from drinking and using goes away and desperation kicks in. After losing my children to a foster home, then to next of kin for four months, I got temporary custody of my children. Every day, I remind myself of the pain I felt when…

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A Letter to Parents of Teens

in Blog
February 12, 2019

“Why is it so hard to go to your parents if you are struggling with suicidal thought?” I provide suicide prevention presentations to an average of 6,000 teens a year. I teach the warnings signs and are helpful resources. Although it seems like common sense that a teen would go to their parent when they…

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A Story of Collaboration

in Blog
November 30, 2018

Libraries can change lives, and High Plains Library is no exception. The High Plains Library District “connects their communities to information, inspiration, and entertainment for life.” No longer just a place to get books or movies or use the free WIFI, our libraries are where you’ll find specialty items such as projectors, laptops, and telescopes…

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Taking Flight with Wings Intensive Addiction Services

in Blog
November 21, 2018

In August 2018, North Range Behavioral Health launched Wings, a residential and outpatient treatment program for women struggling with substance use disorders. Wings is designed for expectant mothers and mothers with children under the age of 5. Kathryn Warner, Wings Program Director, says she repeats the oft-quoted flight attendants’ orders: “In case of an emergency,…

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Supporting Families with SafeCare®

in Blog
November 21, 2018

North Range Behavioral Health offers SafeCare® Colorado, a voluntary program for parents and caregivers with children ages 5 and under who need extra support to keep their families safe and healthy. The North Range SafeCare team has served families in Greeley and throughout Weld County, from Hudson to Erie, Pierce to Windsor and every community…

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Been There, Done That: Peer Specialists

in Blog
November 21, 2018

Ten years ago, Jae Novotny was an accountant who had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Then, the 2008 financial crisis hit, and she lost her job and health insurance. On the recommendation of her doctor, she contacted North Range. After success in treatment, her therapist recommended that Novotny become a Peer Specialist. Today, Novotny is…

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Co-Responders: Changing the Story

in Blog
November 21, 2018

“If it looks like a mental health call, they call us,” says Kimberly Collins. Collins oversees North Range Behavioral Health Crisis Services, which includes the new Co-Responder program. The “us” is North Range’s Co-Responders, clinicians who accompany the “they”—law enforcement in Evans and Greeley, plus firefighters and EMTs. Co-Responders assist with individuals who are in…

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Easy Ways to Teach Kids about Emotions in Daily Life

in Blog
August 1, 2018

Anthropologists say that Inuits, whose world is full of snow, have at least 50 words for variations of snow. Inuit children learn those words and attach them accurately to the many varieties of snow simply by hearing them used in context. Similarly, when parents talk about a wide range of emotions, kids learn to understand…

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Turning It Off: Kids and Media

in Blog
July 9, 2018

Have you ever noticed what happens when you turn off your cell phone for a day or two? Maybe that question sounds silly because you’ve never tried it, but if you have, you might know what I’m talking about. For me, it’s one of my favorite parts about going camping in the summer with the…

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