YouthZone, a youth-focused behavioral health provider in Western Colorado, is positioning itself to effectively deploy opioid settlement funds to strengthen community services, following recent federal and local funding victories.
Opioid Settlement Context
Pharmaceutical litigation has resulted in more than $56 billion in settlements, which local governments across the nation are now allocating. YouthZone, one of Western Colorado’s few youth-focused, trauma-informed, Medicaid-credentialed behavioral health providers, operates in Pitkin, Garfield, Rio Blanco, and Eagle counties. For exactly 50 years, the organization has partnered with municipalities, school districts, law enforcement agencies, and courts to provide court diversion, substance use education, mental health, and restorative justice services.
Performance and Outcomes
YouthZone serves nearly 500 youth and more than 1,200 additional community members every year. According to the organization, 84% of clients do not reoffend while working with them, 92% complete their contracts, and 56% report measurable improvement in core target areas including drug and alcohol refusal skills, school and community engagement, problem-solving and optimism, and trauma levels.
Recent Funding
In February 2026, YouthZone received $115,000 through Senator John Hickenlooper’s congressionally directed spending process, specifically for expanding youth behavioral health and substance use services in under-served communities. In January 2026, the Garfield Board of County Commissioners awarded YouthZone $100,000 in opioid settlement dollars. Additionally, YouthZone submitted a competitive request for a $750,000 Opioid Settlement Infrastructure Grant in partnership with the City of Rifle to renovate and modernize its Rifle office.
Medicaid Credentialing and Sustainability
YouthZone became a Medicaid-credentialed behavioral health provider with assistance from Practice Support, a local medical billing company. This credentialing allows Medicaid to reimburse ongoing services far beyond the lifespan of settlement funding, multiplying the value of every dollar spent with the organization. Few local nonprofits serving youth have this infrastructure in place.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.postindependent.com/opinion/youthzone-column-opioid-settlement-funds-can-build-lasting-capacity-youthzone-is-ready-to-deliver/