Gov. Jared Polis announced Thursday that Dannette Smith will take over as commissioner of the state’s 2-year-old Behavioral Health Administration starting March 18.
The agency’s first commissioner, Dr. Morgan Medlock, served from January 2022 to April 2023. She alleged she was fired because of racial animosity, while some lawmakers said she didn’t achieve goals for the new agency.
Michelle Barnes, executive director of the Colorado Department of Human Services, served as interim head of the BHA after Medlock’s firing.
Smith has worked in human services for 30 years, and most recently was chief executive officer of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees behavioral health, Medicaid and public health programs, among other areas. During her five years in Nebraska, she led a task force to improve the state’s behavioral health system.
“The governor and his administration have laid a strong foundation for behavioral healthcare, and I look forward to using my experience to build on this good work and continue expanding services in Colorado. I’m excited to get to work to help break down barriers to care for Coloradans, and bring the governor’s vision for a ‘Colorado For All’ to life,” Smith said in a news release.
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