Why Colorado Must Do Better for Our Kids’ Mental Health with Kim Lewis
- Author
- Heidi Baskfield
- Published
- Thu 15 Aug 2024
- Episode Link
- None
Welcome to Speak Our Minds: The Fight for Youth Mental Health, a podcast that delves into the inspiring journeys of youth mental health advocates who took a stand to transform the system. Together with your host and seasoned public affairs expert, Heidi Baskfield, we’ll explore the landmark class-action lawsuit that held the state of Colorado accountable for failing to provide essential youth mental health services. In each episode, we’ll unpack the intricacies of the lawsuit, guiding you through the legal battles and the monumental settlement that set the foundation for a functioning mental health system. Today, we are joined by Kim Lewis, an attorney representing the plaintiffs in this case and a well-known figure in large class-action Medicaid lawsuits. In this discussion, Kim shares her extensive experience and insights into the case, shedding light on the challenges encountered, the legal strategies implemented, reasons to be optimistic, the broader implications for youth mental health services, and so much more. For a deeper understanding of the fight for youth mental health reform, the legal process behind systemic changes, and how these developments could impact you and your community, be sure to tune in today!
Key Points From This Episode:
- Insight into Kim’s career journey, advocacy background, and how it led her to this case.
- Perspectives on the Colorado case and how it compares with cases in other states.
- Three key elements of the system reform sought by this lawsuit.
- Challenges presented by the current mental health care system in Colorado.
- Reasons that Kim is optimistic about the outcome of the settlement agreement.
- Factors of an effective and pragmatic implementation plan.
- Why it's important to turn skeptical stakeholders into believers.
- Kim’s responsibility as a lead attorney on this case to represent stakeholder voices.
- The value of family-run organizations that parents can rely on as partners.
- What sets this lawsuit and settlement agreement apart from others like it.
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
