Five Aurora high schools will introduce a behavioral health career pathway this fall, part of a broader effort to address Colorado’s mental health workforce shortage and expand access to healthcare-related careers.
The program builds on the existing P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) model, which allows students to earn both a high school diploma and an associate degree in behavioral health from the Community College of Aurora at no cost. Students will also complete paid work experiences with employers such as UCHealth, Colorado Providers Association, and Michelle Simmons Counseling. The program, valued at roughly $18,000 per student, aims to remove financial barriers while offering early exposure to the field.
The behavioral health pathway will be offered at Gateway, Aurora Central, Rangeview, Vista PEAK Prep, and CEC Aurora high schools. Participating students can earn up to 67 college credits toward an Associate of Applied Science in Behavioral Health. As part of this program, they may earn certificates such as the Qualified Behavioral Health Assistant Certificate, which enables them to provide Medicaid-billable services when working as part of a care team.
Dr. Jennifer Dale, Dean of Academic Success at the Community College of Aurora, said the program was developed in response to increased demand for behavioral health services and Senate Bill 181, which encourages innovative workforce solutions. “Post-pandemic, I think there was much more attention and awareness around behavioral health needs,” Dale said. “And we were seeing very long wait times and limited access to the field just because of the traditional length and cost to become a master's level clinician.”
She said the program was designed with a stackable credential structure to minimize lost time and resources. “We were very intentional to make sure that every single credit stacks on top of each other or into the next credential. This allows students to not waste time or money. It also allows them to advance their working levels.”
Dr. Lisa Adams, Director of Career and Technical Education for Aurora Public Schools, said student demand helped shape the pathway. “At least 1,500 students said behavioral health was their number one area of interest,” she said. The district also sought to reduce barriers to entry. “We’re looking from two places. We want to build self-efficacy and we want to save families and students money.” Adams also noted the inclusion of hands-on experience as a way to help students assess their long-term fit in the field. “The last thing we want is for students to go through the pathway and then graduate and realize, ‘Oh my gosh, this is not something I want to do.’ We want them to go through this and say, ‘Wow, this is something I love.’”
State workforce leaders have warned that demand for behavioral health services is outpacing the number of trained professionals. Colorado is projected to face a shortage of 4,400 behavioral health workers by 2026, according to the Behavioral Health Administration.
Lisa Batter-Weinberg, the agency’s Director of Workforce Development, said efforts like the P-TECH expansion aim to bridge that gap. “We had to really think through, what are the most effective ways of bridging the workforce gap?... It's the struggle of bridging the gap between education and the actual economy in a way that affords people a living wage.”
She said the structure of the program has drawn interest from employers. “Providers have said, ‘Can I just hire the student outright?’ They’ve developed a rapport through the program, and they can be hired directly into that provider space immediately.”
P-TECH is structured to remove barriers for students who have historically faced limited access to higher education or career pathways. Because it's hosted within students' existing high schools and aligned with Colorado’s open-access community college system, the model minimizes the need for relocation, tuition, or prerequisites. “There is no barrier for students entering CTE courses. That is by design,” Batter-Weinberg said. “We are saying: this is for everyone.”
In addition to preparing students for entry-level roles in behavioral health, the program is also designed to support workforce retention, as high turnover is common early in these careers. While students’ work is not eligible for Medicaid reimbursement until they complete the Qualified Behavioral Health Assistant Certificate, the credential allows them to deliver billable services as part of a care team. This can help reduce onboarding and training costs for employers. “We know that a lot of organizations serving those with the most acute mental health needs are struggling,” Batter-Weinberg said. “So any bit where you can help someone get employment that's Medicaid reimbursable is a win.”
The program is a collaboration between Aurora Public Schools, the Colorado Community College System, and the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration.
