H_PBH_2022A 02/25/2022 01:04:05 PM Committee Summary

Representative Kipp and Minority Leader McKean, co-prime bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 22-064, concerning requirements for neighborhood youth organizations that provide services designated for the development of youth.  The bill makes several changes in the operations and regulation of neighborhood youth organizations.  Representative Kipp and Minority Leader McKean responded to questions from the committee.

Carin Rosa, representing Office of Early Childhood, Department of Human Services, answered questions from the committee.

Sarah McKean, representing Boys and Girls Clubs Larimer County, testified in support of the bill.

Lauren Dartt, representing Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, testified in support of the bill.

Danielle Felder, representing Colorado Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs, testified in support of the bill.

Representative Kipp and Minority Leader McKean made concluding remarks about the bill.

Representative Jodeh and Representative Tipper, co-prime bill sponsors, presented Senate Bill 22-037, concerning modifications to the Tony Grampsas Youth Services Program. The bill makes several changes to the operations of the Tony Grampsas Youth Services Program in the Department of Human Services.

Representative Tipper responded to questions from the committee.

Kristi Griffith, representing Colorado Department of Human Services, testified in support of the bill.

Hannah Krieger, representing MENTOR Colorado, testified in support of the bill.

Heather Stauffer, representing Colorado Municipal League, testified in support of the bill.

The panelists responded to questions from the committee.

Representative Tipper and Representative Jodeh made concluding remarks on the bill. Committee members commented on the bill.

Dr. Charles "Chip" Benight, Executive Director, Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience, University of Colorado - Colorado Springs, presented to the committee on the Greater Resilience Information Toolkit (GRIT).  He provided a powerpoint to the committee (Attachment B).  He discussed the mission and vision of the institute and Colorado's mental health challenges.

Dr. Benight discussed the development of the GRIT model and the types of training in the GRIT model, including models specific for educators and health care providers. He stated that GRIT has been used in 43 states and 12 countries. Dr. Benight said that the GRIT model offers emotional support, resilience, encouragement, motivation, reassurance, and resources. He reviewed data related to GRIT training, and that the results showing that those who took the GRIT training show lower distress, stronger resilience, and higher social connectedness compared to individuals who had not taken the training.

Dr. Benight also referenced the work that the institute is conducting on a resilience-based model for care versus medical treatment.

Dr. Amy Lopez, Program Director, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus, presented to the committee on educator mental health and well-being and the Colorado Educator Support Program.  She provided a powerpoint to the committee (Attachment C).  She reviewed the history of the program and the services the program provides, which includes a hotline, individual support services, self-paced online programs, workshops, and group support sessions. Dr. Lopez said that the group support sessions have been less popular than other aspects of the program.

Dr. Lopez discussed the challenges that educators are facing, which includes being overwhelmed, student behaviors, and their personal lives.

Jerry Johnson, University of Colorado, provided an introduction to the presentation on cancer research. Dr. Daniel Pollyea, Division of Hematology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado (CU) - Anschutz Medical Campus, presented to the committee on research in the treatment of leukemia. He provided a powerpoint the committee (Attachment D). He discussed statistics related to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and the challenges to historic treatments for AML. Dr. Pollyea discussed the development of the CU Leukemia Program that is targeting and destroying leukemia stem cells.

Dr. Pollyea discussed the related clinical trials for the treatment and the approval of venetoclax treatment by the Federal Drug Administration. He stated that the venetoclax treatment is now the standard of care around the world. Dr. Pollyea discussed how CU has become leaders in leukemia stem cell research, the related grant funding, and the recruitment opportunites and jobs the research has allowed for at the campus.  The following link to a short video was shared with the committee members:  https://news.cuanschutz.edu/news-stories/this-is-breakthrough-dr.-dan-pollyea.