Governor Polis Cabinet Update

DENVER - Today, Commissioner Dannette Smith announced her retirement following a 35 year career in behavioral health. The Governor thanked Behavioral Health Commissioner Dannette R. Smith for her service to Colorado and her work to continue strengthening the state's behavioral health system. Commissioner Smith's last day with the state will be February 27, 2026.

"Dannette has been a strong leader at the Behavioral Health Administration, traveling across the state to hear directly from Coloradans about what they want to see most in Colorado's behavioral health system. She led the agency at a critical time, and helped implement the vision of the BHA to provide access to behavioral health care services to all Coloradans. We appreciate her service to Colorado and wish her the best of luck in this next chapter," said Governor Jared Polis.

"It's been an honor and pleasure to serve the people of Colorado," said Commissioner Dannette R. Smith. "The Behavioral Health Administration has made transformational changes to our state and increased access to the mental health services people need and deserve. This work will continue and I look forward to seeing the agency continue to build on these shared goals and successes."

While Commissioner, Smith oversaw the launch of a bold new model for behavioral health services in Colorado. Behavioral Health Administrative Service Organizations (BHASOs) and their regional networks of crisis, substance use and mental health providers provide care coordination services, so that anyone, no matter where they are in the state, has a streamlined path to the care that they need.

Before serving as Colorado's Behavioral Health Commissioner, Smith served nearly five years as the Chief Executive Officer at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services where she led five divisions: Behavioral Health, Children and Family Services, Developmental Disabilities, Medicaid & Long-Term Care, and Public Health.

During her tenure in Nebraska, Smith convened a statewide behavioral health task force; focused on opportunities to improve behavioral health services for adults and children, as well as initiated the exploration of Medicaid utilization as a payer for behavioral health services; and redesigned the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center system to include intensive clinical and therapeutic services in the juvenile justice system. While in Virginia Beach, she collaborated with the Sheriff's Office to provide enhanced behavioral health services in the jail system and provided strategic oversight in the development of the "First Responders" initiative to provide behavioral health services in the community with the Virginia Beach Police Department as part of their service calls.

Additional details about the search for a new Commissioner will be shared soon.

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