Who We Are

We’re now Heartland Mental Health! We used to be known as CHARG Resource Center and changed our name in 2022. Learn more.

Our Mission & Vision

Mission

To transform lives by providing supportive member-centered, culturally responsive mental health, wellness and recovery services.

Vision

We envision a community of wellness where members will flourish and live their best, self–directed lives. 

Programs & Services

  • Heartland Clinic

    At our Heartland Clinic, we provide outpatient mental health services to adults with serious mental health conditions through a combination of counseling, medication management, group activities, and more. Learn more.

  • Drop-In Center

    Our David Quarton Drop-In Center is open to all adults (ages 18 and older) utilizing mental health services regardless of where they receive care. We have food and clothing banks, computers & Internet access, peer support, recreational activities, outings, and more. Learn more.

  • Employment Program

    We believe everyone’s experience is valuable, and everyone’s voice matters. We offer skills training and an employment program for peer members.

  • Peer Board of Directors & Speaker's Bureau

    We have opportunities for peer members to get involved with advocacy, and to have a direct role in governing the organization, as well as the Speaker’s Bureau program where members can share their stories. Learn more.

Our Story

In 1989, Denver civic leaders consolidated four independent nonprofit mental health centers into a single system of care. That same year, CHARG Resource Center (now known as Heartland Mental Health) was created when two nonprofit organizations — the Capitol Hill Action and Recreation Group, Inc. (CHARG) and HEART of Boardwalk, Inc. — joined together to serve as an alternative to this single system. We opened a drop-in center and outpatient clinic in the Capitol Hill area of Denver, and offered a place where people could have a say in their own mental health care.

Heartland Mental Health was innovative and a leader in this unique model, where two boards of directors act as equal partners in approving policy decisions and share legal and fiscal responsibility of the organization. Our Member Board is elected by its membership, people in the Denver area who receive mental health services.

Over our 30+ year history, we’ve received numerous awards for excellence within the Denver community in supporting those on the path toward mental wellness recovery. Others in the healthcare industry now recognize, as we did long ago, that effective and lasting empowerment of individuals managing mental health conditions occurs when they can make decisions regarding their needs, and that they thrive with dependable and ongoing services.

Today, we have a supportive community where people can receive personalized mental health services in Denver, have a sense of belonging, and obtain meaningful employment. In addition, they are offered leadership and speaking opportunities to help others on their path of mental wellness.

Join our community so that we, together, can continue to pioneer even greater impact for Denver mental health in the next decade and beyond.

Our Values

Quality

We are committed to seeking out and developing excellence in best practices and innovative technologies and models. Heartland Mental Health sets standards at the highest level and strives to meet them in every area. Members have a right to receive the most effective services.

We value quality and we practice that by listening to members, so we know what they need. We also provide continuing education to all staff to ensure we remain knowledgeable on evidence-based practices.

Respect

Our organization is committed to promoting unconditional positive regard for each other – members, employees, and board members. Respect requires that each person has a voice in the community, as well as the opportunity to be heard. While listening does not imply agreement, it does require that each person and their perspective will be treated with dignity and non-judgment. The diversities of all people – race, gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion, and abilities - will be accepted and celebrated within our community. 

We value respect and we practice that by creating a diversity, equity and inclusion group, and listening to them. We provide opportunities for staff and members to provide feedback and encourage our community to speak up.

Empowerment

Empowerment is the recognition and nurturing of strengths, valuing the lived experience for self-direction; it is the heart of our partnership model of care. Our commitment is to the empowerment of people with a major mental health condition. The value of empowerment requires that each interaction in our community becomes an opportunity for the expression of self-determination. Individuals involved with Heartland Mental Health will be informed, have choices, and act on their own behalf.

We value empowerment and we practice that by ensuring members have opportunities to participate in the varies pieces of how we run the clinic and drop-in.

Community

Heartland Mental Health is dedicated to creating and supporting a place where people are accepted, experience a sense of belonging, share mutual concern for each other's well-being, and advocate for each other. All of us as stakeholders have a place in the Heartland Mental Health community.

We value community and practice that by encouraging both members and staff to participate in the various activities and groups we provide. We also work hard to create a warm and welcoming environment for members to interact with each other and staff.

Our Impact

"Before coming to Heartland Mental Health, I was admitted to the hospital nearly every two weeks for years. After switching to Heartland for my mental health treatment, and for the last twenty years of being part of this community—I've been hospitalized only twice."

— Client, now also Board Member & Receptionist

 

“Heartland is the longest I’ve ever held a job. Our supervisors and leaders understand that we’re humans. Working at Heartland has made me a more dependable and reliable person.”

— Tom, Receptionist & Board Member

 

“What I like most about working at Heartland is a sense of purpose, belonging, and family, and the ability to share my talents. It has helped in giving me more of a feeling of worth despite my illness and some limitation.”

— Jim, Receptionist & Board Member

“I just felt like I wanted more from life. I didn’t want to give up.”

Listen to Barbara’s story about how she found belonging, empowerment, and respect by becoming part of the Heartland community.