Altitude Pediatrics, 360 West Park Dr., Suite 201, announced in a news release that the grant funding it received from Colorado’s Health Care Practice Transformation Act allowed it to expand its office space and services.

Founded and owned by Dr. Katie Joy, Dr. Paula Lopez, Dr. Mary Willy and Dr. Shannon Murphy, Altitude Pediatrics has rapidly grown, and the grant marks a pivotal milestone for the practice.

With the funding, Altitude has increased its office space by 3,700 square feet, adding six new patient rooms, three behavioral health clinical offices and a behavioral health playroom. This expansion is expected to increase the practice’s capacity for behavioral health appointments by 25 percent.

The state grant primarily supported the expansion of Altitude’s integrated behavioral health program. It’s an essential service aimed at addressing the growing demand for mental health resources for children in the Grand Valley and is led by Behavioral Health Program Manager Rickelle Hicks.

Behavioral health services are exclusively available to established Altitude Pediatrics patients, ensuring a seamless and comprehensive approach to care.

“We are thrilled to bring more resources to the Western Slope and continue offering exceptional behavioral health services to the children of the Grand Valley,” said Chelsey Wells, practice manager at Altitude Pediatrics. “This grant allows us to expand not only our space, but also our ability to provide much-needed mental health care, supporting the growth of the behavioral health workforce in the region.”

As part of the grant, Altitude has developed a comprehensive training program for masters-level interns, providing hands-on experience to students pursuing careers in behavioral health.

The practice has hired two interns and is actively continuing the recruitment process for additional students, aiming to expand the team to four by the end of the three-year grant period. This initiative aims to increase the number of trained clinicians in the valley, ultimately expanding access to care.

The grant, a portion of $29 million allocated across the state, is part of the Integrated Care Grant initiative provided by Colorado’s Health Care Practice Transformation Act.