Special Connections
Special Connections provides gender-responsive treatment for pregnant and parenting women who are Medicaid eligible in order to maximize the chance of a healthy birth and to provide postpartum treatment services in order to maintain gains made during pregnancy. Special Connections providers offer pregnancy risk assessments, care coordination services, group counseling sessions, individual counseling sessions, health education groups, and residential substance use disorder treatment in a women-only setting.
Who Qualifies?
Women who are:
- Eligible for Health First Colorado
- Pregnant or within one year after delivery(Only women who were in Special Connections before they delivered are eligible for Special Connections services after they deliver) and
- At risk of having an unhealthy pregnancy and unhealthy baby because of alcohol and/or drug abuse problems. (A risk screening is done by a Special Connections provider to see if a woman meets the risk criteria.)
Benefits and Services
Services can be outpatient or residential depending on a woman's level of risk. Services include:
- Case management
- Group health education with other pregnant women
- Group substance abuse counseling with other pregnant women
- In-depth risk screening
- Individual substance abuse counseling
- Referral to appropriate aftercare and ongoing support
- Urine screening and monitoring
What Does It Cost?
For pregnant women who are eligible for Medicaid, the services are free.
How to Apply
You can apply for Health First Colorado online, on the phone, in person, or through the mail.
Where Do I Get These Services?
You can call the Department of Human Services Division of Behavioral Health at 303-866-7400 or see a list of providers.
If you have more questions about this program, please contact the Health First Colorado Member Contact Center.