Response Letter from the JFM Network: The Performance Review Drop
I am a parent to a family member with a severe mental health condition and I fully supported the vision, professionalism, and excellence that Dr. Medlock brought to the Colorado Behavioral Health Association. I was shocked when she was suddenly replaced, and I hope that she will be reinstated. I have been following the JFM movement for updates.
The release of Dr. Medlock’s 2021-2022 glowing performance evaluation by Governor Polis’ former Chief of Staff Lisa Kaufmann revealed many connections to the previous posts and information uncovered by JFM.
Unbelievably, I noticed that Michelle Barnes was noted in Dr. Medlock’s 2021-2022 performance review as a difficulty. The same Michelle Barnes who signed Dr. Medlock’s dismissal letter in April 2023!
In the final section of Dr. Medlock’s review, Supervisor Evaluation, the reviewer is asked to highlight any demonstrated areas of strength. Six phrases were highlighted within six sentences in the first section of the Supervisor Evaluation:
One of the first things we asked her to do was establish a sense of independence from the Department of Human Services.
As a cabinet member, she is a peer to Michelle. Managing that has been difficult on both sides of that relationship. Morgan has done a good job of holding her ground, setting clear expectations, and trying to move the agency forward.
Morgan has leaned in on the communications challenges we faced in some negative press lately. Morgan has taken positive steps to establish a behavioral health JIIC, which is well positioned to support behavioral health communications across government and generated some of the only positive news about behavioral health in quite a while.
…in just a few short months, Morgan has built one of the more impressive senior teams in the state.
SB 21-137 allocated more than $100M for stimulus behavioral health work. Implementation of this funding, which is included in her WIGs next year, is of the utmost priority, especially in terms of supporting and expanding the behavioral health workforce.
We will need to continue our analysis of how the stimulus funds for behavioral health may or may not support the work of our homelessness working group.
I interpreted these highlighted phrases to show Dr. Medlock’s strength in dealing with a difficult peer. Essentially, she was advised to be careful but to hold her ground.
As a cabinet member, she is a peer to Michelle. Managing that has been difficult on both sides of that relationship. Morgan has done a good job of holding her ground, setting clear expectations, and trying to move the agency forward.
The Supervisor Evaluation was in three parts. In the second section of the evaluation, the reviewer notes that Dr. Medlock will need to approach the coming legislative session with a degree of caution and that she also faces among her the most challenging stakeholders in the State.
This is the Supervisor Evaluation section in its entirety:
1. Please evaluate the employee’s overall job performance and quality of work. How does the employee’s performance achievements align with the Core Competencies as well as the individual goals and objectives outlined in the employee’s last performance evaluation? How does the employee’s overall performance contribute to the success of the Administration and help to foster a positive working environment? Please highlight any demonstrated areas of strength.
Dr. Medlock has embraced the State of Colorado and is running full speed ahead to make the Behavioral Health Administration a true unifying force for improving behavioral health in Colorado. She understands the daunting role and mission ahead to ensure access to comprehensive behavioral health for all Coloradans, and is diving headlong into building the Administration.
● One of the first things we asked her to do was establish a sense of independence from the Department of Human Services. As a cabinet member, she is a peer to Michelle. Managing that has been difficult on both sides of that relationship. Morgan has done a good job of holding her ground, setting clear expectations, and trying to move the agency forward. We would caution that Morgan needs to ensure she has a strong working relationship with all her cabinet peers. There will necessarily be some conflict and tension that arises from the new arrangement and infrastructure she is building. We would encourage that she work to manage past the relatively small conflicts quickly to keep the attention and focus on the big items the BHA must tackle over the coming year, and we appreciate the strides she’s already made in this regard with her peers.
● Morgan has leaned in on the communications challenges we faced in some negative press lately. Morgan has taken positive steps to establish a behavioral health JIIC, which is well positioned to support behavioral health communications across government and generated some of the only positive news about behavioral health in quite a while.
● Her recent hires of the Deputy Director of Equity comes from New York's COVID response, where she served as the Chief Data Officer. Her new Chief of Staff comes from the Department of Human Services and has a wealth of legislative experience. With Summer Gathercole as her Deputy of Operations, in just a few short months, Morgan has built one of the more impressive senior teams in the State.
● Her skillful and nuanced stakeholder work has helped to continue to build momentum and support for the transformational work of the BHA.
● There were many bills this past legislative session addressing behavioral health, culminating with signing the behavioral health bill that fully established the BHA! While the attention on behavioral health from the General Assembly is exciting, Morgan must seek to set clear guidelines for any additional workload the General Assembly seeks to place on the new entity, and stay focused on the important work in front of her implementing the groundbreaking vision of the BHA.
● SB 21-137 allocated more than $100M for stimulus behavioral health work. Implementation of this funding, which is included in her WIGs next year, is of the utmost priority, especially in terms of supporting and expanding the behavioral health workforce.
● Her willingness to measure outcomes in WIGs has been incredibly helpful. Partnering with Urban Institute to develop what no other state ever has before - clear performance indicators for the behavioral health system to thrive and improve.
● We will need to continue our analysis of how the stimulus funds for behavioral health may or may not support the work of our homelessness working group. There will also be opportunities to assist in expanding the PEAK phone app as part of our Code for America partnership, to include behavioral health services. Morgan should continue to work with the CO Digital Service in order to make sure that work happens appropriately.
2. Are there any opportunities for development in the next year?
● As indicated above, Morgan will need to approach the coming legislative session with a degree of caution. We would anticipate a General Assembly eager to pass legislation giving the BHA new tasks, some of which may be timely initiatives that nevertheless fall outside the agency’s core role and function. Especially as she builds her new agency, it’s important that she protects that important work, and not get pulled down by one-off bills. We are working to provide Morgan with legislative support in the form of a new FTE for her agency, and the Governor’s office stands ready to assist Morgan in defending against legislative initiatives that distract from the critical work she is undertaking.
As indicated above, Morgan will need to approach the coming legislative session with a degree of caution. ~ Exceprt from Medlock’s November 2022 Performance Review
● Morgan also has among the most challenging stakeholders in the state. She should work over the coming year to continue building out those relationships so that she is seen as the preeminent voice on behavioral health in the state. This will require careful and intentional engagement to balance the interests of the many stakeholders her agency represents, with time and attention always pointed toward what matters most: ensuring people gain access to the best possible care.
Morgan also has among the most challenging stakeholders in the state. ~ Exceprt from Medlock’s November 2022 Performance Review
3. WIGs
As the BHA is a new agency, it did not formally set WIGs in FY 2021-22. However, the WIG related to beginning to operationalize the BHA, measured by DHS, was completed in FY 2021-22. That work will continue in FY 2022-23.
Thank you, JFM, for shining light on the inner workings of the Department of Human Services and their political relationships, and for seeking justice for Dr. Medlock.
A note from the JFM collective: JFM has confirmed that the November 2022 review is the most recent performance evaluation Medlock received. The review states “and the Governor’s office stands ready to assist” demonstrating that review presenter Lisa Kaufmann supported Dr. Medlock so what changed in the Governor’s Office? Is there a connection to be made between Kaufman’s departure and Medlock’s forced removal after she was gone? Could they have similar political adversaries?
Lastly, given Kaufmann and Medlock’s departures within six months, Governor Polis lost key members of his leadership team and isn’t facing the same backlash as Dr. Medlock, this is particularly toxic because most of the backlash directed at Medlock came from within the Governor’s team and cabinet. A true double standard. In this instance, the narrative to discredit a person from holding a position of power due to leadership team members leaving seems to be exclusively held for Black leaders that have fallen out of political favor with their white colleagues.
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On Monday, April 17, 2023, Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) Commissioner, Morgan Medlock, MD, MDiv, MPH, a Black community leader, was unjustly removed from her Colorado cabinet position without cause. Her removal risks the lives of millions of people in Colorado who deserve accessible, trauma-informed, and culturally-responsive behavioral health care. It also perpetuates the message that strong, qualified Women of Color are vulnerable to the whims of political systems and cabinet leadership.
Demand justice for Dr. Medlock by signing the petition for Governor Polis to bring her back as the Commissioner of the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA).