Castle Valley counters mental health crisis one family at a time.
Castle Valley Children’s Clinic is making headlines in The Sopris Sun for its commitment to addressing mental health needs in the Roaring Fork Valley.
Castle Valley Children’s Clinic in Carbondale and New Castle has announced the addition of behavioral health services, made possible by funding from Colorado House Bill 22-1302 and the American Rescue Plan Act. Serving families in the Roaring Fork Valley since 2011, the clinic is responding to a growing need for mental health support, especially among children and teenagers. Medical Director Dr. Carey Levin emphasized the urgency, noting the rising rates of depression and suicide among young people, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftereffects.
The clinic welcomed Esmeralda Osorio, a bilingual and bicultural behavioral health clinician, to lead the new program. Osorio brings a deep understanding of the local Latino community and previously worked with students requiring specialized support. Her approach integrates behavioral health into Castle Valley’s patient-centered care model, aiming to reduce stigma and improve access for underserved populations. Osorio’s role includes working with children and caregivers, such as new mothers, to provide comprehensive mental health support.
Local parent Caroline Cares praised the clinic for addressing a critical gap in family care, highlighting the value of behavioral health services for both children and their caregivers. She noted that postpartum challenges and the demands of parenting high-needs children often require expert guidance, which Castle Valley now offers under one roof.
By extending care beyond its pediatric patients to caregivers, Castle Valley aims to create a supportive ecosystem that fosters mental well-being for entire families. This integration of services marks a significant step forward in addressing mental health challenges in the community.
Onboarding Osorio entailed her sitting in on initial appointments with pregnant mothers and families and letting patients know about the kind of care she provides.
“The clinic is staying true to its model by trying to reach the community,” Osorio said. “What it takes [is a] bilingual, bicultural person providing” such care, and thus “reducing the stigma a lot of our Latin American population to access that service.”
