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DPS Extends Kaiser Permanente Contract Amidst Concerns

  //health-fitness.news-articles.net/content/2026/ .. -kaiser-permanente-contract-amidst-concerns.html
  Published in Health and Fitness on Friday, February 20th 2026 at 20:23 GMT by CBS News
      Locales: Colorado, UNITED STATES

DENVER, Colorado - February 21, 2026 - The Denver Public Schools (DPS) board voted Thursday evening to extend its contract with Kaiser Permanente for the provision of mental health services to students, despite lingering and significant concerns regarding the quality of care provided. The decision, reached after a heated debate and substantial public outcry, is framed as a conditional extension designed to force improvements in a program initially intended to address a critical shortage of mental health professionals within the school system.

The original partnership, launched in 2022, aimed to bolster mental health support for Denver's student population. The district, like many across the nation, was struggling with insufficient resources to meet the growing demand for these crucial services. However, from the outset, the collaboration with Kaiser Permanente has been plagued by complaints from families and advocacy groups. These criticisms centered on lengthy wait times for appointments, perceptions of inadequate therapeutic care, and breakdowns in communication between Kaiser Permanente staff, school personnel, and families.

These concerns were formally validated last month with the release of an independent review of the DPS-Kaiser Permanente partnership. The review substantiated many of the complaints, highlighting systemic issues within the program. Specifically, the report cited deficiencies in staffing levels, inadequate training for mental health professionals assigned to schools, and a lack of effective communication protocols between Kaiser Permanente and DPS staff. The report painted a picture of a program struggling to deliver on its promise despite the urgent need it was created to fulfill.

"We heard the community, we heard the experts," stated board member Yesenia Perez following the vote. "We are committed to ensuring that our students have access to high-quality mental health support. This extension isn't a blank check; it's a commitment to improvement, coupled with accountability measures."

The terms of the extended contract, which now runs through the 2025-2026 school year, include specific requirements for Kaiser Permanente. The healthcare provider is mandated to develop and implement a detailed action plan addressing the findings of the independent review. This plan must outline concrete steps to improve staffing, enhance training programs, and establish clearer, more consistent communication channels. Furthermore, Kaiser Permanente is expected to demonstrably increase the number of qualified mental health professionals dedicated to serving DPS students.

However, the decision was not without dissent. Board member Scott Jenkins expressed significant reservations, stating, "I'm not convinced that we've seen enough improvement to justify this renewal. While I appreciate the proposed changes, I remain skeptical about their effectiveness. But, I'm willing to give them another chance to demonstrate their commitment to providing quality care, and to hold them accountable if those improvements aren't realized." This sentiment reflects a broader tension within the board - a desire to provide vital services while simultaneously ensuring accountability and quality control.

The extension of the contract comes at a particularly critical time. Rates of student anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges continue to rise nationally, exacerbated by the lingering effects of the pandemic and increasing societal pressures. The lack of accessible, quality mental healthcare can have devastating consequences for students, impacting their academic performance, social-emotional development, and overall well-being.

Advocacy groups remain cautiously optimistic, but emphasize the need for stringent oversight. "This extension must be more than just words on paper," said Maria Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the Denver Parents Coalition. "We need to see tangible improvements in access to care, in the quality of services provided, and in the responsiveness of Kaiser Permanente to the needs of our students and families. The board must be prepared to revisit this contract if these improvements are not forthcoming."

Looking ahead, the DPS board has established a monitoring committee to track Kaiser Permanente's progress in implementing the required improvements. Regular reports will be presented to the board, and public forums will be held to gather feedback from families and advocates. The success of this extended partnership hinges on Kaiser Permanente's ability to address the identified deficiencies and deliver on its promise of providing high-quality mental health support to Denver's students. The district is betting that a conditional extension, coupled with rigorous oversight, will ultimately prove more beneficial than seeking an alternative provider and risking further disruption to vital services.