Our History
From Mental Health Corporation of Denver to WellPower: Over 30 Years of History
Founded in 1989, WellPower began as the Mental Health Corporation of Denver, established to serve as Denver’s community mental health center and provide accessible, high‑quality behavioral health care to residents of the City and County of Denver. From its earliest days, the organization focused on meeting people where they are—delivering compassionate, evidence‑based mental health services to individuals and families who might otherwise face barriers to care. Over the next three decades, the organization grew steadily in response to the evolving mental health needs of the Denver community, expanding programs, locations and partnerships across the city.
During the 1990s and early 2000s, WellPower began introducing services beyond “traditional” mental health care, such as an in-house pharmacy, psychiatric rehabilitation services and intensive day treatment services for children.
In 2004, WellPower changed its name from Mental Health Corporation of Denver to Mental Health Center of Denver – the name it would use until its next rebrand in 2022. From 2004 to 2006, WellPower opened additional programs for the community, increasing access to services for youth and individuals with commercial insurance.
By 2017, WellPower was serving 15,000 people per year in Denver and had opened additional services to meet community needs, such as the Walk-In Crisis Center, Emerson St. for Teens & Young Adults and Dahlia Campus for Health & Well-Being. During this time, WellPower also created the co-responder program with Denver Police, pairing a mental health professional with police officers responding to crisis calls.
In 2022, the Mental Health Center of Denver officially rebranded as WellPower. The new name reflects a broader, more holistic approach to care and emphasizes the essential connection between mental health and overall well‑being. Leadership recognized that the organization’s services had expanded far beyond traditional clinical treatment to include comprehensive supports that help people thrive in all areas of life. The WellPower name was chosen to better communicate the organization’s mission of empowering people to overcome barriers and achieve lasting well-being through collaborative behavioral health care and comprehensive support.
Today, WellPower is Colorado’s largest community mental health center and a nationally recognized leader in innovative behavioral health care. The organization provides a wide range of services for children, teens, adults and families, including outpatient therapy, psychiatric medication management, crisis response, intensive case management and psychiatric rehabilitation services. WellPower also addresses the social factors that impact mental health by offering supportive housing, employment and education services, financial wellness resources and access to basic needs such as nutritious food. Care is delivered through more than 30 locations and nearly 200 community‑based sites throughout Denver, as well as via telehealth.
Each year, WellPower serves more than 20,000 people across Denver, helping individuals and families build resilience, recover from mental health challenges and achieve lasting well‑being. By combining clinical excellence with community‑based support, WellPower continues to strengthen Denver’s mental health system and advance a vision of a healthier, more connected community.