Thursday | Sessions & Speakers
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#103 | Ghost Asylums: When Families Become the System for Psychotic Disorders Two Colorado Mad Moms will share their lived experience to highlight how gaps in Colorado’s behavioral health system leave families functioning as de facto treatment providers for loved ones with psychotic spectrum disorders. Family homes become “ghost asylums,” filling the void left by systemic failures in access to care. Kelly Comcowich, MA is a fierce advocate with lived experience caring for a child with severe mental illness. After losing her daughter to suicide, precipitated in part by inadequate mental health systems in Colorado, she advocates to elevate family voices and promote compassionate systemic change. Robin Predny, LPCC, MS, MA is a therapist and advocate with lived experience raising two young adult sons with psychosis-spectrum and bipolar disorders. As a member of Colorado Mad Moms, she bridges clinical expertise with a mother’s perspective to champion stronger systems of care for families navigating severe mental illness. #104 | Elevating the Voices of People with Lived Experience This session elevates the voices of individuals living with behavioral health needs who have experienced justice system involvement. Through this session, members of Bridges Lived Experience Advisory Council will share their wisdom and insights on what does or doesn’t work at the intersection of these two systems. Attendees are invited to identify and embrace practices that are designed to serve clients in ways that truly have positive and meaningful impact. Latisha Quintana, LCSW serves as the Service and Resource Equity Director for Bridges of Colorado. She has dedicated the past two decades of her career serving victims of interpersonal violence, youth in the juvenile system, and individuals with complex behavioral health needs. Jennifer Turner, MSW is the Executive Director of Bridges of Colorado. She developed Bridges – the first of its kind in the nation - and has consulted on the development of similar models nationally. Prior to Bridges, Jennifer’s work focused on collaborative and client-centered approaches to problem-solving for youth with complex-systems involvement. Lottie Elliott, HS transformed lived experience into leadership and advocacy after years of incarceration, trauma, and substance use challenges. She reunited with her son after13 years and has earned an Associate’s degree and behavioral health certifications. Lottie works as a Certified Peer Recovery Coach supporting others and serves on Bridges of Colorado’s LEAC. Barbara Vassis is a family member and advocate for parents of adult children with serious brain illness who has become justice involved rather than receiving appropriate care via a civil safety net. She joined Bridges of Colorado LEAC in November 2023 and speaks for those unable to speak for themselves. Tyler Himelstieb is a 39-year-old identical triplet whose lived experience includes being found incompetent to stand trial and surviving the abuse of 4-point restraints at San Carlos Correctional Facility. Today he chairs the Mental Health Disability Advisory Council at Disability Law Colorado and serves on the Bridges LEAC. Clinical Board Business/Upper Management Bd Cl Bu
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Session Handouts Download at www.cbhc.org starting Sept 1, 2026
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