Samantha Rabins, LCSW

Samantha Rabins is an Assistant Program Manager with the Mental Health Center of Denver supervising the Crisis Intervention Response Unit (CIRU). She oversees clinicians (i.e. “Co-Responders”) who directly partner with Denver Police Department, Denver Fire Department, and Denver Sheriff’s Department; the team also consists of clinicians who partner with Denver’s Regional Transportation District and case managers who support the team in providing follow up. The clinicians assist Denver First Responders in providing on-scene de-escalation and crisis support to help connect people experiencing a mental health crisis to supportive services. Samantha originally joined CIRU as a Co-Responder in 2016 at the start of the program and worked primarily with Denver Police. Working in the field of crisis, partnering with Denver’s First Responders, and growing the CIRU has been a highlight of her career, and she continues to look forward to what the team and partnerships can do to support the larger community.

Michelle Muething, LPC

Michelle has always had a curiosity for human behavior and a fascination with the brain and all that is has the capacity to do. In 1999 she proudly received her graduate degree in Clinical Psychology from Western Carolina University. One of her first positions was as a crisis response counselor in South Carolina. The work was energizing and an instant fit. In 2001 Michelle took a job as a crisis clinician in Indianapolis and with amazing mentors, a supportive program, and law enforcement guidance, she found her area of expertise – crisis response – working in the trenches!

During the day Michelle taught various classes in the Psychology Department at Indiana University – IUPUI and in the evening worked on the crisis team. These two roles allowed for learning, teaching, professional growth, and perfecting skills in the world of crisis response.

In 2010, Michelle and her family relocated to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, where she was fortunate enough to be offered a position with a foundation that was forming a new agency in the Roaring Fork Valley. With crisis as the agency’s focus, Michelle brought her skills to the table. The Aspen Hope Center opened June 1, 2010 and she was one of the first two mobile crisis clinicians. Again, conducting crisis work and educating law enforcement, Michelle found herself back with her two passions. In 2011 she took on the role as Program Director and began doing more education in the community, while signing crisis contracts with other businesses and agencies. In 2014 she accepted the position of Executive Director and has continued to grow the agency in the valley as well as help other communities build, train, and find success with mobile crisis teams. Despite the title of Executive Director, Michelle will always be a crisis clinician, and will always jump to work “in the trenches”.

Holly Swan, PhD

Holly Swan is a Senior Associate at Abt Associates with research and evaluation expertise in criminal justice, behavioral health, and health services research. Her primary research and evaluation focus areas include community supervision and reentry, diversion and alternatives to arrest, and the intersection of health and justice.