Who is Rachael Porter?

About Me

In August of 2012, I moved to Denver from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with 4 suitcases and a dream of living in Colorado and serving the special needs community. That dream quickly took root after being hired as a behavioral therapist and later promoted to the executive leadership team at a behavioral health/ PASA organization. For over 10 years, I have been supporting families with intellectual and developmental differences through developing programs and striving for continuity of care. 

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Over a decade of experience has made it clear:  families and organizations need an unparalleled amount of support; but it’s challenging to navigate the system. In my role as Manager of Family Services, I developed a deep understanding of state processes and Medicaid billing. However, I quickly recognized Medicaid and HCPF are broken systems. My heart goes out to the families trying to navigate and obtain services with little to no guidance, and I have made it my mission to not only become an expert in the field, but also to use that expertise to provide the support and education Colorado families so desperately need.

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1 in 5 Coloradans need access to mental health services, but 80% of those individuals are not receiving care. I came to the realization that I could be doing more. Too many families, individuals, and organizations are all too familiar with the inadequate supports given by the state that cause harmful and detrimental consequences for IDD and mental health agencies.