Circumstances and leadership continue to evolve with the Colorado Department of Human Services behavioral health programs, as Nancy VanDeMark plans to return to a private healthcare consulting at the end of September. DHS is promoting Robert Werthwein to the role.

VanDeMark has  led the Office of Behavioral Health since  2015.

“Dr. Werthwein is a dedicated public servant and consummate professional,” said Reggie Bicha, DHS’s executive director, said in a statement. “His deep experience in early childhood mental health combined with his strong leadership running 24/7 facilities for CDHS position him well for success in this new role.”

Bicha spoke of VanDeMark’s  “unwavering commitment” to helping clients while holding the the system accountable.

“She has helped us immeasurably in creating a 21st century human services department,” Bicha said.

DHS said Werthwein had worked on complex issues and put in significant reforms in child welfare, including the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline System, prevention strategies and training to spot at-risk children sooner.

“Behavioral health is an integral part of Coloradans’ well-being, ” Werthwein said in a statement. “This has been evident both in serving Colorado’s children, youth and families, and in my prior experience working in mental health. I look forward to continued service of Coloradans and their behavioral health needs in this new capacity.”

He has doctorate in clinical psychology from Howard University and a postdoctoral fellowship with the Harris Infant Mental Health Program at the University of Colorado.

He has been the director of DHS’s Office of Children, Youth and Families since April 2015 and he has been with the agency since February 2013. Werthwein joined DHS after working as a researcher and clinician at the Kempe Center and as the director of operations for the University of Colorado Depression Center.

(Editor’s note: This story was updated to include when VanDeMark  took over as head of the Office of Behavioral Health.)