Dr. Medlock's Profound Impact and Performance Evaluation Release
In November 2022, Dr. Medlock received a solid performance review and was reappointed as BHA Commissioner for four years by Governor Polis. Polis’ former Chief of Staff, Lisa Kaufmann presented the review. A JFM source shared a copy of this performance review and JFM is releasing it here.
The JFM movement emerged as a collective voice demanding justice for Dr. Medlock who was unjustly dismissed from her role as Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) Commissioner in April 2023. JFM documented Medlock’s resilience in the drop, A Letter from JFM: Specific Examples of Harm and Racism from Across Colorado Behavioral Health Stakeholders.
Amid the outcry, numerous testimonials have emerged highlighting Dr. Medlock's profound impact and leadership (the following list is a summary):
Inclusion of Diverse Communities: Dr. Medlock actively engaged with communities across Colorado, ensuring that underrepresented voices were included as thought partners.
Integrity and Authenticity: Dr. Medlock's unwavering integrity and commitment to her values were evident in her work. She consistently elevated the work of others and prioritized the well-being of the people she served.
Visionary Leadership: Dr. Medlock's bold vision for behavioral healthcare in Colorado resonated with many. She championed equity, collaboration, and community-informed practices, inspiring significant change and leaving a lasting impact on the state. Medlock said in a BHA media release celebrating House Bill 22-1278 being signed into law, “There is value in meeting people where they are, in the neighborhoods the BHA serves, and learning from them. I invite Coloradans with behavioral health lived experiences to serve alongside me, providing recommendations and community solutions.”
Passion for Equal Access: Dr. Medlock passionately believed in equal access to behavioral health care for all individuals. Her commitment to this cause drove her work, and she advocated for a state government that prioritized the well-being of its citizens.
Note: When this drop was released, all links were active. This is important because we believe the current BHA leadership is actively attempting to erase Medlock’s contributions.
“We are showing up and getting personal with the work at hand. This is not just about us building a system that is meaningful, accessible, and trusted. It is about building a system that we would want our own family members to be a part of,” said Dr. Morgan Medlock, quoted in the BHA’s launch media release.
The release continues, “The BHA believes all people in Colorado deserve to experience whole-person health, and we envision a world in which behavioral health services in Colorado are accessible, meaningful, and trusted. Therefore we have made it our mission to co-create a people-first behavioral health system that meets the needs of all people in Colorado.”
The hyperfocus on Dr. Medlock’s performance by those in positions of power and privilege is a recognizable tool of oppression as the same performance fixation and public DEI backlash ramped up after she hired Latinx-identifying Maycheco and then attempted to hire the Black-identifying woman Chief of Commissioner’s Office. Both highly-qualified candidates participated in robust hiring processes, including multiple rounds of interviews. It is clear that Dr. Medlock was subjected to additional scrutiny, performance double standards, and higher expectations than her white counterparts because of her identity. Despite efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, Medlock found herself marginalized and facing biases and barriers that hindered her career progression, particularly when it came to ascending to a position of power and authority.
Dr. Medlock’s removal is a clear example of how bias, discrimination, and racism manifest. Her unjust removal from her position as BHA Commissioner is a prime example of the systemic racism and harm that WOC leaders continue to face in government and leadership positions, read JFM’s drop Creating Psychological Safety for Black Women in the Workplace: Key Takeaways to learn more.
It is time to recognize and address these issues head-on, and to demand that qualified leaders like Medlock are not subject to unjust removals based on political whims or systemic biases. The whole-person health of millions of people in Colorado depends on it.
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The power of this movement is sourced from the JFM network. JFM is a volunteer collective and in response to the increase in tips and stories supporting the fight for justice, the collective created a new information-sharing tool! Share information with JFM using this form.
Sign the Petition to Reinstate Dr. Medlock: Demand justice for Dr. Medlock signed the petition for Governor Polis to bring her back as the Commissioner of the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA).
Tell a story: If you have benefited from Dr. Medlock and her leadership, show up and uplift a true people-first leader dedicated to community and transformational reform.
Sign the Petition to Reinstate Dr. Medlock
On Monday, April 17, 2023, Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) Commissioner, Morgan Medlock, MD, MDiv, MPH, a Black community leader, was unjustly removed from her Colorado cabinet position without cause. Her removal risks the lives of millions of people in Colorado who deserve accessible, trauma-informed, and culturally-responsive behavioral health care. It also perpetuates the message that strong, qualified Women of Color are vulnerable to the whims of political systems and cabinet leadership.
Demand justice for Dr. Medlock by signing the petition for Governor Polis to bring her back as the Commissioner of the Colorado Behavioral Health Administration (BHA).