Axis Health System Awarded $100K SWORD Grant to Expand Addiction Treatment and Crisis Services

by Colleen Donley | Oct 27, 2026 | News, Press Releases

October 27, 2026

Axis Receives $100K Grant to Expand Addiction Treatment & Crisis Services

Funding will expand access to walk-in psychiatry, medication-assisted treatment and behavioral health crisis care in Southwest Colorado.

DURANGO, Colo. — Axis Health System has been awarded a $100,000 community grant from the Southwest Opioid Response District (SWORD) to expand access to opioid use disorder treatment, psychiatric services, and behavioral health crisis care in Southwest Colorado.

The $100,000 award will help Axis strengthen an essential component of the region’s behavioral health system while reducing reliance on emergency departments, law enforcement, and other crisis response resources for individuals who can be appropriately served in a community-based treatment setting.

“We are grateful to the SWORD Council for investing in services that directly address the needs of our communities,” said Haley Leonard Saunders, Vice President of Strategy and Communications at Axis Health System. “This funding helps us build on the services already available at our Regional Crisis Center and expand access to evidence-based treatment for individuals and families throughout Southwest Colorado.”

The SWORD grant is funded through opioid settlement dollars resulting from legal settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors. SWORD oversees the allocation of these funds across Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, and San Juan counties and participating municipalities, with an emphasis on expanding treatment, recovery support, prevention, and connections to care.

Expanding Walk-In Psychiatry and Addiction Treatment

Axis has recently expanded services at its Durango Regional Crisis Center to include walk-in psychiatric care and medication-assisted treatment (MAT), creating additional opportunities for individuals to receive timely care without a scheduled appointment.

Walk-in psychiatry and medication-assisted treatment services are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Individuals can receive an initial behavioral health screening and, when clinically appropriate, a psychiatric evaluation, medication management, and connections to follow-up care. These evidence-based treatments can help reduce cravings, manage withdrawal symptoms, and support long-term recovery.

“This investment will help us connect more people to treatment when they need it most,” said Saunders. “One of the biggest challenges in substance use treatment is the gap between someone asking for help and actually receiving care. By bringing psychiatric services, addiction treatment, and crisis support together, we can shorten that gap and provide a more direct pathway into treatment and recovery.”

About Axis Health System

Axis Health System is a nonprofit, integrated healthcare organization and HRSA-supported Community Health Center and Behavioral Health Safety Net Provider serving communities throughout Southwest and Western Colorado. Axis provides primary care, behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, dental care, pharmacy services, crisis response, and care coordination. Through its integrated, whole-person approach, Axis works to improve access to high-quality healthcare for individuals and families, regardless of their ability to pay.

For more information, visit www.axishealthsystem.org.