Denver Indian Health and Family Servs

Denver Indian Health and Family Services occupies a unique position in Denver's recovery community. As the city's only Urban Indian Health Program, DIHFS provides outpatient substance abuse treatment that is not simply translated for Native communities — it is developed within one. For American Indian and Alaska Native adults who have felt unseen or underserved by mainstream addiction treatment programs, DIHFS represents a recovery center where cultural identity is not an afterthought.

The outpatient program at DIHFS allows individuals to engage in structured, ongoing addiction treatment while continuing to live at home and maintain their responsibilities. This model aligns well with longer-term recovery goals: building skills, staying connected to community, and developing sustainable sobriety rather than cycling through short-term crisis care. The clinic's location in West Denver and its weekday schedule — including Tuesday evening hours until 7:00 PM — make consistent attendance realistic for working adults and caregivers.

A meaningful portion of people seeking long-term recovery are managing both substance use and mental health conditions at the same time. DIHFS directly addresses this reality by treating co-occurring disorders — also called dual diagnosis — within its outpatient program. Rather than separating mental health from addiction care, DIHFS treats them together, which reflects how recovery actually works for many people.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the therapeutic foundation of DIHFS's behavioral health services. CBT is a structured, skill-building approach that helps individuals recognize the connections between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors — and develop practical strategies for change. In an outpatient recovery setting, CBT provides tools that participants can apply in real time, day to day, as they navigate life outside a treatment facility.

Recovery does not pause when the clinic closes. DIHFS recognizes this with a set of support features designed to keep participants connected to care between appointments. The patient portal gives individuals access to their health information and communication with the care team. Mobile health services extend reach beyond the physical clinic. And the after-hours nurse line means that when questions or concerns arise in the evening or on a weekend, someone is available to help.

On-site pharmacy services add another practical layer, allowing patients to fill prescriptions related to their care without coordinating across multiple providers. For individuals managing complex recovery needs — particularly those dealing with co-occurring disorders — having medical, behavioral health, and pharmacy services accessible in one place reduces friction and supports continuity of care over the long term.

DIHFS was established to serve American Indian and Alaska Native adults in the Denver metro area — a population that has historically encountered significant barriers within mainstream healthcare and addiction treatment systems. The program is structured as an Urban Indian Health Program, which means its services are specifically designed to meet the needs of Native people living in an urban environment, outside of tribal lands and often far from reservation-based resources.

Accessing care at DIHFS is supported by a wide range of payment options: Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, and self-pay are all accepted, making the outpatient program accessible regardless of insurance status. The clinic can be reached at (303) 953-6600 or by email at [email protected]. For American Indian and Alaska Native adults in Denver looking for a recovery community that reflects who they are, DIHFS offers an outpatient treatment option built with that community — not just for it.