JFS is bridging the gap in the mental health crisis

Last year, we shared that JFS received a two-year Caring for Denver Nurse Practitioner grant that will strengthen our mental health services and allow us to do even more to help those who can benefit from mental health treatment with a focus on connecting individuals who need psychiatric medication and related therapy with a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP). Now, we’re excited to introduce James Camp, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, to our community. 

James’ career is as varied as the patients he supports, from earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology to enlisting in the U.S. Navy, where he worked as a builder in the Seabees (Construction Battalion). He later returned to school to obtain a second bachelor’s degree, this time in Nursing, and began working as a critical care and emergency room nurse. After the September 11 tragedy, James was appointed as a Navy Nurse Corps Officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve. During that time, he deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan twice, and later to New York City during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. After returning from Afghanistan, James began his master’s program in psychiatry with the intention of using his skillset to assist U.S. combat veterans and the general public. After 25 years, he retired from the Navy as a Commander. 

James has more than 24 years of nursing experience and a comprehensive understanding of community mental health and hospital medicine. He joined JFS after working at the Jefferson Center for Mental Health as a psychiatric nurse practitioner for the past six years. 

The Caring for Denver Nurse Practitioner grant enabled us to hire James as a full-time employee to provide psychiatric medication services to our Denver clients. Since December, James has been working collaboratively with JFS therapists and external referring therapists to ensure the proper medication and dosage are prescribed for the acute and chronic mental health conditions of our current clients. 

While James is building the necessary infrastructure to support this new position, he jumped right in and is seeing clients (mostly around trauma and substance abuse) and is growing his caseload. He will help our Holocaust survivors and their families, refugees receiving mental health treatment, clients seen through our outpatient mental health program, and KidSuccess clients.  

One of the things James appreciates most about JFS is that the agency offers centralized care and wrap-around services for the community, especially the vulnerable and underserved populations. Not only is he working with clients to address their mental health struggles to support them on their wellness journey, but he also determines which additional services they need and how JFS can step in to help. 

“I’m most excited about the opportunity to set up this program. I look forward to applying my skillset to benefit the community,” shared James. “I don’t only want the program to be sustainable in the long-term, but I want to see it expand so we can provide even more services throughout the community.” 

James can also accept outside referrals from therapy-only providers who struggle to keep up with medication-only clients’ needs, as well as clients seeking medication-only services. This expansion increases access to psychiatric care providers and medication management for clients who are uninsured, underinsured, and covered by Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance within the City and County of Denver. 

Learn more about our mental health programs today.