Award Recipients
Sterling
Biography for –Karla Rosas
Contact Information – (Work phone) 970-522-4549; KarlaR@CentennialMHC.org
Karla Rosas is a lifelong resident of Sterling, and the spirit of the Eastern Plains is definitely in her blood. After graduating from Sterling High School, she got her B.S. in Psychology, with a Minor in Human Development and Family Studies from Colorado State University, followed by her Masters in Agency Counseling from the University of Northern Colorado in 1995.
Rosas has worked with Centennial for 23 years, in varying clinical and administrative capacities, and brought her knowledge, critical thinking, human understanding and sheer passion for improving things to every one of those positions.
During her eight years as Logan County Director, Rosas became an even more visible voice and community champion, helping to build collaborative bridges across health, human services, education, law enforcement and criminal justice sectors for the wellbeing of Centennial’s clientele and truly all Logan County residents. She and her Logan team were honored in 2002 with the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council’s Golden Light Bulb Award for their innovative Community-Based Management Program for Youth Involved in the Criminal Justice System. Rosas was also recognized as Administrator of the Year in 2006 by the Colorado Child and Adolescent Mental Health Coalition’s Exemplary Service Award.
Given that success, Rosas was promoted in 2008 to a new Centennial position as Community Resource Director, where her talents at collaboration, consensus building and passion for resource development have brought dramatic increases in private foundation, as well as increased state grant funding to Northeast Colorado. Rosas has led the grant writing team that has literally brought millions of new dollars to our region in support of improved behavioral health across all populations, from the youngest among us to general adult and criminal justice populations.
Rosas’ influence has been felt for years across our region, as she has served on a variety of committees and councils and brought her professional passion for child welfare, suicide prevention and the general wellbeing of others. Currently, she serves as Chair of the SB-94 Juvenile Services Planning Committee for the 13th Judicial District and Co-Chair of the Crisis Intervention Committee for Communities Coming Together for Mental Health. Rosas also serves on the Board of Rural Solutions, Logan County Department of Social Services Permanency Planning Review Team, Northeast Women’s Health Coalition, Baby Bear Hugs SafeCare Implementation Team, Northeast Colorado Public Affairs Collaborative, and is Centennial’s Public Information Officer. Additionally, Rosas represents our region on the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council’s Training/Development Committee and Public Information Officer Committee. In 2008, Rosas served on Governor Ritter’s Child Welfare Action Cultural Competency Subcommittee, contributing to training and process improvements still being implemented today across Colorado.
To bring a bit of balance to her world, Rosas’ favorite ways to recharge are to spend time with her family—husband, son, stepdaughters and grandchildren—travel, snow ski and play the piano.