To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Katherine Smith, Director, Community Resources
Prepared By:
prepared
Brad Kamby, Division Manager of Judicial Services, Community Resources
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presenter
Presenter: Katherine Smith, Director, Community Resources
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Subject:
title
3:15 PM *Approval to Apply for Grant through the Colorado Trust
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The Community Resources Department is requesting that the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approve an application for a grant offered through The Colorado Trust, Community Resilience Initiative. If approved, funds will nearly cover the salaries for an additional year of 2 Temporary Grant Funded positions which are currently funded through ARPA. The grant will fund 97% of the salary and benefits of the 2 positions until December 31, 2026, ($343,00 out of $365,000).
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Background and Discussion: In 2022, the Judicial Services Division received ARPA funds from the BOCC to expand the Pretrial Mental Health Program (PMHP) from 2 to 4 positions. These funds have enabled the program to expand its ability to serve the justice system by providing case management and coordinating wrap-around services for justice involved clients with behavioral health conditions. The ARPA funding is set to expire at the end of 2024. If the grant application is approved and funding received, it would provide additional funding to offset nearly all of the salary and benefit cost for the 2 existing temporary grant funded positions through December 2026. The Colorado Trust Community Resilience Initiative is aimed at improving the reach of mental health services to groups in Colorado that have limited access to care, and poor outcomes related to mental health. The target population of the PMHP fits with the goal of the Colorado Trust grant, in that its focus is to improve access to care amongst indigent clients with a crime in Arapahoe County.
Fiscal Impact: There would be no fiscal impact for the grant other than an increase in grant funding for existing positions, if received.
Alternatives: The Board of County Commissioners could choose not to approve application for these grant funds. If this alternative is selected, the current PMHP will reduce back to 2 positions at the end of 2024 unless other funding is identified.
Alignment with Strategic Plan:
☒Be fiscally sustainable
☐Provide essential and mandated service
☒Be community focused
Staff Recommendation: Community Resources staff recommends applying for this funding opportunity to best meet the needs of our community.
Concurrence: Todd Weaver, Finance Department and Tiffanie Bleau, County Attorney.