To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Michelle Halstead, Director, Commissioners’ Office
Prepared By:
prepared
Kendra Davis, Management Analyst, Commissioners’ Office
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presenter
Presenter: Aurora Mental Health & Recovery Staff
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Subject:
title
3:00 PM *Aid to Agencies Annual Update - Aurora Mental Health & Recovery
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
The purpose of this study session is for Aurora Mental Health & Recovery to provide an annual update regarding their 2026 Aid to Agencies Award.
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Alignment with Strategic Plan: Safe and Healthy Communities - Expand mental and behavioral health service partnerships, crisis response, and co-responder programs.
Background and Discussion: The Arapahoe County Aid to Agencies (A2A) Program provides financial support to nonprofit organizations delivering essential services to Arapahoe County residents. Established in 2008 by the Arapahoe County Board of County Commissioners, the program was created to address critical community needs through strategic partnerships with local nonprofit providers.
In 2025, the program framework was updated to align with Arapahoe Forward and strengthen transparency, accountability, measurable outcomes, and alignment with community-identified needs. The updated framework prioritizes investments that address documented service gaps and improve quality of life for Arapahoe County residents. As part of this, the County identified “Safety Net Providers,” which are nonprofit organizations that deliver essential services to vulnerable or underserved populations. These organizations are typically distinguished by one or more of the following:
• Serving as the sole or primary provider of a critical service
• Offering services that do not duplicate existing County programs
• Addressing high-need and high-impact service areas with demonstrated community demand
Aurora Mental Health & Recovery is one of the two safety net providers funded in 2026.
Each Safety Net organization is asked to provide an annual presentation to the Board of County Commissioners that includes:
• A brief overview of the program
• Key successes and accomplishments
• Data on the populations served
• A summary of how the Aid to Agencies funding has been or will be used
• Any anticipated challenges
For 2026, Aurora Mental Health & Recovery was awarded $280,000.
Alternatives: N/A
Fiscal Impact: This is an informational update.
Alignment with Strategic Implementation Strategies: N/A
Staff Recommendation: N/A
Concurrence: N/A