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Commissioners look at co-responder program

John Scarffe
Posted 2/10/23

The Gilpin County Commissioners discussed applications for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds during a work session on February 7, 2023, at 9 a.m. at the Courthouse in Central City. The

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Commissioners look at co-responder program

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The Gilpin County Commissioners discussed applications for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds during a work session on February 7, 2023, at 9 a.m. at the Courthouse in Central City. The Commissioners also discussed a coresponder program for mental health as well as the grant program.

County Manager Ray Rears said that since this is a work session, no decisions can be made, but the Board can give staff direction. Sam Bower, administrative analyst, introduced a discussion about the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for nonprofits. Rears said they have received $1.2 million from ARPA funds.

Most has been allocated, but $354,000 remains. Bower said the Board approved the allocation process in November 2022. The County has received some interest from four nonprofits: the Eagles Nest, Timberline Fire Department, Peak to Peak Rotary, and the Gilpin County Historical Society.

Bower recommended pushing the deadline back for the applications. Rears said it would be up to the Board for the ranking and how much they want to contribute for each applicant. The Board agreed to change the application date to April 3.

Alisa Witt, Public Health Coordinator, along with Bower, introduced a discussion of pursuing a co-responder program. Additional personnel in attendance included Sheriff Kevin Armstrong, Cory Carol with the Gilpin County Ambulance Authority, Laura Solomon with County Human Services, and Andrea Turk with the Jefferson Center for Mental Health.

Rears said the County has money in the budget for seed money for such a program. He wanted to get a clear direction from the Board on the direction for the co-responder program.

Sheriff Armstrong said that in an emergency response, dispatch gets the information and tries to determine the caller’s crisis. Dispatch then gets attempts to find out if the person involved is in imminent danger to him or herself or others.

Witt said that state law allows the County to hold someone for up to 72 hours. Armstrong said that then they are evaluated. The Sheriff’s Office receives about 50 calls per year for mental health issues.

Armstrong said callers may try to use medical facilities for some type of intervention in substance abuse issues. People medicate themselves with alcohol or illegal drugs. It is up to the Sheriff’s Office to determine if there is an imminent crisis.

If the caller voluntarily signs the paperwork for help, they go to the Crisis Center. The co-responder program would provide someone who is professionally trained in counseling and medication. When a person is in crisis, sometimes they need to be stabilized with proper medication. It is a constant battle to find the right doses and medication.

Witt said there is an April deadline for grant applications, and other grants are available, so Public Health should have its own vehicle in order that the County doesn’t need to take deputies or paramedics out of the county. Gateways to the Rockies has a grant for the next two years that would also involve Jefferson and Clear Creek counties.

Witt said that from research she had done, it makes more sense financially for the County to have a stand-alone program. Commissioner Sandy Hollingsworth said the ultimate goal is that the co-reponder would be housed in the Sheriff’s office.

Armstrong said this is a lengthy process. It’s not going to happen in a month.

Rears said they will be reaching out to Jefferson Center for Mental Health. They have three models to share with the sheriff. Alisa Witt will stay as project manager; the grant manager will apply for a grant depending on the model selected; and then the County will get a quote.

Grant Manager Jamie Boyle presented the life cycle of the grant process. Two main grants are Government/Public funding and Corporate Foundations. This is not free money or charity. It is an investment in a particular idea, project, or initiative.

Grant management needs project management. A grant manager drafts and writes grants, reports on them, tracks, monitors, and records. A grant application can take a year or two depending on the kind of project. Each grant will have an estimated 200 hours of work. Boyle currently has 23 active grant agreements, three applications in process, and seven project ideas in development.

The next regular meeting of the Gilpin County Commission will be on February 14, 2023, at the Courthouse.