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County hears reports from behavioral‑health providers; board approves DHS disbursements, MOU and incentive pay policy
Summary
Nonprofits A Way Out and Aspen Hope Center reported rising demand for substance‑use and mental‑health services; the board approved Human Services financial disbursements ($1,200,275.23 EFT/EBT), a Colorado Works MOU and a new incentive pay policy to retain staff.
Two nonprofit behavioral‑health providers described rising need for substance‑use and mental‑health services in Garfield County on May 19 as the Board of County Commissioners considered routine Human Services items.
A Way Out, which provides substance‑use treatment and follow‑up case management, told commissioners it served 437 Garfield County clients in the prior year against a goal of 310 and reported a 73.4% one‑year sobriety rate among clients who remained in their program and follow‑up. Executive Director Becky Gordon and Clinical Director Kim Bridal said growth in demand has required new peer supports and bilingual liaison work to reach Spanish‑speaking families.
The Aspen Hope Center reported nearly 20,000 client encounters across the region and said it provides a suicide/crisis hotline and school‑based clinicians in 13 local schools. Erin Mitchell, the center's executive director, said the organization fielded about 1,300 crisis calls in the year and is expanding school‑embedded services and hospital‑based crisis response to reduce emergency department use.
Board actions and human‑services administration: The Board approved the department's April EFT and EBT disbursements totaling $1,200,275.23, representing client benefits (food assistance) and provider payments. The board also approved a memorandum of understanding with the Colorado Department of Human Services to continue administration of the Colorado Works (cash assistance) program for the county for July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026.
To address staffing pressures, the board approved a Garfield County Human Services "incentive pay" policy authorizing targeted payments to exempt staff who perform duties beyond their normal scope; the policy requires county‑manager approval for each instance. County leaders said the policy aims to reduce burnout and retain critical staff in child welfare and case management.
Emergency planning and other DHS items: Human Services staff reported completion of an Emergency Support Function (ESF) 6 mass‑care and shelter plan, including role assignments, an evacuation center checklist and partner contact lists; staff will conduct tabletop exercises and trainings in 2025.
Ending: Commissioners thanked the providers and human‑services staff for their work and asked for continued reporting on outcomes. The board approved the fiscal and administrative items with motions during the May 19 meeting.
