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Weld County approves opioid-abatement telehealth co-responder grant application
Summary
The Board approved applying for Colorado Opioid Abatement Council funds to continue a pilot virtual telehealth co-responder program to support deputies in remote areas.
The Weld County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 3 approved an application to the Colorado Opioid Abatement Council to fund a virtual telehealth co-responder program and authorized the sheriff’s office to submit the application electronically.
County Sheriff Donnie Patch told commissioners the program pairs remote telehealth behavioral health responders with deputies responding to mental-health and substance-use incidents in far-flung parts of the county. "This is a pretty important program to us," Patch said, describing a pilot run with Rio Blanco County and noting the county estimated it would take "about 21 full time staff" to sustain a traditional co-responder model across Weld County’s geography.
Patch said Weld County joined a telehealth pilot because full-time colocated responders are not practical in remote areas. "We've had 6 callouts with them through the last part of 2024... we've already had 3 in January, and it's been highly successful," he said, adding dispatch now initiates the telehealth response rather than deputies.
Commissioner James, who moved approval, said he is a "big supporter of co respondent programs" and called the telehealth approach "encouraging." Commissioner Maxey seconded the motion. The board approved the application by voice vote.
The application positions the County as the government partner so the County Sheriffs of Colorado can participate in the opioid-abatement-funded program; Patch said the County would "facilitate the funding, and CSOC will manage it to pay the corporation." The resolution text and the board’s recorded action authorize electronic submission only; no dollar amount for this specific opioid-abatement award was stated during the meeting.
The board’s action was taken during new business after an initial presentation from Sheriff Patch and with limited public discussion. The item advanced the county’s involvement in a managed, telehealth-based co-responder model rather than committing the county to hire the full complement of on-site responders discussed in analysis figures presented to commissioners.
