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Chaffee County moves to apply for state co-responder grant to expand behavioral-health response
Summary
County staff said it will apply to the Colorado Department of Human Services for up to $301,000 to transition the local co-responder program into the sheriff's office; the application is on tomorrow’s consent agenda and commissioners discussed pulling it for fuller consideration.
Chaffee County staff told commissioners on Jan. 9 that the county will apply to the Colorado Department of Human Services, Behavioral Health Administration, for the state’s co-responder grant program and request the maximum award of $301,000.
The application would move the county’s existing co-responder model — a partnership that pairs clinical behavioral-health professionals with law enforcement — from the nonprofit Solvista into a grant-funded program housed within the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office. County staff said the state changed eligibility so only local government entities may now apply and that consolidating the positions under the sheriff’s office would simplify data-sharing and enable expanded hours beyond the current weekday, business-hours coverage.
Why it matters: Staff said demand for co-responder contacts has grown substantially in recent years and that a county-run program could reduce inappropriate criminalization of people with mental-health needs, provide case management, and better align clinician and law-enforcement work. The county aims to have a transition plan ready so, if awarded, the program could begin in July — the date Solvista’s current funding is scheduled to sunset.
Details and timeline: County staff said the draft application is due this week and that the state expects to notify award recipients in March. Staffing models presented to the board suggested the grant would cover roughly 50–60% of program costs; the county intends to pursue other grant sources (including opioid-settlement funds) and examine sheriff’s budget options cover the balance. Staff described contingency scenarios ranging from an “essential” minimum program to a larger, optimal staffing model, depending on funding levels.
Commissioners’ next steps: The application was placed on the consent agenda for tomorrow’s meeting. Commissioners discussed whether to pull the item from consent to allow fuller visible discussion; one commissioner urged removing it from consent so the board and public could hear details. No formal vote on the application occurred during the Jan. 9 briefing.
Who spoke: County staff presenting the application and describing the timeline; Sarah Bridal (identified in the meeting as the current clinical coordinator for the co-responder program at Solvista); Deputy Jeff Cortez (appeared with earlier presentations to the board and was referenced); multiple commissioners who asked procedural and funding questions.
What is not yet decided: The board had not voted on the application as of Jan. 9. The final award decision is by the state; the county’s application and any county funding commitments are contingent on that outcome.
