Gilpin County applies for attorney general-funded youth mental health grant to extend teen programs

The Gilpin County Board of Commissioners voted 3-0 to authorize submission of a Youth Mental Health and Well-being Challenge Grant application to the Colorado Office of the Attorney General and Department of Law.

Grant staff described the award as a no-match opportunity that aligns with the county’s existing teen and youth programming. Jamie Boyle, grants manager, said the county would request a smaller budget in the grant’s first year and full funding for the subsequent two years to create a planned overlap with an existing substance-abuse block grant that expires in mid-2026: “we would be requesting a much lower budget for the first year and then, full funding, for the, for the following 2 years.” The application requires a partnering school district; Gilpin County School District RE‑1 has agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding and the county’s draft MOU has had county legal review.

Program staff said the grant would allow continuation of current services and expand prevention-focused youth activities. Jacob Rippey, youth program supervisor, reported 44 registered teens in the program and an average monthly attendance of about eight; childcare programming runs ages 5–12 and the teen program serves older youth up to 18. Staff said the grant would support field trips, life-skills programming and peer-engagement activities and would permit collaboration with nearby organizations such as Teens Inc.

The board authorized submitting the application. Commissioners and staff noted the quick turnaround on the grant timeline; the application deadline required expedited review and the MOU can be finalized after application submission if the board approves the grant application.

Ending: County staff will submit the application and, if awarded, will finalize MOUs with school partners and adjust budgets to avoid duplicate funding with other state grants.