Human Services awards local grants

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

Several programs that help Larimer County children were augmented in March, when the Larimer County Department of Human Services awarded 10 mini-grants totaling $27,400.

The funds, part of an extra $100,000 given to the department by the county commissioners, went to department projects and community organizations involved with children's issues. A total of 36 grant applications were received.

In January, the commissioners agreed to increase the budgets of both human services and health departments after numerous citizens testified in their behalf at the annual budget hearing. The health department was given an extra $250,000 following the hearing. The commissioners had to cut funding in several other areas to help these programs in a budget year that's very tight.

"I really feel the commissioners have always supported child welfare, and we were really pleased that they gave us some extra money," said Jim Drendel, division manager of Children, Youth and Family Services. "These projects will affect kids and their families, both directly and indirectly."

The Department of Human Services will reserve the rest of its extra funds to supplement next year's budget, which begins July 1, in case there are severe cutbacks in state and federal funding. If funds are still available, other mini-grant applications will be reviewed this summer.

Asked why he decided to award mini-grants with part of the funds, Drendel said, "We didn't want to put it into working positions that wouldn't be here next year, but we did want it to have a positive effect on children." The grant winners were chosen by the department's citizen participation board, a group of volunteers who help guide human services programs in Larimer County.

Projects receiving grants include the following:

• Camp Connect, $8,060. A two-night camp experience for 40 foster children, focused on connecting siblings who may be living in different foster homes.
• Youth mentoring program, $6,200. The funds will pay for parties and recognition events for this volunteer program. Mentors offer a healthy, positive lifestyle to their at-risk mentees. Some mentees have one or more parent who is incarcerated, and some have aged out of long-term foster care.
• Respite care for foster and adoptive families, $2,500. The Kids at Heart program will use the funds for parties, thank-you gifts for foster families and materials used in recruiting new foster, adoptive and respite care families.
• Food coupons, $300. Case service aides will purchase coupon books from local fast-food restaurants to use for treats for children they transport.
• Workshop on treatment alternatives, $1,000. The Colorado Coalition of Adoptive Families will host a workshop focused on alternative treatments for abused/neglected children that could be used in conjunction with traditional therapy.
• Support and retention of foster and kinship families, $2,500. This goal will be accomplished through training, respite and recognition.
• Investigations training, $800. This grant will pay for multi-team investigations training in Huntsville, Ala., for the human services member of the team. This team investigates child abuse and neglect in Larimer County.
• Meth training, $2,811. Funds will cover costs of a two-day conference about the implications of methamphetamine addiction. The conference will be free for professionals who deal with the problem as well as foster parents and kinship providers.
• Christmas party for the Foster and Adoptive Families of Larimer County, $2,400. This event, for 300 families, will be held at The Ranch.
• Estes Park Nonprofit Resource Center, $850. Funds will cover the first year's costs, including collection of materials and computer software for the resource center. The center's goal is to improve the functioning of local nonprofits and to connect them with local and national funding sources.