Happy Leap Year! 📆🐸

This month we will be providing updates on several projects in the category of Improve Crisis & Acute Services. When people in the community face crisis situations, they may need to get treatment or care in a hospital or institutional setting. These emergencies can sometimes result in long-term stays in such settings. We believe that by expanding preventative services, improving crisis response, and strengthening transitions, people are more likely to go back to their homes and communities. We are excited to share several examples of success this month related to the 2.01 Behavioral Health Transition Community Grants. This months newsletter will also provide an update on project 2.02 Expand Behavioral Health Mobile Crisis Teams.

~ The ARPA Team

2.01 Behavioral Health Transition Community Grants Success Stories

HCPF is excited to share updates from recipients of $14M grant funding for the expansion of behavioral health transition services from institutional settings to community care.

This work connects to SB 19-222, which requires all proposed projects to align with efforts to ensure high-quality behavioral health system access. This system will serve people regardless of payer type or acuity level, including individuals living with severe behavioral health disorders and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.

The project provides short-term grant funding for behavioral health crisis and transition services between residential/inpatient and outpatient care. Grantees are required to:

• Support Medicaid members moving from an institutional setting or correctional facility to the community
• Focus on increasing capacity for community-based care

Company Name: Jefferson Center for Mental Health

Locations: Multiple locations across Jefferson county

Website: https://www.jcmh.org



Jefferson Center for Mental Health has partnered with a local hotel to provide temporary and transitional housing for its clients. Providing these housing options allows clients to focus on their health while transitioning back into their communities. Jefferson Center has seen great success in this transitional housing model. All rooms in their master lease have consistently been filled and they have successfully transitioned two clients into permanent and stable housing. One client was able to move into an apartment with a housing voucher after staying at the motel post-hospitalization, while the other fulfilled their probation requirements and returned to family out-of-state. The success of the program has allowed Jefferson Center to add more rooms to their lease agreement and support more clients as they transition back into their communities. 

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Company Name: Whole Connection Counseling

Locations: Boulder & Denver

Website: https://www.wholeconnection.org

Whole Connection has had several people complete the intensive stabilization program and one complete the trauma program. One client is now in the Whole Connection outpatient program and during this phase of work has completed their peer support certificate and is now certified to work in a role as a recovery coach for others and has stated her anxiety is much lower. A client in their trauma program shared the following after completing: "I am so thankful. You have given me my life back. I can be out in the world and interacting with people without the reactivity or the intensity tickling me. I am closer to who I want to be than ever before and I am proud of myself, without needing to prove it. I want to lead by example and I think now that I have something to offer others. This state of calmness is a new normal I am not yet used to and I did not think it was possible."  

Collaboration with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) has also been successful for Whole Connection and soon they will have someone from DVR in their office. 

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Company Name: Recovery Resources

Locations: Multiple locations across Pitkin and Summit counties

Website: https://www.recoveryresourcescolorado.org



Recovery Resources has seen success with their case managers securing housing for unsheltered clients. In total, they have provided housing support and housing referrals for almost 50 people in their community. Additionally, they are providing community referrals for therapy and job search assistance to provide a person-centered focus to support their clients. Finally, they focused on providing wrap-around services to its clients in the last quarter of 2023. This included care coordination, Medicaid eligibility, and enrollment, and system navigation so clients can successfully navigate resources and support as they transition back into their community. 

Reminder:

Training Fund Grants Open for Individual Direct Care Workers and HCBS Providers 

HCPF is offering short-term grant funding to incentivize and expand training opportunities for the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) workforce. The grants will fund higher-level skills that will promote greater retention within the HCBS workforce. The maximum award amount per application for direct care workers is $500 and for HCBS providers is $100,000.

Eligible applicants include:

• Individual, age 18 or older, who is currently working in a direct care role within any of Colorado’s Home & Community-Based Service (HCBS) Waivers; or
• Individual, age 18 or older, who desires training to enter direct care within Colorado’s HCBS Waiver workforce; or
• Also included within this workforce, are Certified Nurse Aides and Home Health Aides within Long-Term Home Health; or
• Currently enrolled Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver providers; and
• Training vendor/provider that develops/delivers training/specialization for the HCBS workforce. 

Interested in learning more about how this grant could support higher-level skills for the HCBS workforce?

Visit the grant program information page to get more details and apply today!

Questions? Email us at [email protected]  or join the ARPA 1.05 Provider Informational Webinar listed in the Stakeholder Opportunities below!

Reminder:

7.02 Member Emergency Preparedness

Back Up Power Systems and Emergency Go Kits Available for Qualifying Members

Battery Backup Power Supply Systems

HCPF has recognized the importance of being prepared for a power outage emergency for people who use life-sustaining medical devices. In collaboration with The Center for Inclusive Design and Engineering (CIDE), we are distributing Battery Backup Power Supply Systems to eligible Health First Colorado members, assisting them in having the necessary equipment to be better prepared and in maintaining their health, safety and independence.

To qualify, applicants must be:

• An active Health First Colorado member 
• Utilize life-sustaining equipment that requires electricity to operate.
• Examples include: Chair lifts, CPAP/BIPAP machines, Nebulizer machines, Power wheelchairs/scooters, Wound care management [see more examples]

If you are interested in getting a Backup Power Supply System, please complete the application. Once received, the application will be reviewed, information verified, and a determination made if the applicant qualifies. There is a limited supply and a final decision will be made on eligibility and the availability of devices. All applicants will be notified of their results within two months of receipt of the application.

Emergency Go Kits

An Emergency Go Kit is a collection of essential items specific to your needs that you can quickly grab and take with you in an emergency or evacuation. It can contain all necessary supplies in one place for easy access in a hurry. 

Go Kits are customized based on any medications, assistive technology, or special needs that a member may have. Kits should be kept in a designated location, such as near the front door or in your car trunk, so it can be easily grabbed when needed. 

To qualify, applicants must be an active Health First Colorado member.

If you are interested in getting an Emergency Go Kit, please complete the application. Once received, the application will be reviewed, information verified, and a determination made if the applicant qualifies. There is a limited supply and a final decision will be made on eligibility and the availability of devices.



All questions should be directed to Julia Beems by email or by phone at 303-315-1284.

For more information about the project visit the Surviving in Place webpage.

Direct Care Workforce Collaborative (DCWC) Training & Career Advancement Action Group

This Action Group works collaboratively with stakeholders to identify and move forward strategies to support the recruitment and retention of Colorado's direct care workforce. This group intends to meet every other month on the first Friday of the month from 9 – 10 a.m. MT.

The meeting will be held:

Friday, March 1, 2024

9 to 10 a.m. MT

Join via Zoom

Join via Phone:

(Toll-free) 877-853-5257

Meeting ID: 969 4053 6000, Passcode: 115140

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Community First Choice (CFC) Council

March 2024 Meeting

The CFC Council collaborates with HCPF on the design and implementation of a CFC option in Colorado. The CFC Council needs input from Coloradans with Disabilities, Coloradans over 65 years or older, and advocates to help ensure CFC is implemented in a way that best meets Colorado’s needs. Everyone is welcome!

CFC Council meetings will be held on the first Wednesday of each month from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., through May 2023. These meetings are open to the public.

The next meeting will be held:

Wednesday, Mar. 6, 2023

10 to 11:30 a.m. MT

Meeting topic:

CFC Services for Children, a Member Perspective

Join via Google Meet

Join via Phone:

260-230-1249, PIN: 719 313 221#

Meeting information will be posted on the Community First Choice Stakeholder Opportunities webpage.

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ARPA 1.05 Provider Informational Webinar

These webinars will provide information to prospective applicants about the ARPA 1.05 Provider Grant. The intention of this grant is to provide more training opportunities and incentives for workers to gain higher-level skills that would promote greater retention within the HCBS workforce. This webinar will review the grant eligibility and application process. All interested stakeholders are welcome.

Visit the ARPA 1.05 Grant portion of the ARPA webpage for information on the Request for Applications or other information on the grant program.

The meeting will be held:

Thursday Mar. 7, 2024

1 to 2 p.m. MT

Join via Zoom

Meeting ID: 993 1700 7314 , Passcode:396389

Join via Phone:

(Toll-free) 877-853-5257

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Direct Care Workforce Collaborative - Main Meeting

Through the Direct Care Workforce Collaborative meeting, the Department works collaboratively with stakeholders to identify and move forward strategies to support the recruitment and retention of Colorado's direct care workforce. All interested stakeholders are welcome.

Further information is on the Direct Care Workforce Collaborative webpage.

The next meeting will be held:

Wednesday, Mar. 13, 2024

10 to 11:30 a.m. MT

Join Via Zoom

Join by Phone:

(Toll-free) 877-853-5257

Meeting ID: 993 1700 7314, Passcode: 396389

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Direct Care Workforce Compensation & Benefits Action Group

Supporting the Direct Care Workforce Collaborative, this combined Action Group meeting brings stakeholders together to develop solutions that recognize the diverse needs of this workforce. All interested stakeholders are welcome.

For more information, please see the Direct Care Workforce Collaborative webpage.

The next meeting will be held:

Friday, Mar. 15, 2024

10 to 11 a.m. MT

Join via Zoom

Join by Phone:

(Toll-free) 877-853-5257

Meeting ID: 993 1700 7314, Passcode: 396389

Direct Care Workforce Value & Awareness Action Group

Supporting the Direct Care Workforce Collaborative, this Action Group brings stakeholders together to develop awareness and advocacy strategies that increase community understanding and support for this workforce. All interested stakeholders are welcome.

For more information, please see the Direct Care Workforce Collaborative webpage.

The meeting will be held:

Friday, Mar. 24, 2024

1 to 2 p.m. MT

Join via Zoom

Join by Phone:

(Toll-free) 877-853-5257

Meeting ID: 969 4053 6000 Passcode: 502578

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Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request for persons with disabilities. Auxiliary aids and services for individuals with disabilities and language services for individuals whose first language is not English may be provided upon request. Please notify John Barry at 303-866-3173 or [email protected] or the 504/ADA Coordinator at [email protected] at least one week prior to the meeting to make arrangements.