Boulder County Housing & Human Services study new disability program (10/4/22)
Anyone interested in participating in the Zoom-based stakeholder kickoff meeting on October 4 should contact Rebecca Seiden at rseiden@bouldercounty.org or 720-564-2730. The meeting will include time for questions from community members.
Boulder County, Colo. – The Boulder County Department of Housing and Human Services (BCDHHS) has partnered with the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability to identify ways to enhance and improve services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Boulder County.
Through a contract between the two organizations, the university’s Center for START Services* will provide a summary of available resources and strengths and challenges to supporting people with IDD, including autism, brain injury, and co-occurring mental health conditions, and make recommendations for strengthening Boulder County’s community system of care in addressing their needs.
“This assessment will give us the information we need to improve and streamline our crisis system, improve the mental and behavioral health of our community members, and reduce emergency service use, including psychiatric admissions,” said Rebecca Seiden, IDD Mill Levy Program Coordinator with the Boulder County Housing and Human Services Impact Care Management Division. “We need to know what we are doing well and where we are struggling, so we can target resources to areas that will strengthen our community’s ability to improve and sustainably support the wellness of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Boulder County.”
BCDHHS and the University of New Hampshire have formed a time limited Boulder County IDD Task Force and Advisory Council that will work to identify organizations, groups, and community members to take part in the assessment process, which will include:
Up to 30 phone interviews with families
Focus groups including family members, self-advocates, IDD, brain injury, and autism service providers, mental health providers, first responders and co-responders, and educators
An online survey with identified stakeholder groups
A review of how services are used in Boulder County
A report on the findings and recommendations based on identified areas of strengths and challenges
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Once the report is complete, the IDD Task Force and Advisory Council will present the findings and recommendations in a meeting with stakeholders and the community.
On October 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., BCDHHS and the Center for START Services will hold a virtual stakeholder kickoff meeting to review the background for the project, a recent similar system analysis by conducted by the National Center for START Services (NCSS), and additional information from NCSS, and invites broad participation from groups and individuals including:
People with IDD, including autism, brain injury, and co-occurring mental health conditions
IDD, autism, and brain injury service providers
Mental health care providers
Managed care organizations
Legal aid providers
Educators and administrators (including Special Education)
Advisory council members
Crisis providers
Support coordination agencies
Advocacy groups and self-advocacy organizations
The Association of Community Care Providers
The Association of Mental Health providers
Council on Developmental Disabilities
Hospital Association
Parent support networks
Sheriff’s Association
National Alliance on Mental Illness
The ARC
Private providers such as psychiatrists, social workers, and psychologists
State and county agency staff
Anyone interested in participating in the Zoom-based stakeholder kickoff meeting on October 4 should contact Rebecca Seiden at rseiden@bouldercounty.org or 720-564-2730. The meeting will include time for questions from community members.
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About the Boulder County Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Mill Levy
A Developmental Disabilities property tax increase was approved by voters in 2002 to supplement an existing mill levy to support developmental disabilities programs in Boulder County. Funding from this mill levy continues to help people of all ages with cognitive and developmental disabilities live fuller, more satisfying, and independent lives. Information at www.BoulderCountyIDD.org.
About the START Model
The Systemic Therapeutic Assessment Resources and Treatment (START) Model was developed and implemented in 1988 by Dr. Joan Beasley and her team to provide community-based crisis intervention for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health needs. The model, which utilizes a national database, is a person-centered, solutions-focused approach that employs positive psychology and other evidence-based practices.
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